Oct. 10, 2005

Dana College Football traveled to Hastings, Neb., Saturday to face the Hastings College Broncos. Dana knew they had to stop the Hastings running game to gain control of the game clock. But the Bronco’s rushing proved effective as Hastings kept possession of the ball for more than 40 minutes in the game, leaving the Viking offense with little time on the field. Hastings defeated Dana 43-21.

Despite little time to work, the Viking offense mounted 424 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Tom Lensch (David City, Neb.) completed 27 of 34 passes (79 percent completion rate) for 378 yards and three touchdowns. He threw no interceptions.

Dana scored on one of only two drives in the first half. Bill Dragonetti (Delafield, Wis.) caught his first Dana touchdown pass in the second quarter.

At halftime the score was 17-7 in favor of Hastings.

In the second half the story was much the same, with the Broncos running out the clock by running the ball.

The Vikings scored again in the fourth quarter. A six-play, 70-yard drive resulted in a 24-yard touchdown pass from Lensch to Dan Irwin (Bellevue, Neb.). On the first play of Dana’s next drive Lensch connected with wide receiver Javon Bell (Miami, Fla.) for a 75-yard touchdown pass.

Bell had eight catches in the game for 163 yards. Irwin’s three catches gained 58 yards and one touchdown.
Matt Neesen (Omaha, Neb.) caught eight passes for 76 yards and rushed for 45 yards.

On defense, Mike Buchanan (Omaha, Neb.) had a Dana College season-high 10.5 tackles. Willie Crawford (Hopland, Calif.) had nine tackles. Dana’s two sacks were credited to Greg Wilmes (Creighton, Neb.) and Ryan Hoden (Council Bluffs, Iowa).

The Vikings will host Briar Cliff on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Complete game statistics are available at: http://www.dana.edu/football/DANHAS.HTM.

For more information, contact:
Leslie Rasmussen, sports information director, (402) 426-7298, lrasmuss@dana.edu
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Shad Beam, assistant sports information director, (402) 426-7389, sbeam@dana.edu