NAIA: Dordt knocks off unbeaten No. 16 Midland in convincing road win

The Dordt University Defenders (2-2, 2-1) handed the No. 16 Midland University Warriors their first loss of the season Saturday, controlling the game on both sides of the ball in a 42-17 Great Plains Athletic Conference victory at Heedum Field in Fremont, Nebraska.

Noah Strickfaden threw four touchdown passes, three to Kaden Harken, while the Dordt ground game added 218 yards and two more scores. The Defenders finished with 476 yards of offense and shut out the Warriors in the second half.

Defenders strike quickly

Dordt set the tone immediately.

Strickfaden found Harken for a two-yard touchdown to finish a 60-yard opening drive. The pair connected again late in the first quarter, this time from 34 yards, as the Defenders jumped out to a 14-0 lead.

Midland finally answered early in the second when Brodey Johnson hit Jurrion Dickey for a 14-yard touchdown.

Zane Farney restored the two-score advantage with a 12-yard touchdown run, but the Warriors weren’t finished. Johnson connected with Tyson Money for a 40-yard score and Payden Alexander kicked a 38-yard field goal to pull Midland within 21-17.

That was as close as the Warriors would get.

Strickfaden drove Dordt 75 yards in the final 1:38 of the half, hitting Nick Giesen for a three-yard touchdown with 16 seconds remaining to send the Defenders into the break leading 28-17.

Dordt takes over

The Defenders came out of halftime with another 75-yard march, Farney scoring from two yards out to stretch the lead to 35-17.

Meanwhile, the Dordt defense completely shut down the Midland running game. The Warriors managed just 42 yards on 17 carries and converted only three of 10 third downs.

Dordt also recorded 15 tackles for loss, two sacks and seven pass breakups while keeping Midland scoreless throughout the second half.

Strickfaden nearly flawless

Strickfaden completed 16 of 19 passes for 258 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Harken caught eight passes for 113 yards and three scores.

Thomas Fritz Jr. provided the muscle on the ground, rushing for 132 yards on 18 carries, while Farney added 78 yards and two touchdowns.

Strickfaden and Harken finished things off midway through the fourth, connecting for a 15-yard touchdown and the final 42-17 margin.

For the Defenders, it was a complete road performance against an unbeaten, nationally ranked opponent: 476 yards, six touchdowns, no turnovers and a second-half shutout.

Dordt returns home Saturday to face the Doane Tigers in another GPAC matchup.