Iowa Wesleyan football comes up short

FOREST CITY — Iowa Wesleyan football played its final game of the season against North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) foe Waldorf University.

It was yet another defensive battle for the Tigers, but in the end it was the Warriors walking away with a slim 7-3 victory.

On the Tigers’ first possession, they were forced to punt.

On the Warrior’s first drive of the afternoon, Jordan Cooper tried to find Mike Mouton for a completion, but the Tigers’ Jakim Brock was able to jump the pass and intercept the ball.

After the interception, the Tigers’ first play was a trick play where Zach Chevalier pitched the ball back to Terrell Holt who threw the ball 40 yards down the field to Jordan Beban who was tackled at the Waldorf 16-yard line from the halfback pass.

The Tigers would follow with three straight rushes, but were halted and settled for a 24-yard field goal attempt from Lucas Mosqueda. Mosqueda's field goal was successful to put the Tigers up 3-0 with 7:09 left in the 1st quarter.

The score would prove to be the Tigers lone points of the game.

On the next Warrior possession, with new quarterback Carter Bruckhoff into the game, Jeremiah Pauling was able to get himself an interception on 3rd and 9 and return it 15 yards to Waldorf's 30-yard line to set up the Tigers in Warrior territory.

On 3rd and 8 from the Waldorf 13-yard line, Stafford Lewis would rush the ball for a first down and more, but on his way down to the ground, the ball slipped out into the end zone, which resulting in a fumble recovery for the Warriors and a touchback.

Both teams would punt the ball away on their next drives, and the Warriors would start their final drive of the half on their own 24-yard line.

The Warriors would put together a 13-play, 56-yard drive that would end with a Connor Parker field goal attempt from 37 yards. Parker's attempt was wide left. Following the missed field goal, Iowa Wesleyan keeled the ball to end the half. They held on to their 3-0 lead.

The opening drive of the second half for the Warriors would prove to be the game winning one as they were able to march 68 yards down the field on 13 plays.

On 2nd and goal from the Iowa Wesleyan four, the Warrior’s Javontey Harper rushed four yards for the score to put the Warriors up 6-3. Following the point after, the Warriors led 7-3 with 8:48 left in the 3rd quarter.

On the kickoff following the touchdown, the Tiger’s Tyler Ball was stripped of the ball and Waldorf recovered at the Tiger’s 18-yard line.

The Tiger defense stood tall though and forced a field goal from 22 yards out. The Tigers were able to make a defensive play once again getting their hands on the kick and recovering the blocked field goal in the end zone for a touchback.

Both teams punted on their next dive and then Iowa Wesleyan would get the ball back with another shot at the lead. On a 4th and 2 in Waldorf territory, Chevalier tried to hook up with Holt, but the pass was broken up by Marquise Alexander for the turnover on downs.

The next five drives in the game all resulted in punts, and the Tigers got the ball back with 2:03 left in the game with a chance to win it.

On 1st and 10, Chevalier found Damian Tanelus for 15 yards to the Tiger 30-yard line. Again on 1st and 10, Chevalier found an open receiver in Jaden Harris for 13 yards.

With another 1st and 10 from their own 43-yard line, the Tigers tried a halfback pass once against, but Holt was hit as he threw the ball and the ball was tipped and intercepted by the Waldorf’s Austin Erdmann to seal the game.

With the loss, the Tigers drop to 4-7 on the season and 2-4 in NSAA play.

Chevalier finished with 177 yards in the loss. Stafford Lewis ended with 33 yards on the ground. Ball had 70 yards receiving on five catches. Pauling led defensively with 11 tackles and an interception. Brock had an interception as well.