NWU FOOTBALL: Wesleyan Football Team Falls Short at Luther

Trailing by seven points late in the 4th quarter, Nebraska Wesleyan drove 73 yards for a touchdown with 3:17 remaining in the game, but the extra point attempt failed giving Luther College a 35-34 victory over the Prairie Wolves on Saturday (Nov. 9) in American Rivers Conference football action at Carlson Stadium in Decorah, Iowa.

Luther snaps their 12-game losing streak and picks up their first win of the season, while NWU falls for the sixth straight time this year to drop to 3-6 overall and 1-6 in league play.

Even after the missed PAT attempt the Prairie Wolves still had a chance. NWU’s defense stepped up and forced a quick three and out to get the ball back. The Prairie Wolves took over at their own 45-yard line with 2:12 remaining. A big sack forced 3rd & 21, then Jonathan Curti hit Derrick Curtis for an 8-yard gain setting up 4th & 13. On 4th down, Curti stepped up in the pocket and threw over the middle to Isaac Dannehl who made an attempt that was initially ruled a catch, then overruled by the umpire to end the drive.

Nebraska Wesleyan led 21-14 at halftime scoring two touchdowns in the final 1:31 of the half to take the lead. Curti found Tate Schmadere for a 2-yard TD pass for the first score of the game early in the 1stquarter. After Luther scored two touchdowns to take the 14-7, the Prairie Wolves responded.

Curti hit Logan Hughes for an 8-yard TD to cap an 85 yard drive with 1:31 left in the half. NWU then quickly forced a three and out to get the ball back with 47 seconds left. A big 38-yard pass to Dannehl put the Prairie Wolves in the end zone. Curtis capped the drive with a 7-yard catch for his 12th of the year with only 0:02 left in the half.

In the second half, Luther tied the game at 21-21 on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 8:16 left in the 3rd quarter. They took the lead later in the quarter on a huge play. Facing 2nd & 20 at their own 10-yard line, Michael Lorento hit Andre Atkins for a 90-yard TD, the second longest play in Norse history. That gave Luther their first 2nd half lead all season.

The lead didn’t last long as Monte Robinson Jr., took the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown making it 28-28 headed to the 4thquarter.

A long 12-play, 75-yard drive by the Norse was capped by a 2-yard run from quarterback Parker Kizer who found the end zone with 11:34 left in the game.