September 16, 2006

 Mitchell, SD—The Dana Vikings could not hold a 7-6 halftime lead and were defeated by the Dakota Wesleyan Tigers 13-10 at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell, South Dakota, on Saturday.  The loss drops Dana’s record to 1-2 (1-2 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference).  The Tigers are also 1-2 (1-2 GPAC).

            After a scoreless first quarter, the Vikings got on the board with 4:17 remaining in the second quarter with a 7 yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Tom Lensch (David City, NE) to senior wide receiver Javon Bell (Miami, FL).  Senior Rick Lebeda (Omaha, NE) knocked in the extra point to give the Vikings a 7-0 lead. 

            Dakota Wesleyan was able to answer with a 10 play 73 yard drive and punched in a 1 yard scoring run by Andrew Schmaltz with :19 left in the half.  The extra point was missed, leaving the Vikings with a 1 point halftime lead.

            The Vikings added a 42 yard field goal by Lebeda with 8:03 left in the third quarter to take a 10-6 lead.  But with 1:13 remaining in the third quarter, following an interception thrown by Dana’s Lensch, the Tigers took the lead on a 2 play 43 yard drive that was capped by a 47 yard touchdown pass from the Tiger’s Jon Doom to wide receiver Tyron Arrington.  Arrington, the GPAC’s leading receiver, finished the day with 6 catches for 85 yards.

            The Vikings were unable to score in the fourth quarter in three possessions.  The best chance for a Dana score came with 8:47 remaining when Lebeda missed a 28 yard field goal that would have tied the game.

            Offensively, the Vikings came up with 222 yards.  Lensch came off the bench in the first quarter to complete 13 of 27 passes for 127 yards.  Javon Bell led Dana in receiving, grabbing 7 catches for 75 yards including the second quarter touchdown catch.  On the ground the Viking senior captain Matt Neesen had 85 yards on 18 carries.  Neesen also caught 3 passes for 11 yards.

            The Viking defense held the Tigers to 65 yards rushing and 200 total yards.  Senior linebacker Mike Buchanan (Omaha, NE) led the charge and ended the day with 10 total tackles.  Senior linebacker Shaun O’Connell (Omaha, NE) also had 10 tackles for the Vikes while senior safety Chris Reinke (Omaha, NE) totaled 9 stops and a pass break-up.

            This week Dana hosts the University of Sioux Falls (3-0) at 1:00 PM in Blair.  The #3 ranked Cougars come to town having beaten Briar Cliff 41-0 on Saturday.

For more information, contact:


Shad Beam, sports information director, (402) 426-7389, sbeam@dana.edu

— or —

Scott Guzinski, assistant Sports Information Director, (402) 426-7949, sguzinsk@dana.edu