FREMONT, Neb. – Tyson Denkert ran for two touchdowns and returned a punt for a score as Midland University opened its season with a 45-7 victory over Clarke University on Friday night at Heedum Field. The all-conference running back and return specialist sparked the Warriors in front of a joyous home crowd, to begin the 2024 campaign.
The Warriors gained momentum early in the game as the defense forced two turnovers on the Pride’s first two possessions. On the fourth play of the game, Warriors’ defensive back Justin Gassaway intercepted a Malik Inabinette pass, giving Midland the ball at the 33-yard line. However, the Warriors’ opening drive stalled, resulting in a punt.
On the third play of the next Clarke drive, Aaron Middleton recovered an Inabinette fumble and the Warriors took over the ball at the 42-yard line. This time the Warriors made the turnover count. On the second play of the drive, Denkert rushed the ball in from 25 yards out, to put the Warriors on the scoreboard. Cameron Spicer‘s point-after kick put Midland ahead 7-0 with 8:30 remaining in the opening quarter.
After Clarke put together an eight-play drive that resulted in a punt, Midland took over the ball at their 43-yard line. The drive went backward and they punted back to the Pride. Clarke ran two plays before the end of the quarter, which had Midland leading, 7-0.
On the second play of the second quarter, Clarke was forced to punt and Midland’s Denkert returned the kick 36 yards back to the Pride 20-yard line. The ensuing drive stalled and Spicer booted in a 37-yard field goal to put the Warriors up 10-0 with 11:57 to play in the half.
The Pride put together its most sustained drive on their next possession, running 11 plays. However, the Warriors’ defense forced a field goal attempt. Garrett Atkinson’s 42-yard attempt was tipped at the line of scrimmage and came up short, giving Midland the ball back.
The Warriors put together their longest drive of the half, running 12 plays. However, on a fourth down and one at the Pride 5-yard line, a bad exchange from center to quarterback, resulted in a five-yard loss, ending the drive on downs. The Pride took a knee on their next play, sending the teams into halftime with the Warriors leading 10-0.
Midland got the ball to begin the second half and scored on its opening drive. Denkert capped off a five-play, 68-yard drive with his second rushing touchdown of the game. The 11-yard touchdown run, plus Spicer’s extra point, put Midland ahead 17-0 with 11:03 remaining in the third quarter.
Clarke responded by putting its lone scoring drive of the game together. The Pride capped a nine-play 66-yard march with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Riley Hawkins from Inabinette. Atkinson’s PAT made the score 17-7, with 5:58 to play in the third quarter.
The Warriors put together a nine-play drive on the next possession. However, a Teryn Berry fumble was recovered by the Pride’s T.J. Shropshire at the Clarke eight-yard line on the final play of the third quarter.
Midland held Clarke to a three-and-out on the next drive. Atkinson’s punt was fielded by Denkert sprinted his way through traffic 44 yards for a touchdown. Spicer’s extra point gave Midland a 24-7 lead with 12:06 to play.
On the ensuing kickoff, Midland’s Gavin Rohewal delivered a short, directional kick which the Warriors recovered at the Clarke 30-yard line. Three plays later, Berry connected with Tim Brown on a 27-yard touchdown pass. Spicer’s PAT made it a 31-7 Midland lead with 9:55 remaining.
When Clarke got the ball back, Midland forced another turnover. On the first play of the drive, Zayne Wilson intercepted an Inabinette pass at the Clarke 40-yard line. Midland could not capitalize, as it was forced to punt after a three-and-out. The Pride struggled to move the ball on its next possession, and trailing by 24 points with less than eight minutes to play, they elected to go for it on fourth and four at its own 22-yard line. An incomplete pass gave Midland the ball back on downs and it turned the short field into points. Six plays into the drive, Berry threw his second touchdown of the night. A three-yard completion to Jayden Shakir. That extended the Midland lead to 38-7 following Spicer’s extra point with 2:59 to play.
The ensuing kickoff, another directional placed ball, was fumbled by the Pride. Midland’s Tyler Pickworth recovered the ball at the 32-yard line and six plays later, Midland put the finishing touches on the scoreboard. A 17-yard touchdown run by Deangelo Dowdy followed by Spicer’s PAT made the score 45-7 with just over a minute to go in the game.
Clarke ran three plays on its next possession before the clock expired. Midland walked off the field with the 45-7 season-opening win at home.
Warriors’ head coach Jeff Jamrog was pleased with the win.
“Turnovers were a key today. Defense played awesome,” commented Coach Jamrog. “Our offense sputtered, we were our own worst enemy at times with penalties and bad snaps, but at times we moved the ball really well. We have explosive players. I thought Teryn Berry handled the game really well. Special teams I thought did some really nice things by blocking a kick and returning a punt for a touchdown, plus falling on two pooch kicks. Some really good things on all three sides of the ball.”
Midland rushed the ball 38 times for 217 yards. They were 10-of-17 in passing for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Midland ran 55 plays for 305 yards of total offense. Clarke rushed the ball 34 times for 45 yards. Through the air, the Pride was 8-of-15 for 112 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
Individually for Midland, Teryn Berry completed 10 of 15 passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Tyson Denkert carried the ball 18 times for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Jamrog talked about his All-GPAC running back and return specialist.
“He’s one of the best I’ve been around. Yards after contact, he’s just tough to bring down one-on-one. He’s just a special talent, a great young man, and one of our five captains and I’m really proud of him.”
In receiving, Tim Brown caught five passes for 55 yards and a touchdown, to lead the Warriors’ receiving corps. Jayden Shakir had one reception for a three-yard touchdown.
Defensively, Treden Davis-Reed led the Warriors with six tackles. Dane Christensen had four tackles, plus a sack. Carter Wagner recorded three tackles, 2.5 for loss. Zayne Wilson and Justin Gassaway both had interceptions in the Midland secondary.
Offensively for Clarke, Malik Inabinette completed 6-of-11 passes for 101 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Jaden Alveranga led the Pride in rushing with 11 carries for 22 yards. Jayden Wyer caught one pass for 29 yards. Riley Hawkins also had a catch for 27 yards, that went for a touchdown.
Midland (1-0) will be back in action next week when it hosts Dordt (0-0) to open Great Plains Athletic Conference play. Kickoff against the Defenders is set for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 7 at Heedum Field in Fremont.
