Midland Claims Battle of Warriors

FOREST CITY, Iowa – It was a Battle of the Warriors on Saturday afternoon at Bolstroff Field as Midland University took on Waldorf University. A 21-point second quarter helped the visiting Warriors from Nebraska spoil Waldorf's homecoming festivities with a 28-14 win in Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) play.

After Waldorf received the opening kickoff, the Midland defense forced a punt after just four plays. Midland started its first drive at its own 12-yard line but could only gain 14 yards after five plays and was forced to punt back to Waldorf. The Midland defense, which has been playing well over the past two weeks, held Waldorf to another three-and-out, forcing another punt. Midland began its next drive at its own 36-yard line. The offense showed signs of life, but after a ten-play drive, a Teryn Berry pass at the Waldorf 13-yard line fell incomplete on 4th and 3. Waldorf ran two plays before the first quarter ended in a scoreless tie.

Waldorf continued its drive into the second quarter and capped an eleven-play, 87-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run by Avian Pesina. Connor Patrick's extra point gave Waldorf a 7-0 lead with 9:09 remaining in the second quarter.

Midland responded quickly. Tegan Lemkau returned the ensuing kickoff 36 yards to the Midland 41-yard line. Six plays later, Berry connected with Kevin Adams Jr. on an eight-yard touchdown pass. Cameron Spicer's extra point tied the game at 7-7 with 5:19 remaining in the half.

The Midland special teams unit then came up big. On the kickoff, Waldorf fumbled the return, and Midland recovered the ball at the Waldorf 23-yard line. Four plays later, Tyson Denkert carried the ball into the end zone from two yards out to put Midland ahead. Spicer's extra point extended the lead to 14-7 with 3:08 left in the half.

Waldorf's next drive was marred by penalties and two Midland sacks, forcing a punt. Isaac Burgett's 40-yard punt was returned 83 yards for a touchdown by Denkert, and Spicer's extra point put Midland ahead 21-7 with 42 seconds left in the half.

Waldorf ran two plays before time expired, and Midland took a 21-7 lead into halftime.

Midland received the second-half kickoff but was forced to punt after a three-and-out. Waldorf, starting at its 25-yard line, also went three-and-out. On Midland's next possession, they lined up in punt formation on fourth down and ran a fake, but Zach Hodge was tackled two yards short of the first down, giving Waldorf the ball at its own 47-yard line. Once again, the Midland defense held strong, forcing another turnover on downs at the Midland 44-yard line after a crucial stop by Zach Charlton and Gabriel VanWinkle.

Midland's offense managed to move the ball but stalled at the Waldorf 34-yard line. A 4th-and-8 pass attempt by Berry to T.J. Covington fell incomplete, turning the ball over on downs. Waldorf's offense struggled, punting the ball back to Midland after another three-and-out. Midland, starting from its 16-yard line, drove down to the Waldorf 30-yard line as the third quarter ended with Midland leading 21-7.

Midland completed a 12-play, 84-yard drive to open the fourth quarter with a four-yard touchdown pass from Denkert to Anthony McPhee. Spicer's extra point extended Midland's lead to 28-7 with 10:36 remaining.

Waldorf managed one first down on its next drive before punting again. Midland ran down the clock on its ensuing possession but a pass by Berry on 4th-and-Goal from the Waldorf six-yard line was intercepted by Isaiah Brown in the end zone, ending the scoring threat. With 1:51 remaining, Waldorf drove down to the Midland 33-yard line after a 34-yard pass from Louis Williams to Bryce Jones. Four plays later, Williams completed a nine-yard touchdown pass to Kadin Abele. Patrick's extra point cut the deficit to 28-14 with 20 seconds remaining.

Patrick's onside kick traveled only eight yards, giving Midland the ball. Midland ran one play, and the clock expired with the Warriors securing a 28-14 victory.

Midland has now won two straight games, improving to 3-3 on the season and 2-3 in GPAC play. Despite the win, coach Jeff Jamrog saw room for improvement.

"Our goal every week is to go 1-0. We accomplished that mission. I'm glad we won, but I didn't like how we started, and I didn't like how we ended the game," Jamrog said. "We were down 7-0 with 9:09 left in the second quarter." Midland went on to score 21 points behind a pair of long drives and a punt return by Denkert.

"Disappointed we only scored one touchdown in the second half and had another called back due to a holding penalty. We need to start better and play a complete game," added Coach Jamrog."

Midland ran the ball 34 times for 135 yards. Through the air, Midland was 19-of-26 for 201 yards. The Warriors finished with 60 plays for 336 yards of total offense.

Waldorf carried the ball 33 times for 49 yards and completed 10-of-15 passes for 191 yards. They finished with 48 plays for 240 yards of total offense.

Individually, Denkert carried the ball 30 times for 141 yards and a touchdown. The junior from Kenesaw, Nebraska, also threw a four-yard touchdown pass and returned a punt 83 yards for a score. Berry completed 18-of-25 passes for 197 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Adams Jr. caught eight passes for 73 yards and a touchdown, while McPhee hauled in one pass for a four-yard touchdown. Defensively, Midland recorded six sacks, led by VanWinkle with two, as he totaled nine tackles. Charlton added six tackles and half a sack, while Carter Wagner had six stops and one-and-a-half sacks. Shane Reilly had four tackles and one sack. Paxton Van Houten and Bert Adame also combined for a tackle for loss. Prince recovered a fumble on a kickoff.

For Waldorf, Ketchum rushed nine times for 36 yards, while Pesina had seven carries for 17 yards and one touchdown. Williams completed 10-of-15 passes for 191 yards and one touchdown. Jones led all receivers with four catches for 113 yards. Abele added one reception for a nine-yard touchdown. Defensively, Brown led Waldorf with seven tackles and one interception. Neeko Page also had seven tackles and one sack, while James Jenkins recorded two tackles, one for a loss.

 Waldorf (0-6, 0-5 GPAC) has a bye next week before hosting No. 2-ranked Northwestern on Saturday, October 19. Midland will travel to face Briar Cliff (1-4, 1-3 GPAC) on October 12. Kickoff at Memorial Field in Sioux City, Iowa, is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. next Saturday.