No. 11 Dordt to visit Dakota Wesleyan in final home game of 2026 season
The ranked Defenders enter Senior Day at Joe Quintal Field with an eight-game winning streak over the Tigers.
By Aiko Nakamura ·
Dordt University arrives at Joe Quintal Field in Mitchell on Saturday as the No. 11 ranked team in the NAIA national selection committee rankings. The Defenders will face Dakota Wesleyan University in the Tigers final home contest of the 2026 campaign. The matchup serves as Senior Day for the host team.
Dordt enters the game with a 7-2 overall record and a 7-1 mark in Great Plains Athletic Conference play. Dakota Wesleyan is 4-5 overall and 4-4 in conference action. This will be the fifth time this season that the Tigers host a ranked opponent, the highest number on a DWU schedule since 2017.
The historical trend between these two programs has shifted sharply in recent years. Dakota Wesleyan won the first nine meetings in the all-time series, which dates to 2008. Dordt has since won eight consecutive games against the Tigers. The last time they met on Sept. 6, 2025, in Sioux Center, Iowa, the Defenders won by a score of 66-7. That result stands as the largest margin of victory in the series history.
Coaching records show a disparity in recent performance. Dordt head coach Joel Penner is in his 11th season with an 80-35 career record. Dakota Wesleyan head coach Alex Kretzschmar is in his third season with a 12-19 career record. Both teams are among the least penalized in NAIA football. Dordt has committed 31 penalties in nine games, while Dakota Wesleyan has been flagged 32 times.
Statistical data reveals distinct strengths for each squad. Dordt leads the nation in scoring on red zone possessions, converting 41 out of 41 trips for 34 touchdowns. The team averages 44.9 points per game, ranking eighth in the country. Receiver Kaden Harken has 1,008 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, placing him third in yards and second in touchdowns among NAIA receivers. Linebacker Isaac Kacmarynski leads the nation with 103 total tackles.
Dakota Wesleyan ranks second in the nation with 17 defensive interceptions. The team has 24 total defensive takeaways, which is third-best in the country. Punter Wyatt Bult has recorded 50 puns, ranking sixth nationally for individual punts. Jackson Jarding has three forced fumbles, ranking fifth in the nation. The Tiger defense has allowed 24 touchdowns on 40 opponent trips inside the 20-yard line.
Both teams come off lopsided results in their previous contests. Dakota Wesleyan fell 38-3 to No. 14 Northwestern in Mitchell last week. The team completed only six passes in that loss, the fewest since a 2019 game. Dordt defeated Waldorf 80-14 in Sioux Center. The NAIA Massey Ratings currently place Dordt at No. 8 and Dakota Wesleyan at No. 44. The Football Performance Indicator ranks Dordt at No. 19 and Dakota Wesleyan at No. 49.
The regular season continues on Nov. 14. Dakota Wesleyan will travel to Yankton to play Mount Marty. Dordt will host No. 13 Northwestern in a rivalry game on the same day.
