Football Welcomes Nebraska Wesleyan Into the Iowa Conference with 42-23 Loss
Oct 8, 2016
Conor Feckley running for a score in Saturday's 42-23 victory over the Nebraska Wesleyan University Prairie Wolves.
DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque football team welcomed the newest member of the Iowa Conference, the Nebraska Wesleyan University Prairie Wolves to Dubuque for their first ever meeting on the football field. At the end of the afternoon, the Spartans were able to capture the game over a very good football team 42-23.
UD would core in every quarter once again and held the visiting Prairie Wolves scoreless in the opening quarter of play. Spartan quarterback Conor Feckley found the end zone on a four yard scamper to put UD ahead 7-0 at 9:24 of the first quarter. Maurece Herrion scored on a 24 yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, but the extra point snap was fumbled and Nebraska returned the miscue return for two points as they trailed 2-13.
Just two minutes later the Spartans would score again on a seven yard pass to Emmanuel Jenkins, extending the lead to 20-2. NWU sliced into the lead just prior to halftime on a eight yard pass and a two point conversion 10-20. The Spartans Dwayne Allen Jr scored midway through the third quarter on a four yard run and Herrion carried the ball for the two point conversion, 28-10. Three minutes later the Prairie Wolves would again cut into the lead on a three yard run and kick failed, 16-28. NWU fired the Spartans up after they scored at 10:38 of the fial quarter of play on a 38 yard pass to move within five points of the undefeated Spartans 23-28. UD scored twice in the final five minutes with a couple of touchdown passes to Najee Toomer, first one at 4:53 for 10 yards and his second one a nine yard grab to extend the lead 42-23 with 1:49 left.
UD moves to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in the IIAC. The Spartans finished with 153 yards rushing and 268 yards through the air. UD would take advantage of the four interceptions and score 22 points off this mistakes. Feckley rushed for 27 yards and completed 25-29 pass attempts for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Seven receivers caught passes with Austin Morgan collecting eight for 60 yards, Najee Toomer five for 89 yards, Dylan Schultz five for 57 yards, and Emanuel Jenkins four for 46 yards.
Herrion led all rushers with 109 yards in 21 carries. Conor O'Malley punted three times for 126 yards, but landed two inside the 20 yard line of the Prairie Wolves. Brayden Neuendorf kicked off seven times for 402 yards with one touchback.
Defensively Logan Banter and Joseph McMahon both finished with eight tackles. Michael Joseph, Derek Schambow, Kelvin Medrano, Johnny Higgins would off intercept a pass in the victory.
The season doesn't get any easier when the Spartans host the Coe College Kohawks (6-0 overall, 4-0 in IIAC) next week for homecoming. The Kohawks won a thriller in Cedar Rapids this week as Central missed a potential game tying field goal at the end of the game handing the Kohawks a hard fought 33-30 win.
