Index of Sports Press Releases

Oct. 8, 2009

DWU heads to Doane for ‘Battle of the Tigers’

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University football team will travel to Crete, Neb., Saturday for its sixth game of the 2009 season, and when the Tigers look across the line at their opponent, it might feel a lot like looking in a mirror.

Not only is Doane’s squad also nicknamed the Tigers, but the version is Crete enters Saturday’s game with the same overall record and same desire to earn a win and turn its season around.

Russell McGuire	Justin Guzman
Jordan Gau	Derek Washington

Dakota Wesleyan enters the game 1-4, both overall and in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, while Doane is 1-4 overall and 1-3 in the GPAC. Both teams have faced tough schedules thus far and have other games against ranked opponents looming later in the season, so Saturday’s game offers both teams a huge opportunity to get a much-needed win.

The Tigers from Mitchell will attempt to win on the road behind backup quarterback Russell McGuire, who gets the start as senior Jon Doom recovers from an arm injury suffered in last week’s heartbreaking 29-26 loss to Midland Lutheran College. Though Doom won’t start, he hasn’t been ruled out for the game. Same goes for Marco Mora, who injured his ankle last week, but offensive tackle Nathan Little is unavailable and Mario Palencia will start in his place.

Saturday’s game also features a pair of teams who have struggled to both run the ball and stop the run this season, so winning the battle at the line of scrimmage will be essential. DWU will hope senior Justin Guzman can repeat his two-touchdown performance, which featured a go-ahead 58-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter last week.

The Tiger defense has also done a good job covering in juries with converted offensive players. Safety Tom Jarding picked off his second pass last week, and he had two tackles-for-a-loss and linebacker Jim Williams had 10 tackles, a tackle-for-a-loss and a forced fumble. Both players began the season as running backs, but their conversion has helped a defense that has been led by safeties Jordan Gau and Derek Washington.

Saturday’s kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Simon Field in Crete. For Tiger fans who can’t travel to the game, catch all the action live on 105.9 FM KMIT or online at www.kmit.com.