Hastings College scored the only touchdown of the game in the first quarter and the Broncos held Nebraska Wesleyan to a lone field goal as 22nd-ranked Hastings defeated the Prairie Wolves, 7-3, in a Great Plains Athletic Conference rivalry game on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 17) at Abel Stadium in Lincoln, Neb.
It was the second straight season that the NWU-Hastings game had a final score of 7-3. Last season, NWU defeated Hastings 7-3 in Hastings.
Maurice Mansfield caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from Justin Barry at the 6:03 mark in the first quarter and that was all the points the Broncos could score. The lone score for NWU was a 20-yard field goal by Zach Egger with 5:28 to play in the third quarter.
Neither offense could get anything going as Hastings had 157 total yards, while NWU actually outgained them with 191 total yards. The Prairie Wolves defense limited Hastings to just 1.6 yards per carry and limited Mansfield to 28 yards on 20 carries. The Broncos also played the final quarter with their third string quarterback as Justin Barry was knocked out of the game.
NWU had opportunities to put points on the board early in the game as they drove the ball down into Hastings territory after the Broncos touchdown. NWU stalled out, and the 47-yard field goal by Egger was wide right. Hastings tried a field goal right before halftime, but Jordan Delbaugh blocked the kick for NWU.
The biggest possession of the game was in the third quarter when Phil Harm forced a fumble by Mansfield and NWU took over at the Hastings 34 yard line. The Prairie Wolves got the ball 1st-and goal at the five yard line, but two rushes got them to the three and an incompletion led to the Egger field goal.
A final opportunity for NWU came late in the fourth quarter when the Prairie Wovles took over at their own 48 yard line. They drove down the Hastings 36, but on a 3rd & 7 play, Matt Hagge threw a deep pass into the endzone that was intercepted.
Kory Kahlandt had a solid game as the lone bright spot for the NWU offense. He had 101 yards rushing on 21 carries and caught four passes for 26 yards. Hagge finished 12-21 for 97 yards with two interceptions. Josh Kendle had 13 total tackles, while Phil Harm had 11 tackles with 1.5 tackles-for-loss, a forced fumble and a quarterback sack.
Hastings was led by Nick Grummert on the ground with 34 yards on 12 carries. Barry was 6-9 for 86 yards with the one touchdown. Mackenzie Hemje led the Bronco defense with 14 total tackles.
