Stutzman ignites Prairie Wolves in win over Dana

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BY KEN HAMBLETON / Lincoln Journal Star

When Jordan Stutzman is bouncing through the defense, and when fullback Seth Mruz has enough time to throw a 45-yard touchdown pass, you know it’s time for Nebraska Wesleyan.

Stutzman ran for 139 yards and a touchdown as Wesleyan posted its best scoring day in a year with a 42-7 victory against Dana College Saturday before about 1,000 fans at Abel Stadium.

“Jordan was running great and everything was good about our game plan,” said NWU center Chea Taylor. “All you have to do is get in front of your guy and he’s flying past you. Then, he gets 20-30 yards downfield and we just sit back and watch him cutting and cutting and running.”

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Nebraska Wesleyan's Jordan Stutzman runs the ball Saturday against Dana College. (Gwyneth Roberts)

Nebraska Wesleyan's Jordan Stutzman runs the ball Saturday against Dana College. (Gwyneth Roberts)

Stutzman zipped 36 yards on the second play of the game to ignite a 99-yard drive. Stutzman, a senior from Friend, had gains of 11, 9 and 14 yards on the drive before scoring from the 1-yard line.

“I think that drive from our goal line really showed we were going to hit and move and get after every play,” said Taylor, a senior center from Hampton.

The Prairie Wolves’ defense was equal to the offense. Paul Seger intercepted a pass, and three minutes later, Wesleyan recovered a fumbled punt to set up a 4-yard touchdown run by quarterback Matt Hagge to give NWU a 14-0 lead.

Wesleyan tacked on a touchdown on the second play of the second half when Mruz burst around the right side of the line on a 9-yard touchdown run.

Just 1:25 later, Mruz threw a halfback pass to an isolated Tyler Ridder for a touchdown and a 28-0 lead.

Wesleyan linebacker Jim Trvdy then intercepted a pass and raced 39 yards for another score, NWU’s third in the first six minutes of the third quarter.

“Our offensive line has been coming together the last three games, and Ryan Hawthorne, our fullback, did a great job, too,” said Wesleyan coach Brian Keller. “When that all works and our receivers block downfield, you just let Jordan do his thing and watch his instincts take over.

“You have to give him the ball when he’s running like that.”

The running game and the long drives were important in limiting the opportunities for Dana’s pass-happy offense.

“They had the ball for 15 plays and about seven minutes to start the game, and we had to keep the ball away from them or they’d do that all game,” Keller said.

After its opening drive stalled, Dana downed a pooch punt inside the Wesleyan 1, then a false-start penalty moved the ball to where its nose cast a shadow on the goal line. Wesleyan scored 12 plays later.

“That drive from our goal line told me we might have a good day,” Keller said.

Wesleyan improved to 2-3. NWU lost to No. 2 Sioux Falls to open the season, then fell at Dakota Wesleyan. The Wolves lost to 10th-ranked Northwestern 17-15 before beating Dordt two weeks ago.

“For three games we’ve been pretty solid on defense and been getting better on offense,” Keller said.

Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.