Football Tops Dordt in Overtime

A defensive battle took place on Saturday afternoon in Sioux Center, Iowa, as Doane Football took on Dordt. Regulation would not be enough time to decide this year's outcome as the teams played their first overtime game against each other with Doane coming out on the right side of the final score, 13-10.

A turnover on Doane's first possession would set up the Defenders with a short field early in the game. Dordt used seven plays to cover 32 yards and went in front 7-0 following a five-yard run by Connor Dodd.

As play moved to the 2nd quarter, Dordt was in striking range once again only to see the Doane defense hold strong to force a 26-yard field goal attempt. The attempt was blocked by Cooper Bates (SR/Wilber, Neb.), leaving the score at 7-0.

Doane's first scoring opportunity came near the nine minute mark of the quarter. Following a 28-yard punt return by Cade Wiseman (SO/Sutton, Neb.), the Tigers started with possession at the Dordt 22-yard line. Unfortunately for Doane, the drive was limited to three offensive plays and they were forced to attempt a 33-yard field goal. Dordt was able to block the kick with a push up the middle to keep Doane off the scoreboard.

The Tiger defense held the Defender to a three-and-out, forcing a punt that would give Doane the ball near midfield. On the first play, Cruz Kirwan (FR/San Antonio, Texas) completed a screen pass to Brehan Lambert (SR/Lincoln, Neb.) who was able to race down the sideline for a 51-yard touchdown to tie the game.

Following another three-and-out, Doane was able to get into field goal range once again only to have Dordt block another attempt and thwart the Tigers chance to take the lead. The game was tied 7-all at the halftime break.

The 3rd quarter went by quickly with the defenses continuing to take center stage. Late in the quarter, Dordt was able to string together 10 plays over 38 yards as they took the lead on a 35-yard field goal from Fulton Gunderso.

Doane had an opportunity to tie the game midway through the 4th quarter following a Wiseman interception. However, the Tigers would pick up five yards on three plays and see a 46-yard field goal drift with the wind and miss wide left.

The Tigers continued to battle as the defense held strong. Doane's final drive started with three minutes remaining in the game and the ball at the Tiger 32-yard line. Following a pair of first downs, Dordt looked to have Doane in a precarious position following a third down sack but a facemask penalty erased the sack and gave Doane a first down. On the next play, Karsen Reimers (SO/St. Paul, Neb.) found Colby Frazier (FR/New Caney, Texas) for 18 yards and set the Tigers up for a final second field goal attempt.

Kelen Meyer (FR/Ord, Neb.) lined up the 33-yard attempt from the right hashmark and split the uprights to send the game into overtime.

Dordt would take possession to open the extra stanza and quickly moved down to the 10-yard line. The Defenders used a four-yard run on third down to take the ball to the one-yard line where they would go for the touchdown. For the final time in the game, the Doane defense made one more big play as they stuffed the run attempt up the middle with Ty Barbazon (SR/Ocala, Fla.) pulling down the Dordt running back shy of the goal line.

Doane was limited to four yards on their opportunity in the first overtime but it was enough as Meyer drilled a 38-yard field goal to send the Tigers home with their first win over Dordt since 2018.

Offensively, Doane finished with 214 yards. Three quarterbacks combined to go 15-of-25 for 125 yards. Doane finished with 89 yards rushing, led by Frazzie Wynn (SR/Lincoln, Neb.) with 66 yards. Lambert posted five receptions for 64 yards.

Meyer was 2-for-5 in field goal attempts while also punting seven times for an average of 42.7 yards per punt.

Defensively, Jarrett Boggs was in on a team-high 13 tackles. Barbazon was in on 12 tackles with Ty Martinsen (JR/Cedar Rapids, Neb.) and Cedric Gooch Jr. (SR/Wylie, Texas) posting seven tackles apiece. Doane was credited with one sack and six tackles for loss while holding Dordt to 252 yards of total offense.

Doane will be back in action on Saturday, October 1, when they travel to Jamestown, N.D., for the first time. The game will be Homecoming for the Jimmies.