LINCOLN, Neb. (Duhawks.com) - After a slow start to the season finale, the Loras football team crafted a second half comeback on Saturday against Nebraska Wesleyan. A pair of turnovers inside the final three minutes were turned into touchdowns by the Prairie Wolves, sending the Duhawks to a 51-27 defeat. Senior
Zach Minch rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns, capping his collegiate career with 2,348 yards over two seasons.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
First Quarter
- After receiving the opening kickoff, Loras struggled to kickstart the offense and was forced to turn the ball over after six plays.
- A 4th-and-9 for the Duhawks from the Nebraska Wesleyan 26-yard line was silenced after redshirt sophomore Bob Kelly was sacked for a loss of four yards.
- The Prairie Wolves used the momentum from the fourth down stop and moved down the field, scoring on a 31-yard field goal after a 12-play 56 yard drive.
- Loras fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Nebraska Wesleyan wasted no time, scoring its first touchdown of the game four plays later.
Second Quarter
- A three-and-out from the Duhawks on their first possession of the second quarter put the ball back in the hands of the Prairie Wolves, who made it 17-0 on a 15-play 74-yard drive.
- With less than three minutes to go in the half, Kelly opened with three straight completions to move the ball deep into Nebraska Wesleyan territory.
- A 16-yard strike to senior Jon Powers put the Duhawks on the four-yard line where junior Mikey Castoro punched it into the endzone for the touchdown on the ground.
Third Quarter
- Loras' half time adjustments proved valuable as the offense had more success than it did in the opening frame.
- On 3rd-and-Goal from the Prairie Wolves' eight-yard line, Kelly found junior Jonathan O'Brien for the touchdown strike.
- Following a muffed punt by Nebraska Wesleyan, Minch powered his way through for the score to cut the deficit to 10 at 31-21.
Fourth Quarter
- Trailing 37-21, Minch took over, rushing for 80 of the 86 yards on the drive, highlighted by a 76-yard scamper for his ninth touchdown of the season.
- Loras had all of the momentum on its side following Minch's touchdown and marched down the field to the Nebraska Wesleyan two-yard line when on a 3rd-and-Goal, Minch was tackled for a loss of eight yards and fumbled into the hands of the Prairie Wolves' Tyler Sorenson who brought it all the way back for the touchdown.
- Nebraska Wesleyan capped the scoring on the next play from scrimmage, picking off a Kelly pass and returning it for the score.
FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Zach Minch | In his final game in the Purple & Gold, Minch continued to stake his claim as one of the top running backs in the conference. The Davenport native posted his eighth 100-yard game of the season, rushing for 153 yards and two touchdowns, including a long of 76 yards. He finishes his career with 2,348 yards.
