DWU Football's Disruptive Defense Sparks 3-0 Start, National Recognition

MITCHELL, Iowa — The Dakota Wesleyan University football team is off to its best start in a decade, and the Tigers' defense is the driving force behind the early-season surge. For the first time since 2015, DWU has opened Great Plains Athletic Conference play with a 3-0 record, powered by a defense that leads the entire NAIA in takeaways.

The Tigers (3-1 overall) have recorded 15 takeaways through four games, including a nation-leading 10 interceptions. Their five fumble recoveries rank fifth nationally. For context, the entire 2025 season produced just nine interceptions and five fumble recoveries in 11 games.

Dominant Performance Against Briar Cliff

Saturday's 37-3 win over Briar Cliff showcased the defense at its disruptive best. DWU forced four turnovers — three interceptions and a fumble recovery — while piling up nine tackles for loss, five sacks, and six pass breakups. The Tigers were a last-second field goal away from their first GPAC shutout since 2013.

“Progressively, every single week, we've gotten better,” said defensive lineman Carter Skogsberg. “That's just how our defense should be rolling right now.”

National Leaders in Key Defensive Categories

The numbers tell a remarkable story. DWU leads the GPAC in rush defense, allowing just 63.8 yards per game, which ranks eighth nationally. That's more than 45 yards per game better than the second-best team in the conference.

The Tigers also rank among the NAIA's best in pass breakups (19, tied for 12th) and tackles for loss (29, tied for 16th).

Defensive coordinator Chris Bessler credits the run-stopping ability for creating opportunities elsewhere.

“We've been doing a good job of creating those types of plays,” Bessler said. “Part of that is we've controlled the run. When you're stopping the run, it makes other teams predictable, and all of a sudden you get to jump on things.”

Standout Performers Elevate the Unit

Several Tigers have emerged as individual standouts. In the secondary, Trevor Sladky's four interceptions are tied for the national lead. Mikey Hart ranks third nationally with six pass breakups.

Linebacker Reed Rus, a Mount Vernon native who transferred from the University of South Dakota, is tied for second nationally with seven tackles for loss, including six sacks. Rus and teammate Drue Davis rank first and second in the GPAC in that category, while Skogsberg sits tied for fifth.

“It all starts with Coach Bessler and the defensive coaches bringing that plan to us,” Rus said. “Yeah, we might give up a chunk play once in a while, but we are also leading the GPAC in turnovers. That's kind of the defense we want to play, and it's exciting for us.”

Defense Fuels Offensive Success

The defense's impact extends beyond stopping opponents. DWU has scored five touchdowns and kicked three field goals on possessions following a takeaway. Four more touchdowns came on drives immediately after the defense forced a three-and-out.

“Momentum is one of those things that, once you get rolling, you can start to feel it in all three phases,” said head coach Alex Kretzschmar. “Ultimately, we want to play the complete game and play complementary football. The defense getting a stop or getting a three-and-out, that's huge.”

Rus sees the energy translating directly to the offense.

“Obviously, this defense is super high energy,” Rus said. “Our negative plays, the explosive plays, all that hopefully should translate right into the offense by getting them great field position. Then there's the energy. You can feel it gets everybody hyped up.”

Toughest Tests Still Ahead

The Tigers know the hardest part of their schedule looms. This weekend brings a road trip to 18th-ranked Midland (Neb.), followed by another away game at No. 8 Morningside (Iowa). The final two home games feature back-to-back matchups against No. 16 Dordt (Iowa) and No. 22 Northwestern (Iowa).

Despite the challenges ahead, the players take pride in what they've built so far.

“The pride is immense right now,” Skogsberg said. “We promised ourselves, even going back to the winter, that we wanted to be a top team in the GPAC as far as defense goes and in terms of disruption, sacks, and those sorts of plays. We knew we could be there, but it all comes down to just preparation every single day and guys buying into the scheme.”

With the defense playing at an elite level and momentum building, DWU has positioned itself as a legitimate contender in the GPAC race.