Jacob Hansen
Freelancer
Western’s football team hit the road for one final trip last Saturday where they were greeted with below zero temperatures in Rapid City, South Dakota.
The Wolves defeated the South Dakota Mines in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) 18-15. This season-ending victory extended the Wolves winning seasons to nine straight years under Head Coach Arne Ferguson.
“The weather was nothing like any of us have ever played in,” said quarterback Ryan Bergman. “We adapted well to the conditions and were able to do enough to get a victory.”
The Wolves (6-5 4-2 GNAC) had their best day of the season on the ground racking up 212 rushing yards led by running backs Nathaniel Penaranda with 143, and Joe Harris with an 86-yard contribution. Bergman was 14-for-30 contributing 143 yards to the Wolves total.
The Wolves were first to score as Phillip Fenumiai caught a 10-yard pass from Bergman with 7:38 left on the clock. The Wolves failed to convert the extra point. The Mines took the lead just 34 seconds later with a touchdown, making the score 7-6 with 7:04 on the clock.
Just 12 seconds into the second quarter, Harris busted off a 66-yard run to pull ahead by five (12-7). The solid defense lead by senior defensive lineman Kraig Akins kept either team from scoring until the fourth quarter.
Akins who was named the GNAC defensive player of the week had a team high tying eight tackles, including two tackles for a loss along to go with a quarterback sack and a forced fumble.
“He gets overlooked a lot, everyone runs away from him,” Ferguson said. “I believe he is the best defensive player in GNAC history production wise.”
With five minutes left in the fourth, the Mines punched in a two-yard run to take a one-point lead, 13-12, as they failed the two-point conversion.
Bergman threw a pinpoint pass to wide receiver Paul Revis for a 20-yard touchdown with 8:46 remaining. Bergman’s 58th career touchdown put the Wolves up 18-13.
“He [Bergman] is one of the best quarterbacks in the nation,” said Ferguson.
The Wolves defense stepped up causing a turnover on downs to keep the game in their control for the 18-15 victory.
The Wolves finish up the season in a three-way tie for second in the final GNAC standings. They will lose nine seniors this year that all played a significant role on the team.
“We are losing the best threesome of players I have ever coached: Bergman, Akins and Tyrell Williams,” Ferguson said.
