Dordt scored 34 unanswered points and rushed for 221 yards in a 41-7 win over Hastings on Saturday night at Open Space Park in Sioux Center.
Box Score (PDF)
The Defenders improved to 1-1 overall and 1-0 in Great Plains Athletic Conference play. Hastings fell to 0-1 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
After Hastings used more than seven minutes on the opening possession, Dordt needed just six plays to cover 80 yards for the game's first points. [Noah Strickfaden] connected with [Kaden Harken] for a 38-yard gain on the first play of the drive and found Harken again for a 12-yard touchdown with 4:32 left in the first quarter.Â
The Broncos tied the game early in the second quarter when Jarrett Synek completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Josh Levine, finishing a nine-play, 62-yard drive.
Dordt answered with consecutive touchdown drives to take control before halftime. Zane Farney scored on an 8-yard run to cap an eight-play, 60-yard drive and put the Defenders back in front 14-7.
The Dordt defense then stopped Hastings on fourth down at the Defender 34-yard line. [Tyler Mantel] opened the ensuing possession with a 28-yard run and scored from eight yards out four plays later, giving Dordt a 21-7 halftime advantage.
The Defenders extended their lead on the opening possession of the second half. Dordt went 76 yards in 10 plays, converting three third downs before Boden Teal broke free for a 30-yard touchdown run.
After another fourth-down stop by the Dordt defense, Strickfaden connected with Harken for a 50-yard touchdown on third-and-10. The score, Harken's second of the game, pushed the lead to 34-7 with 4:42 left in the third quarter.
Farney completed the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter. The Defenders covered 65 yards in 10 plays on the drive, with Farney accounting for 36 rushing yards.
Dordt totaled 401 yards, including 221 on the ground, and averaged 6.4 yards per play. The Defenders finished with 25 first downs and converted 9-of-15 third-down opportunities. Hastings was limited to 223 total yards and went 3-of-15 on third down.
Strickfaden completed 11-of-22 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Harken caught five passes for a career-high 111 yards and two scores.
Mantel led Dordt's rushing attack with 72 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Farney totaled 67 yards and two scores on 15 attempts, while Teal added 45 yards and a touchdown on six carries.
Cole Johnson led the defense with seven tackles and two pass breakups. Isaac Kacmarynski totaled six tackles and a pass breakup, while Ethan Mills and Zach Quiring each recorded five stops.  Dordt finished with five tackles for loss and eight pass breakups.
By the Numbers
- Total offense: Dordt 401, Hastings 223
- Rushing yards: Dordt 221, Hastings 104
- Passing yards: Dordt 180, Hastings 119
- First downs: Dordt 25, Hastings 13
- Third downs: Dordt 9-of-15, Hastings 3-of-15
- Yards per play: Dordt 6.4, Hastings 3.5
- Penalties: Dordt 1-10, Hastings 7-115
- Turnovers: Dordt 0, Hastings 0
Dordt Leaders
- Passing: Noah Strickfaden, 11-of-22, 175 yards, two touchdowns
- Rushing: Tyler Mantel, 10 carries, 72 yards, one touchdown
- Receiving: Kaden Harken, five catches, 111 yards, two touchdowns
- Tackles: Cole Johnson, seven
- Pass breakups: Thomas Walder, three; Cole Johnson, two
