Basketball.. already??

I'll just skip my little intro about how fast time goes at DWU and get right into blogging this time since it's been... well... a little while since my last blog.

The Tiger football team faltered a bit after an amazing start. They got to 3-0 before giving up fourth-quarter, last-minute touchdowns to both Midland University and Nebraska Wesleyan University, so they fell to 3-2. Both games were heart breaking to watch and listen to. Against Midland, DWU was fourth and inches -- literally -- away from a first down and, likely, a touchdown and then the win. In the NWU game, it was a bad punt and (I'm guessing) a few missed tackles that allowed the Prairie Wolves to return a punt for a touchdown in the last minute and pull away for the win.

What a day the Tigers had last week against Hastings, though. That was fun to watch. Correction: Josh Endres was fun to watch. He went off for 316 rushing yards, three touchdowns and a school record, and all of his touchdowns came just when the Tigers needed them most. Watching him from the top of the press box at Joe Quintal Field, you can tell he used to be one of the state's top high school Class B sprinters. He left the Broncos' defenders in the dust when he broke free for his 65- and 73-yard touchdown runs. Josh is the co-GPAC Offensive Player of the Week this week, but didn't get the NAIA award. Apparently someone threw for more than 600 yards in a game.

Leif Evers was also recognized by the GPAC this week after yet another solid game. For someone who just made the switch from soccer to football this fall, he's doing exceptionally well. He's missed just two point-after attempts, and both of those were in the Dordt game. Saturday, he hit two field goals, including a 46-yarder. (I thought that might be at least close to a school record... not quite. The school record is 60 yards. He's got a ways to go.) Leif is this week's GPAC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Now comes the tough portion of the Tigers' schedule. They're at top-ranked Sioux Falls this week but, call me crazy, I think it will be close. USF isn't nearly as dominant this year as it has been in the past, and if you look at stats, the two teams are actually similar. Except at the quarterback position, where Jon Eastman has just been dominating the GPAC. But if DWU's offense plays like it can, Endres has another big day and Jon Bane throws for a few yards... you never know. That would be epic.

But... I'm getting ahead of myself. We'll see on Saturday. After that, DWU travels to No. 15 Northwestern before hosting Briar Cliff and No. 8 Morningside to end the season. 6-0 would have been pretty great right now... but you can't change the past, you can only control your destiny, so I'll just keep hoping for a Tiger win.

Even though we still have four more football games left, I've been having to think about basketball an awful lot lately because the men start their season in less than TWO WEEKS! The Tigers host the DWU Fulton State Bank Classic Oct. 29 and 30. Crazy. I'm excited, but wow. Basketball in October? Who knew!

I think I'll leave writing about basketball for the next post... that will give me a reason to write later this week (as opposed to next month). Go Tigers!