LINCOLN, Neb. - The Loras College football team picked up its first win of the 2025 season on the road against the Nebraska Wesleyan University Prairie Wolves, 31-28.
 
Loras (1-4 overall, 1-2 A-R-C) scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat Nebraska Wesleyan (1-5, 1-3).
 
After the Duhawks' defense forced a Prairie Wolves three-and-out, the Loras offense started at their own one-yard line. Freshman running back Myles Schumacher was the star of the drive, rushing the ball seven times for 39 yards, including a one-yard touchdown rush.
 
After the two sides traded punts, Nebraska Wesleyan used another long drive, which resulted in a touchdown. The Prairie Wolves ran 10 plays for 80 yards, capitalizing on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Connor White to Joey McLaughlin.
 
Looking to respond, the Duhawks set up at their own 25. After Carter Cahill and Schumacher combined for 15 yards on the first two plays of the drive, Will Phillips found Brock Couch for 17 yards, getting the Duhawks into Prairie Wolves territory. Six plays later, Phillips found Couch again for 23 yards, this time resulting in a Duhawk touchdown.
 
A 38-yard kick return gave Nebraska Wesleyan favorable field position, starting at midfield. On second-and-10 from the Duhawks' 36, White found McLaughlin for 31 yards. White connected with Corbin Horner on the next play for a touchdown.
 
The next Loras drive wouldn't last long, as three plays in, Phillips had his pass taken the other direction by Prairie Wolves defensive back Kelby Zimmerman. Nebraska Wesleyan capitalized on the Loras turnover with Trystin Myers taking it 30 yards for another Prairie Wolves touchdown.
 
Heading into halftime, Nebraska Wesleyan led, 21-14.
 
In their first drive of the second half, the Duhawks started with a 13-yard reception by Jimmy Peterson, but a few plays later, Nebraska Wesleyan intercepted another Phillips pass, this time by Jian Aguilar.
 
After the interception, Nebraska Wesleyan set up shop deep inside Loras territory, at the 21. Three Myers' rushes got the Prairie Wolves inside the Loras 10. Two plays later, Nebraska Wesleyan showed some trickery, with wide receiver Horner throwing a touchdown to McLaughlin from six yards out.
 
It was a stalemate between the two sides until the middle of the fourth quarter. After a Nebraska Wesleyan punt, the Duhawks started in the shadow of their own end zone at the eight-yard line. A second-and-seven pass to Ian Broshous got the Duhawks to the 29. Later in the drive, a 15-yard Nebraska Wesleyan horse-collar penalty on third-and-seven gave the Duhawks a fresh set of downs. A few plays later, Schumacher found the end zone, giving the Duhawks life.
 
A muffed kickoff recovered by the Duhawks turned the tide, putting the Duhawks right back in a position to score. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Prairie Wolves after kickoff gave the Duhawks the ball at the Prairie Wolves' nine-yard line. After two Schumacher rushes, Phillips delivered a strike to Sai McWilliams on third-and-three for a three-yard Duhawks touchdown, tying the game at 28.
 
The Duhawks' defense stood tall on the ensuing drive, forcing a Prairie Wolves punt, getting the ball back to their red-hot offense. Starting at their own 25, Phillips found Couch for 14 yards and another first down. Seven plays later, on fourth-and-eight, Phillips found Broshous for 14 yards and a fourth-down conversion. A holding penalty against the Duhawks pushed them back 10 yards, but they picked up seven from a reception by Hunter Guyon. On third-and-12 with four seconds left, Aiden Konig lined up for a 37-yard field goal, and with the game on the line, he drilled the kick.
 
Phillips completed 31-of-40 passing attempts for 305 yards and two touchdowns. Schumacher ended the afternoon with 27 carries for 85 yards and two touchdowns. Will Speltz led all Duhawk defenders with 14 total tackles and four sacks.
 
Up Next: The Duhawks return home next week to host the No. 9-ranked Knights of Wartburg College. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.