Vikings Fall to Tigers in Season Finale

The Dana College football team honored 14 seniors before their game against Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday.  The Tigers would sneak pass the Vikings 27-20.

Dana got on the board late in the first quarter as Andrew Hawley (FR, Lincoln, NE) would haul in an 11 yard pass from Marcus Sladek (JR, Omaha, NE).  Keith Neal (SR, Clarinda, IA) would tack on the extra point to give the Vikings a 7-0 lead with 1:41 to go in the opening quarter.

Dana would dodge a bullet early in the second quarter as DWU would miss a 23 yard field goal attempt.  The Vikings would not be able to capitalize on the good field position and were forced to punt on the ensuing drive.   The Tigers would then use a 59 yard pass play to tie the game up with nine minutes remaining in the first half.  Dakota Wesleyan would then get great field position on a special team’s error.  The Tigers would need just three plays to reach the end zone and take the lead.  A missed extra point would put the Vikings at a 13-7halftime deficit. 

Dana would receive the second half kick-off and would drive 76 yards to take the lead.  The Vikings would reach their own 46 when Sladek connected with tight-end Casey Newsom (SR, Council Bluffs, IA) for a 19 yard completion.  Following three Robert Fowler (JR, Bellevue, NE) runs, Sladek would find Newsom again for a 42-yard touchdown strike.  Neal would hit the extra point and Dana would lead 14-13 with 12:10 to go in the third period.

Dakota Wesleyan would then capitalize with the wind in the fourth quarter as they would open the quarter with a touchdown.  The first would come following a 15-yardd Viking personal foul penalty kept the first drive of the last quarter alive.  The Tigers would punch it in from a yard out, but fail on the two point conversion attempt to go up 19-14.

Dana would not go down with out a fight.  Andrew Hawley would take the kickoff back 46 yards to the DWU 47 yard line.  Marcus Sladek would break several tackles on a second and ten play and scamper 31 yards to put the Vikings back ahead.  Sladek’s two point conversion pass would be knocked down, but the Vikings would remain ahead 20-19.

DWU would miss a 45 yard field goal attempt with seven minutes remaining in the game.  The Vikings would take over on their own 28 yard line and looked to increase their lead.  Sladek would then fumble on the first play from scrimmage, giving the Tigers great field position.  DWU would then capitalize on the fumble and a Viking face masking call to take the lead.  The Tigers connected on their two point attempt and took a 27-20 lead with 4:13 left to go in the game.

Andrew Hawley would return the kick for 25 yards and give the VIkigns good field position for the final drive.  Sladek would complete passes to Mark Schlueter (FR, Omaha, NE) and Hawley to put the Vikings at midfield.  Sladek would then get outside the pocket and gain another 14 yards to DWU 34.  Dana would not be able to advance the ball any further before time would run out.

Marcus Sladek would lead the Vikings with 77 yards on the ground on nine rushes and a touchdown.  Robert Fowler would carry the ball 19 times for 65 yards.  Sladek would also go 20-39 with two touchdowns and an interception for 220 yards.  Marcus would finish the season with 563 career completions, which breaks Alan Pogue’s school record of 538.  Mark Schlueter would finish the day with seven receptions for 32 yards.  Hawley would catch five balls for 66 yards and a touchdown.  Tight end Casey Newsom would grab four balls for 94 yards and a touchdown.  Trevor Ketelsen (JR, Bloomfield, NE), Branden Terry (JR, Omaha, NE), and Paul Elliott (FR, Tekamah, NE) would each pick off Tiger passes.  Nate Weathers ( ) would lead the Vikings with six unassisted tackles and eight tackle assists.  Trevor Ketelsen would add seven solo tackles and three assists.

The Vikings finish their season at 4-7 overall and 3-7 in GPAC play.  Coach Bill Danenhauer has completed his fifth season at the helm of the Viking football program.

For more information, contact:

Shad Beam, sports information director, (402) 426-7389, sbeam@dana.edu
— or —
Francisco Lujan, assistant Sports Information Director, (402) 426-7949, flujan@dana.edu