DeRiso's Late Touchdown Reception Caps Football Victory

Fremont, Neb. – In a game that came down to the final seconds, Doane football delivered a dramatic road victory, defeating Midland 19-18 on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers scored the winning touchdown with just 24 seconds remaining, showcasing grit on both sides of the ball to earn their first conference road win of the season.

First Half – Slow Start, Strong Response

Midland struck early with a 31-yard field goal by Payden Alexander and a short touchdown run from Tyson Denkert to build a 10-0 lead in the opening quarter.

Doane's defense turned the tide in the second quarter, forcing a safety when the snap on a punt attempt went through the Warriors' own end zone. On the ensuing drive, quarterback Sam Hartman found Andrew Waido for a 25-yard touchdown strike, trimming the deficit to 10-8. The Tigers threatened again before halftime, but a Midland interception halted the drive and the Warriors held a narrow lead at the break.

Second Half – Defense Stiffens, Tigers Grind

The third quarter belonged to Doane's defense. Jarett Boggs, Tanner Simdorn, and Carson Lavaley each registered key tackles for loss, while Reece Zutavern anchored the unit with a game-high 14 tackles. The defensive line also blocked a Midland 38-yard field goal attempt, keeping momentum with the Tigers.

Offensively, Doane capitalized midway through the third when kicker Ivar de Jong drilled a 19-yard field goal to give the Tigers their first lead of the day at 11-10.

Fourth Quarter – Drama Unfolds

Midland regained the lead with under eight minutes to play, as quarterback Zach Congalton connected with Colin Vigil on a four-yard touchdown pass. A successful two-point conversion pushed the Warriors in front 18-11.

But the Tigers refused to fold. Doane's defense forced a punt following the two-minute timeout to set up one final chance. Taking over with 1:54 remaining, Hartman orchestrated an 80-yard drive. He connected with Waido and John DeRiso to move the chains, then delivered a 19-yard strike to DeRiso for the touchdown to pull within one point. A roughing the passer penalty on the touchdown play put the ball at the one-yard line for the extra point attempt. Doane went for the two-point attempt and Hartman kept the ball himself, diving across the goal line to give Doane a 19-18 lead with just 24 seconds left.

Closing Moments

Midland mounted one last push, driving into Doane territory in the final seconds. However, Alexander's 56-yard field goal attempt came up short as time expired, sealing the Tigers' thrilling one-point win.

Offensive Standouts

• Sam Hartman: 24 completions for 299 yards and 2 touchdowns; also scored on the decisive two-point conversion.

• Andrew Waido: Team-high 10 receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown.

• John DeRiso: 5 catches for 82 yards, including the game-winning score.

Doane finished with 377 yards of total offense, highlighted by 299 through the air. Despite losing two fumbles, the Tigers executed in the red zone, scoring on all three trips.

Defensive Leaders

• Reece Zutavern: 14 tackles and 2 quarterback hurries.

• Jarett Boggs: 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a sack.

• Carson Lavaley: 5 tackles and a sack.

• JaKarion Jackson: Interception returned 12 yards.

The Tigers' defense held Midland to just 270 total yards and forced critical mistakes, including the second-quarter safety and the blocked field goal. 

What's Next

With the victory, Doane improves to 1-3 overall and 1-3 in conference play. The Tigers will look to build on the momentum when they return home next week for another GPAC matchup on Homecoming against Dakota Wesleyan.

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