STERLING, KS – The NAIA Game of the Week certainly lived up to the hype on Saturday night.
In what looked to be a Doane blowout at the halftime break, #14 Sterling (KS) managed to come out and make it a thrilling football game in the battle of top 15 teams.
Doane built a strong lead in the first half, beginning with a 65 yard touchdown from Paul Lozano to Jacob Cornelius. Cornelius was in his first game back after missing all of last season with an injury.
Two Kyle Jensen touchdown runs gave the Tigers a 21-0 lead in the second quarter.
Following an Eric Haynes touchdown for Sterling, Najee Mustafaa punched it in from one yard out to give Doane a 28-7 lead after two quarters.
The Warriors came out fighting in the second half.
Sterling would score the next three touchdowns of the game. Haynes scored two more times, and Aaron Chisolm also ran one in.
Doane would just hold off the Warriors, however. Late in the fourth quarter, the Tigers were able to piece together a drive, and Jensen would run it in from 15 yards out for his third touchdown of the game.
Doane clinched the victory when Tariq Mustafaa intercepted a Warrior pass with about two minutes on the clock. The Tigers would run out the clock and get a big road victory.
Jensen finished the game with 139 yards on the ground to go along with his three scores.
Paul Lozano and Trev Lovell each threw for 80 yards for the Tigers.
Chisolm led Sterling with 102 yards on the ground.
Doane starts their season off 1-0 and will host Friends University next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. The Tigers will be live on NCN 21 television, as well as on Ol Red 99-5 radio.
Sterling travels to Mayville University in week two.
