The Dordt University football team scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull away from Dakota Wesleyan for a 44-17 Great Plains Athletic Conference victory Saturday afternoon at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell, South Dakota.
Box Score (PDF)
The Defenders improved to 8-2 overall and 8-1 in GPAC play with the win. Dordt finished with 538 yards of total offense, including 249 rushing yards and 289 through the air. The Defenders also forced three turnovers, all interceptions, and converted each into an opportunity to extend their advantage.
Dordt opened the scoring with a 31-yard field goal by
Stephen Leinen, then quickly added to its lead when
Thomas Fritz Jr. broke free for a 72-yard touchdown run with 5:42 remaining in the first quarter. The Defenders carried a 10-3 lead into the second quarter.
Dakota Wesleyan trimmed the margin to 10-3 with a field goal, but Dordt answered late in the first half.
Noah Strickfaden connected with
Eliot Beal for a 10-yard touchdown with 35 seconds remaining, capping a six-play, 62-yard drive. The Tigers responded with a touchdown in the final eight seconds, making it 16-10 at halftime.
Dordt extended its lead in the third quarter when
Keenan Valverde broke loose for a 31-yard touchdown run. Dakota Wesleyan answered with a touchdown of its own, cutting the margin to 23-17 late in the quarter.
The Defenders took control in the fourth. Dordt put together an 11-play, 80-yard drive, capped by a one-yard touchdown pass from Strickfaden to
Kaden Harken with 6:42 remaining after
Cole Johnson's interception in the end zone stopped a Wesleyan threat and preserved the lead at the time. The defense then delivered another critical play on Dakota Wesleyan's next possession.
Thomas Walder
intercepted a pass and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 37-17.
Valverde added his second rushing touchdown of the afternoon, scoring from four yards out with 2:38 remaining to complete the scoring.
Dordt's defense finished with three interceptions, credited to Walder, Johnson and
Josh Tiersma.
Noah Mills led the Defenders with six tackles and recorded a sack for a 10-yard loss. The Defenders limited Dakota Wesleyan to 47 rushing yards on 30 attempts.
Dordt will travel to Orange City to face Northwestern on Saturday, November 14 to conclude the season. Both teams will enter with an 8-1 league record. The game will feature a noon kickoff.
Dordt Leaders
Team Stat Comparison
| Statistic |
Dordt |
Dakota Wesleyan |
| First Downs |
27 |
17 |
| Total Offense |
538 |
312 |
| Offensive Plays |
77 |
70 |
| Yards per Play |
7.0 |
4.5 |
| Passing Yards |
289 |
265 |
| Completions-Attempts |
19-32 |
24-40 |
| Rushing Yards |
249 |
47 |
| Rushing Attempts |
45 |
30 |
| Yards per Rush |
5.5 |
1.6 |
| Third-Down Conversions |
9-16 |
7-16 |
| Fourth-Down Conversions |
1-3 |
0-2 |
| Turnovers Lost |
0 |
3 |
| Interceptions |
3 |
0 |
