DWU football gameday: Tigers hit the road for the first time at Doane
Sep. 8—MITCHELL — The Dakota Wesleyan University football team will hop on the bus for the first time in the 2023 season on Saturday, taking on Doane in the Great Plains Athletic Conference's version of the Tiger Bowl.
Here's what to know ahead of DWU's first road contest of the season:
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Al Papik Field, in Crete, Nebraska
Records: DWU 1-1 (0-1 GPAC); Doane (0-2, 0-1 GPAC)
Coaches: DWU's Ross Cimpl, 60-60, 12th season; Doane's Chris Bessler, 22-28, sixth season.
All-time series: Doane leads the series, 25-13-1.
Last meeting: Doane won 16-13 over DWU on Oct. 8, 2022, in Crete, Nebraska.
Last time out: Dakota Wesleyan dropped an overtime decision to Hastings on Sept. 2, a 24-17 final score, while Doane lost at home to Dordt 49-7 on Sept. 2.
Notes: The Tigers won the 2020 and 2021 meetings, including a 29-26 win in Crete in 2020, followed by a 17-13 win in Mitchell in 2021. The last three meetings have all been decided by four points or less.
About DWU: The Tigers have had a streak of nine games with an interception of an opposing quarterback, and the Tigers have recorded a takeaway in 17 of its last 18 games on defense. Adam DeJong has made an interception in five of his last six games dating back to 2022, with seven interceptions in that six-game span. ... Against Dakota State, the Tigers yielded only 74 rushing yards, lower than any total in 2022. ... The Tigers are looking to end a 10-game losing streak away from Mitchell on Saturday, with the last road victory coming Sept. 4, 2021, at Mount Marty in a 20-3 victory. ... DWU's 75 plays and 417 yards in their 2022 loss at Doane were season-highs, but the Tigers were hurt by three turnovers in the game. ... Quarterback Austin Lee ranks No. 2 in the GPAC in passing yards per game at 236, earning 9.3 yards per pass attempt. ... Victor Kniesche is third in the conference in total tackles with 16.
About Doane: The Tigers were selected to finish eighth in the GPAC in the preseason. ... Doane turned the ball over six times in the loss to Dordt, with five interceptions and a fumble. ... The Doane offense has been meager, averaging 4.7 yards per pass attempt and 2.1 rushing yards per carry. ... On defense, Doane has allowed 481.5 yards per game, including 175 yards on the ground and 45.5 points per game. ... Jeremiah Payne leads the Tigers in yards early in the season as a receiver and returner at 160.5 yards per game.
Next: For DWU, the Tigers will host Midland for Homecoming at 2 p.m. on Sept. 16. Doane will play at No. 1 Northwestern on Sept. 16.
GPAC schedule
Saturday, Sept. 9
Briar Cliff at Midland, 1 p.m.
Concordia at Jamestown, 1 p.m.
Morningside at Hastings, 1 p.m.
Mount Marty at Dordt, 1 p.m.
Northwestern at Drake, 6 p.m.
