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Apr. 12—MITCHELL — Putting in live game reps to conclude the spring calendar, the Dakota Wesleyan football team competed in its annual spring game.
Putting together an impressive showing on their side of the ball, the Tigers defense forced five turnovers en route to a 37-17 win over the offense on the practice field behind the Sports and Wellness complex on Saturday.
The defense started the game staked to a 21-0 lead with the ability to pick up more points each time they came away with either a fumble, an interception or forced a turnover on downs. Playing catch up throughout the afternoon, the offense scored points via traditional scoring methods.
With Saturday's live session marking the first time everyone was playing full contact, DWU head coach Alex Kretzschmar was pleased with how the Tigers were in game action.
"The quarterbacks knew they were potentially going to get hit with everything fully live," Kretzschmar said. "It was good to get through a full game and see the defensive line understanding that maybe they thought they could get to the quarterback in practice but learning maybe they can't and vice versa. It was cool to see and watch the guys compete."
With a different roster makeup compared to last year's spring game, DWU had 26 players suit up on offense and 28 on defense. Quarterbacks Connor Drake, Braylon Vancura, Jed Jenson, Jack Driskill and Andrew Lofgren all were featured under center to lead the offense.
At the start, the gray-wearing offense was poised to control the game, as Maxwell Raab caught a long touchdown pass from Drake on the second possession. However, the defense, dressed in blue, clamped down from there.
"It just comes down to being ready to play," linebacker Joe Van Overschelde said. "The offense did a really good job moving guys around, so it was a matter of getting your eyes in the right spot and we did a good job of adjusting."
Two possessions following the touchdown score, Trevor Sladkey came away with one of the defense's two interceptions for the game. The Tigers also forced fumbles on consecutive plays in the second half, with Isaac Foust netting a fumble recovery, one of two recorded for the game.
The offense fought back with a late touchdown in the final possessions, but Sladkey forced Drake out of the pocket and out of bounds on the game's last play on fourth down.
"They just kept going back to the fundamentals," Kretzschmar said of the defense's effort, "Going back to doing their job and putting themselves in a good position to make a play, which ultimately came down to trusting their technique."
The scrimmage wrapped up DWU's spring slate of practices. Looking ahead to the summer months, Kretzschmar wants the players to figure out what they want to accomplish ahead of reconvening to start the preparation for the fall season.
"They have to ask themselves how good they want to be and what they want out of the fall," Kretzschmar said. "Whatever that expectation is, they have to put that investment in to get themselves there."
Dakota Wesleyan opens the season against rival Dakota State at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30, at Joe Quintal Field.
Continue reading...
Putting together an impressive showing on their side of the ball, the Tigers defense forced five turnovers en route to a 37-17 win over the offense on the practice field behind the Sports and Wellness complex on Saturday.
The defense started the game staked to a 21-0 lead with the ability to pick up more points each time they came away with either a fumble, an interception or forced a turnover on downs. Playing catch up throughout the afternoon, the offense scored points via traditional scoring methods.
With Saturday's live session marking the first time everyone was playing full contact, DWU head coach Alex Kretzschmar was pleased with how the Tigers were in game action.
"The quarterbacks knew they were potentially going to get hit with everything fully live," Kretzschmar said. "It was good to get through a full game and see the defensive line understanding that maybe they thought they could get to the quarterback in practice but learning maybe they can't and vice versa. It was cool to see and watch the guys compete."
With a different roster makeup compared to last year's spring game, DWU had 26 players suit up on offense and 28 on defense. Quarterbacks Connor Drake, Braylon Vancura, Jed Jenson, Jack Driskill and Andrew Lofgren all were featured under center to lead the offense.
At the start, the gray-wearing offense was poised to control the game, as Maxwell Raab caught a long touchdown pass from Drake on the second possession. However, the defense, dressed in blue, clamped down from there.
"It just comes down to being ready to play," linebacker Joe Van Overschelde said. "The offense did a really good job moving guys around, so it was a matter of getting your eyes in the right spot and we did a good job of adjusting."
Two possessions following the touchdown score, Trevor Sladkey came away with one of the defense's two interceptions for the game. The Tigers also forced fumbles on consecutive plays in the second half, with Isaac Foust netting a fumble recovery, one of two recorded for the game.
The offense fought back with a late touchdown in the final possessions, but Sladkey forced Drake out of the pocket and out of bounds on the game's last play on fourth down.
"They just kept going back to the fundamentals," Kretzschmar said of the defense's effort, "Going back to doing their job and putting themselves in a good position to make a play, which ultimately came down to trusting their technique."
The scrimmage wrapped up DWU's spring slate of practices. Looking ahead to the summer months, Kretzschmar wants the players to figure out what they want to accomplish ahead of reconvening to start the preparation for the fall season.
"They have to ask themselves how good they want to be and what they want out of the fall," Kretzschmar said. "Whatever that expectation is, they have to put that investment in to get themselves there."
Dakota Wesleyan opens the season against rival Dakota State at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30, at Joe Quintal Field.
Continue reading...
