Denkert Sets Rushing Record as Warriors Run Past DWU

MITCHELL, S.D. – Senior running back Tyson Denkert ran for 248 yards and eclipsed the Midland University all-time career rushing record as the Warriors defeated the Dakota Wesleyan University Tigers, 45-7, Saturday afternoon at Joe Quintal Field.

Now at 3,370 career rushing yards, Denkert surpassed the mark held by Shawn Riley, who ran for 3,245 yards, a record set 28 years ago in 1997.

The Warriors started the first possession of the game with the ball at their own 40-yard line. On the first play, Tyson Denkert carried the ball 15 yards for a first down at the Tiger 45-yard line. Two plays later, Denkert ran for 15 more yards to the Dakota Wesleyan 24-yard line. Then, Denkert snapped off 17 more yards on the next play to the Tiger 7-yard line. Three plays later, quarterback Brodey Johnson carried the ball for a six-yard touchdown run. Payden Alexander's extra point put Midland ahead 7-0 with 11:46 to play in the first quarter.

Dakota Wesleyan's first drive began at its own 26-yard line. On the second play of the drive, quarterback Jed Jenson completed a pass to Cole Holden for a 15-yard gain and a first down at the Tiger 42-yard line. On the next play, Koby Keyser carried the ball for an 11-yard gain and a first down at the Midland 47-yard line. However, three plays later, a Jenson pass was intercepted by the Warriors' Brandon Lance and returned 22 yards to the Dakota Wesleyan 31-yard line.

Midland put together a six-play drive that stalled, and Payden Alexander kicked a 35-yard field goal to put Midland ahead 10-0 with 6:56 left in the opening quarter.

The Tigers began their next drive on their own 26-yard line; however, the result would end the same. Two plays later, a Jenson pass was intercepted by Paxten Van Houten and returned 21 yards to the Tiger 15-yard line.

Midland threatened to score again; however, on a fourth down, Tyson Denkert fumbled and Grayson Hanson recovered for Dakota Wesleyan at the Tiger 1-yard line.

Dakota Wesleyan went to the ground game on the next drive, but turned the ball over again. On the third play, Koby Keyser carried the ball and Jay Ballard forced a fumble, which Paxten Van Houten recovered at the Tigers' 23-yard line.

On the third play of the series, Brodey Johnson connected with Tim Brown for a 31-yard touchdown pass. After Payden Alexander's point after, Midland led 17-0 with 1:51 left in the first quarter.

The Tigers started their next drive at their own 33-yard line. On the first play of the series, Jed Jenson completed a pass to Maxwell Rabb for 34 yards and a first down at the Midland 33-yard line. Two plays later, the quarter expired with Midland leading 17-0.

On the second play of the second quarter, Dakota Wesleyan got on the board as Chase McGillivary rushed the ball for a 25-yard touchdown. Danny Carsrud's extra point made the score 17-7, Midland, with 14:10 remaining in the first half.

After a short kickoff, Midland began its next drive at its own 46-yard line. On the sixth play of the drive, Tyson Denkert carried the ball for a 14-yard gain and a first down at the Dakota Wesleyan 14-yard line. Three plays later, Brodey Johnson threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Brodie Anderson. The Payden Alexander extra point put Midland up 24-7 with nine minutes left in the half.

Dakota Wesleyan started the next drive at its own 25-yard line. Midland forced the Tigers into a three-and-out, and the Samuel Welch punt was downed at the Midland 23-yard line.

The next Warrior drive stalled after six plays, and Gavin Rohewal punted to the Dakota Wesleyan 34-yard line.

Midland's special teams stepped up after another three-and-out. The Samuel Welch punt was blocked by Zach Dickey, and Midland took over at the Tigers' 30-yard line.

On the first play of the next series, Isaiah Tucker carried the ball for a 15-yard gain and a first down at the Dakota Wesleyan 15-yard line. Two plays later, Brodey Johnson completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to TJ Covington. Payden Alexander's extra point put Midland ahead 31-7 with 1:14 remaining in the half.

After a fair catch of Cameron Spicer's kickoff, Dakota Wesleyan started its next drive at its own 25-yard line. On the first play of the series, Jed Jenson completed a pass for 17 yards to Caleb Kilbride and a first down at the Dakota Wesleyan 42-yard line. However, Midland's defense forced three straight incomplete passes, and a Samuel Welch punt was returned by Tyson Denkert for 11 yards; however, an illegal block in the back pushed the Warriors to their own 19-yard line.

On the first play of the series, Tyson Denkert carried the ball for a 44-yard gain and a first down at the Dakota Wesleyan 37-yard line. After two plays and two Midland timeouts, Brodey Johnson completed a pass to TJ Covington for 15 yards and a first down at the Tiger 14-yard line. After Midland's final timeout and an incomplete pass, Payden Alexander attempted a 30-yard field goal, which missed off the left upright as time expired, and Midland took a 31-7 lead into the locker room.

Dakota Wesleyan got the ball to begin the second half, and Cameron Spicer's kickoff was fair caught, setting the Tigers up at their own 25-yard line. On the second play of the series, Jed Jenson completed a pass to Cole Holden for a 14-yard gain and a first down at the Tiger 39-yard line. Three plays later, Dakota Wesleyan was forced to punt, and Midland started its next drive at its own 23-yard line.

On the first play of the series, Tyson Denkert rumbled off a 43-yard gain to the Tiger 34-yard line. Four plays later, Denkert picked up another first down after an 11-yard carry to the Dakota Wesleyan 13-yard line. Three plays later, Isaiah Tucker rushed the ball for a four-yard touchdown. Payden Alexander's extra point put Midland ahead 38-7 with 8:29 left in the third quarter.

Dakota Wesleyan began its next drive at its own 17-yard line. Five plays later, Jed Jenson completed a pass for 29 yards to Caleb Kilbride and a first down at the Midland 44-yard line. Then, Jenson found Cole Holden for a 15-yard completion and a first down at the Warrior 29-yard line. However, Midland forced another Jenson interception on the next play, which Dom Rohleder picked off, and Midland took over at its own 29-yard line.

On the first play of the Warrior drive, Brodey Johnson completed a pass to Kevin Adams Jr. for a 16-yard gain and a first down at the Midland 45-yard line. However, Midland turned it over three plays later when Johnson's pass was intercepted by Ja'Dyn McGary at the Dakota Wesleyan 29-yard line.

Midland's defense would get the ball back two plays later when Jenson's pass was intercepted by Brandon Lance and returned 24 yards to the Dakota Wesleyan 47-yard line.

On the first play of the drive, Tyson Denkert recorded another big yardage play with a 10-yard carry and a first down at the Tiger 37-yard line. Three plays later, the quarter ended with Midland leading 38-7.

On the seventh play of the fourth quarter, Brodey Johnson completed a pass to Brodie Anderson for a four-yard touchdown. Payden Alexander's extra point put Midland ahead 45-7 with 11 minutes left in the game.

The Tigers began their next drive at their own 24-yard line. Four plays later, they were forced to punt, and Midland took over at its own 47-yard line.

On the eighth play of the drive, Isaiah Tucker carried the ball for a 24-yard gain and a first down at the Tiger 20-yard line. After an unnecessary roughness penalty on Midland, four plays later, Zach Congalton carried the ball for a 19-yard gain and a first down to the Dakota Wesleyan 19-yard line at the two-minute timeout. Midland ran two more plays before time expired and secured the 45-7 win.

Midland ran 79 plays for 477 yards of total offense. The Warriors had 55 carries for 364 yards. Through the air, Midland completed 11-of-24 passes for 113 yards.

Dakota Wesleyan ran 42 plays for 230 yards. The Tigers had 19 carries for 68 yards and completed 14-of-23 passes for 162 yards. It was an afternoon in which both teams had trouble handling the ball. Dakota Wesleyan committed seven turnovers, with three fumbles and four interceptions. Midland fumbled once and threw one interception.

Individually for Midland, Brodey Johnson completed 11-of-22 passes for 113 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Johnson also carried the ball five times for 22 yards and a touchdown. Tyson Denkert carried the ball 28 times for 246 yards. Isaiah Tucker had 18 carries for 63 yards and one touchdown. TJ Covington caught three passes for 33 yards and one touchdown. Tim Brown caught one pass for a 31-yard touchdown. Brodie Anderson had four receptions for 20 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Jay Ballard led Midland with five tackles and a forced fumble. Paxten Van Houten had four tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery, and one interception. Brandon Lance had one tackle and two interceptions. Dom Rohleder recorded one interception.

For the Tigers, Jed Jenson completed 14-of-23 passes for 162 yards but threw four interceptions. Koby Keyser carried the ball 10 times for 29 yards. Chase McGillivary had one carry for a 25-yard touchdown. Caleb Kilbride caught four passes for 57 yards. Defensively, Trevor Sladky and Drue Davis recorded 10 tackles each. Landon Ruesink had five tackles and one fumble recovery. Ja'Dyn McGary had two tackles and one interception.

Midland (5-5, 5-4 GPAC) will wrap up its season on Saturday, Nov. 15, when it hosts Mount Marty (4-6, 3-6 GPAC). Kickoff at Heedum Field in Fremont, Nebraska, will be at 1 p.m.