The Midland Lutheran Warriors defeated Avila University, 31-9 at the 10th Annual Wheat Bowl in Ellinwood, Kansas, Saturday night. The Warriors are currently 1-0 on the season, while recording three touchdowns and one field goal for the win over the Eagles.

The Warriors slammed the door on the Eagle offense, Midland Lutheran scored late in the first quarter, before scoring again in the second quarter and then adding two second half touchdowns to the final margin. Seniors quarterback Josh Lanik and running back Chris Strehle were co-offensive Most Valuable Players of the Wheat Bowl Game for Midland Lutheran. Lanik completed 5-of-8 passes for 47 yards, while rushing for 108 yards and a pair of touchdowns, as Midland Lutheran won its second Wheat Bowl title against a non-conference foe. The previous Wheat Bowl title came in 2002.

Strehle ran for 102 yards and two touchdowns, while Lanik ran for an incredible 69-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to lead the Warriors in rushing.

Leading 14-0 at the break, the Warriors broke the game open on scoring runs by Strehle in the first and second quarters of play, while Lanik scored on a 10-yard run with 2:23 left in the third quarter before adding a second touchdown in the fourth quarter with a 69-yard run for the Warriors.

The Eagles' offensive misfortunes kept giving the Warriors excellent field position. On AU's next offensive series, defensive end Aaron Schmidt and linebacker Keith Wilson sacked Allen for a 12-yard loss, as Nate Mumm recovered the fumble at the 30-yard line.

Midland Lutheran took advantage of the turnover, as Chris Strehle scored on the fifth play of the drive on a 10-yard run. The Warriors took the lead, 7-0 in the first quarter, when Zac Gradoville connected on a field goal, his first of the season, to give the Warriors an early advantage.

The Warriors drove into scoring position in the second quarter, marching to the AU 8-yard line, by capitalizing on the turnover, Strehle.scored on a 8-yard run with 9:10 left in the third quarter to extend the lead, 14-0.

In the third quarter, the Warriors put up seven more points on the board with 2:23 left in the quarter after six plays and 69 yards. Lanik rushed for 10 yards to score his first touchdown of the season. Gradoville added the extra point to lead the Warriors, 21-0.

In the last quarter of play, the Eagles scored on a field goal kicked by Massim Scaccia from 42 yards out. The kick was good, putting AU on the board with three points. The Warriors came back on the next play, as Lanik broke away with a 69-yard run with 11:11 left in the half.

The Eagles came back on the next drive to score a touchdown with 9:01 left in the game. The Warriors continued to dominate AU and the second half, as Gradoville kicked a 31 yard field goal with 2:52 left in the game to solidify the win for the Warriors.

Midland Lutheran College will return to action next Saturday, Sept. 4, when it travels to Dana, for a 1 p.m. contest in Blair, Nebraska.
(Story courtesy of Christina Deck at Midland Lutheran)

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FREMONT—The Midland Lutheran College Athletic Department held a press conference at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 11, 2004 to officially announce the Warriors selection as a participant in the Wheat Bowl Football Classic. The press conference was held in the Hopkins Arena Hall of Fame room, located on the Midland Lutheran College campus at 10th and Irving Streets.

Dubbed “America’s most unique Collegiate Bowl”, the Wheat Bowl Football Classic is the only NAIA-endorsed pre-season bowl game. The Wheat Bowl Football Classic is headquartered in the Central Kansas town of Ellinwood and is presented annually as the kickoff for the NAIA grid season nationally.

Wheat Bowl X, which will take place August 28, will pair Midland Lutheran College against Avila University (Kansas City, Mo.). Avila is a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The game will be played at the Ellinwood Sports Complex. Game time has yet to be determined.

By kicking off the season with the Wheat Bowl, Midland head coach Bob Dzuris will get an early look on how his Warriors will come together in 2004.

“Any time you get a chance to judge yourself before going into conference play, it helps you get a feel for where you are and what things we need to continue to work on,” Dzuris said. “This also gives us an opportunity to be viewed on the national level from the very first game of the season.”

The Warriors finished the 2003 season ranked 25th in the NAIA national poll.

Wheat Bowl representatives officially announced the Warriors selection during the press conference and provided additional information about the match-up.