MITCHELL, S.D. – After four weeks on the road to start the season, the Dakota Wesleyan University football team plays its first home game of the season. Despite the travel, DWU has passed every test so far in 2015 and come into today's contest 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the GPAC. The start is the best for DWU since 2011 when the team won its first five games.
The Tigers won going away in three games thus far and pulled out a one-point win over then No. 14 Ottawa University. On opening weekend, DWU also went to Madison, S.D., and picked up a win over rival Dakota State University. Four straight wins have catapulted the Tigers from outside the rankings before the season to No. 17 in the nation.
Throughout the early portion of the schedule, the offense has been led by sophomore quarterback Dillon Turner, who has picked up the last two GPAC Offensive Player-of-the-Week honors. Turner had more than 250 yards passing and 100 yards rushing in wins over Briar Cliff University and Midland University over the last two weeks.
The Tigers rank near the top of the NAIA in several categories. DWU is second in the nation in total sacks (16), fourth in total scoring offense (169 points), fifth in sacks per game (4) and seventh in third down conversions (49.3 percent). The Tigers are also ninth in total yards per game (471.5), scoring offense per game (42.3) and total rushing offense (881 yards).
About the Series
This will be the 22nd meeting between Dakota Wesleyan and Hastings in football in the all-time series. The Tigers have won the last two meetings, while the Broncos hold a 16-5 advantage in the series.
DWU won the 2014 matchup in a shootout in Hastings. The Broncos rallied from an 11-point fourth quarter deficit to take a three-point lead late. The Tigers answered back with Dillon Turner completing his first career touchdown pass with 1:23 left.
About the Coaches
Dakota Wesleyan head coach Ross Cimpl is in his fourth season leading the Tigers. The four-game winning streak to open the 2015 football season has pushed Cimpl's career record to 25-11 overall. Cimpl, a Wagner, S.D., native, is the fifth winningest coach in the more than 100 years of DWU football.
Tony Harper is in his fifth season as the head coach of Hastings.
Turning the Corner
What a difference a year of experience has made for DWU sophomore quarterback Dillon Turner. One year ago, he was thrust into the position of starting signal caller. Turner showed flashes of brilliance in several early season comeback wins, but inconsistency in the passing game and turnovers overshadowed the bright spots on several Saturday afternoons in 2014.
In 2015, Turner has been every bit the dual threat he showed he could be at times as a freshman and has put up some truly gaudy numbers. In the last two games, Turner has had at least 250 yards passing and 100 yards on the ground, while racking up nine total touchdowns in a pair of blowout wins to open the GPAC schedule.
Turner is second in the nation in total offense with 1,328 yards and fourth in total yards per game with 332. Turner has completed 60 percent of his passes for 1,001 yards and 10 touchdowns, while rushing for 327 yards on 61 carries and five more scores.
About the Broncos
After opening the 2015 season with a win over Bethel College (Kan.) in the KCAC/GPAC Challenge, the Broncos have dropped two straight to begin the GPAC schedule.
Hastings has scored just nine points in two one-sided losses to Concordia University and then No. 14 Doane College. The Broncos managed just 67 yards on the ground against Doane.
Darvonte Knight is the leading Bronco rusher in 2015, with 95 yards on 32 carries. Quarterback Jason Gaines has averaged 171 yards passing this season, while completing 47 percent of his passes. Gaines has two touchdown passes, compared to five interceptions.
Hastings is ninth in the GPAC in scoring per game with 14 points and eighth in total offense with 277 yards per contest. The Broncos have allowed 413.3 yards per game, eighth in the GPAC.
