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MITCHELL, S.D. (September 6, 2014) - UW-Stout led 19-7 heading into the final quarter, but host Dakota Wesleyan scored 16 unanswered points to take the season opener for both teams, 23-19, Saturday at Joe Quintel Field.
The Blue Devils held a 12-0 halftime lead on the strength of two Taylor Pahl field goals (28 yards, 34 yards) and a three-yard Adolfo Pacheco (So, South Elgin, Ill) run.
The Tigers (0-1) scored quickly after intermission when Francois Barnaud rumbled off a 75-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage in the second half.
Stout answered back at 9:35 in the third quarter when Hank Kujak (Sr, Blair) connected on a 10-yard TD pass to tight end Ben Hall for a 19-7 lead. That pass was set up by a Kujak to Cody Rosemeyer (Sr, Gilman) 43 yard completion.
Things started to go downhill for the Blue Devils early in the fourth quarter. Kujak was lost for the game when he slipped in the end zone, giving Dakota Wesleyan a safety at 12:19 of the quarter.
On the ensuing Wesleyan drive, Stout dodged a major bullet when Barnaud went off for a long touchdown run, but the play was called back due to a holding penalty. The Tigers got as close as the Stout 16, but a fumble and sack by Stout's Iyan Ogbomoh (Fr, Olympia Fields, Ill) and Jack Ihrke(So, Plainview, Minn) forced a punt.
Stout went 3-and-out, and the Tigers' Barnaud went 57 yards to paydirt on a 4th and 2 to pull to within 19-16.
Stout's Aaron Koerner was intercepted three plays later at the Stout 27. Following a one-yard run by Dillon Turner and a 15-yard jaunt by Barnaud, Dillon scored the go-ahead score from 11-yards out with 2:18 remaining. Koerner was sacked on third down and intercepted on fourth down to put an end to the game.
Barnaud finished with 215 yards rushing on 23 carries. Stout's Pacheco was held to 57 yards. Pacheco had rushed for 100-plus yards in the final four games of 2013.
Stout will host Loras College, Saturday, Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. in their home opener.