Dordt erased a 14-point halftime deficit with three third-quarter touchdown passes, but No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan scored late to take a 10 point lead and eventually held on for a 38-31 win in Marion, Indiana.
Box Score (PDF)
Dordt took the opening kickoff and marched 79 yards in seven plays for the game's first touchdown.
Noah Strickfaden completed four passes for 56 yards during the drive, and
Thomas Fritz Jr. finished it with a 13-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.
Indiana Wesleyan answered with an 85-yard drive capped by Dede Person's 5-yard touchdown run. The Wildcats took the lead later in the first quarter after a 17-yard punt return gave them possession at the Dordt 42. Person scored from one yard out to complete the 11-play drive and give Indiana Wesleyan a 14-7 advantage.
The Defenders moved into Indiana Wesleyan territory early in the second quarter, but a fourth-down pass from the Wildcat 42 fell incomplete. Indiana Wesleyan followed with a 10-play, 58-yard drive, and Ryan Whitwell's 1-yard touchdown run extended the lead to 21-7.
Dordt put together a 16-play drive that consumed 7:45 late in the half. The Defenders converted one fourth down during the series but were stopped on fourth-and-five from the Indiana Wesleyan 22. The Wildcats threatened to add to their lead in the closing seconds, but
Ethan Mills intercepted Arjun Lothe in the end zone to preserve the 21-7 halftime score.
Indiana Wesleyan opened the second half with a 79-yard pass that reached the Dordt 8, but the Defender defense held and the Wildcats missed a 20-yard field goal attempt.
Dordt capitalized with an 80-yard scoring drive. Strickfaden connected with
Cole Snyder for a 56-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 21-14 with 10:21 left in the third quarter.
The Wildcats responded with an 82-yard drive that was extended by a roughing-the-kicker penalty. Lothe completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Whitwell to put Indiana Wesleyan back in front by two touchdowns, 28-14.
Dordt needed just one play to answer as Strickfaden found
Kaden Harken for a 70-yard touchdown. After the Defender defense forced the game's only punt by Indiana Wesleyan, Dordt covered 67 yards in five plays and tied the game on Strickfaden's 20-yard touchdown pass to
Eliot Beal with 2:22 left in the third quarter.
Indiana Wesleyan regained the lead with a 15-play, 68-yard drive that ended with Josh Clifton's 29-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. After forcing a Dordt punt, the Wildcats controlled the ball for nearly seven minutes and extended the lead to 38-28 on Whitwell's 4-yard touchdown run with 4:20 remaining.
The Defenders drove 68 yards on their final possession, and
Stephen Leinen converted a 25-yard field goal to make it 38-31 with 1:18 left. Indiana Wesleyan recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.
THE NUMBERS
- Total Yards: Dordt 440 | Indiana Wesleyan 561
- Rushing Yards: Dordt 148 | Indiana Wesleyan 329
- Passing Yards: Dordt 292 | Indiana Wesleyan 232
- Time of Possession: Dordt 27:22 | Indiana Wesleyan 32:38
- Dordt scored 21 points in the third quarter, producing touchdown drives of 80, 70 and 67 yards.
- The Defenders erased a 21-7 halftime deficit and tied the game at 28 with 2:22 left in the third quarter.
- Dordt averaged 7.3 yards per play and did not commit a turnover.
- Indiana Wesleyan converted 10-of-15 third downs and its only fourth-down attempt.
- The Wildcats ran 87 offensive plays and held the ball for 12:49 of the fourth quarter.
- Dordt's three touchdown passes covered 56, 70 and 20 yards.
Dordt Leaders
- Passing: Noah Strickfaden - 15-25, 292 yards, 3 TDs (career high)
- Rushing:
- Receiving:
- Kaden Harken - 5 catches, 118 yards, 1 TD, 4th career 100+ yard game
- Cole Snyder - 6 catches, 114 yards, 1 TD,1st career 100+ yard game
- Nick Giesen - 2 catches, 27 yards
- Eliot Beal - 1 catch, 20 yards, 1 TD
- Boden Teal - 1 catch, 13 yards
- Defense:
NEXT
Dordt will open GPAC play against Hastings on Saturday, September 5 at 1 p.m. at Open Space Park in Sioux Center.
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