Crete, Nebraska — Dordt College earned its first conference win of the season with 21-6 victory on the road against Doane College in Crete, Nebraska.
In a game that turned into a defensive struggle, the Defenders needed a late interception to seal the win.
Doane started the scoring with a 60 yard touchdown pass from Jack Shadley to Hunter Bradley with 6:41 left in the first quarter. The play capped a five play, 69 yard drive and came after Doane had turned the ball over on downs on their first possession at the Dordt six yard line.
The Defenders got on the board with an eight play, 70 yard drive that was capped by a Keithen Drury two yard plunge. The two-point conversion failed and Dordt trailed 7-6 with 7:33 left in the first half.
Dordt’s defense limited Doane on the next possession, forcing a punt with the ball at midfield and 4:50 left in the first half. Brock Lamle started the drive with a 16 yard rush. The Defenders faced a fourth and one on the next set of downs and Lamle found Levi Jungling for a 15 yard reception to keep the drive alive. The Defenders again faced third and seven on the very next set of downs and Lamle again found Jungling, this time for a 19 yard gain and a first down. With the ball at the Doane 25 the Defenders returned to the ground with Levi Schoonhoven getting the call on four straight carries to again set up fourth down and one and Schoonhoven carried for a five yard gain and first down at the Doane 11. With the clock winding down Lamle completed a pass to Jungling for the touchdown and Jungling converted the two-point conversion to give Dordt a 14-7 halftime lead.
Dordt was limited on its first possession of the second half and Doane turned its ensuing drive into points as Bryce Cooney knocked a 26 yard field goal through.
The next five drives combined resulted in punts and it was Dordt that finally broke through with a drive that started at their own 45. This time the drive ended with a Lamle to Jungling 21 yard reception in the end zone for a 21-10 lead.
Doane drove to the Dordt 21 on the next possession but an incomplete pass on fourth down ended the drive.
Dordt was unable to sustain a drive and was forced to punt and Doane began its comeback attempt with a drive that covered 61 yards and ended with a completed pass for a touchdown with 3:09 left in the game for a 21-16 score. The two-point conversion attempt failed.
The Defenders were again forced to punt but Doane was left with 2:11 to work with. Doane was pressed into a third down situation at its won 36 and Ryan Cisneros ended the threat with an interception that he returned to the 11 yard line. Two kneel downs by Lamle ended it.
This was the Dordt program’s first win over a team ranked in the NAIA top-25.
Dordt will host Hastings on Saturday, October 14 in its next outing.
