Midland football erased a two-score lead in the first half, only to give it back to Mount Marty in the final two minutes in a 28-27 loss on the road Saturday, snapping a four-game winning streak.
The Lancers (4-4) scored the game’s first 13 points on field goals of 28 and 30 yards, adding a seven-yard touchdown pass to take a 13-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
Tyson Denkert donned his Superman cape again — he scored three of Midland’s four touchdowns while rushing for 250 yards on 27 carries — for the Warriors, returning the ensuing kickoff 93 yards to put Midland on the board.
Midland scored again with 44 seconds left in the half on a two-yard run by backup quarterback Jacob Jones, but did not lead at the intermission.
Mount Marty blocked and returned the punt attempt to make it 15-13 at halftime.
Denkert broke free for a 90-yard touchdown to start the second half, giving Midland its first lead at 20-15, then punted again on the ensuing 8-yarder.
The Warriors looked poised to pull away from Yankton with their fifth straight when they got the ball back 27-22 with 1:10 left, needing a first down to run out the clock.
Midland was unable to gain anything, losing two yards on three runs, then allowed Mount Marty to block the ensuing punt, putting the Lancers just 31 yards from victory.
It took the Lancers four plays to score. A 28-yard pass put the home team at the Midland three-yard line, then scored on a three-yard pass two plays later to stun the Warriors.
Midland quarterback Terryn Berry completed 11 of 20 passes for 102 yards, connecting with Kevin Adams Jr. six times for 74 yards.
Linebacker Jay Ballard led the Warriors with nine tackles, one sack and a forced fumble. Zane Wilson contributed eight tackles and one fumble recovery.
Midland (5-4, 4-4 GPAC) will travel to face Doane (2-7, 2-6 GPAC) next Saturday in Crete, Nebraska.
The start is scheduled for 13:00
GPAC results, November 2
No. 6 Morningside 13, No. 9 Northwestern 7
No. 10 Dordt 55, Briar Cliff 7
Dakota Wesleyan 42, Waldorf 7
Mount Marty 28, Midland 27
GPAC schedule, November 9
Morningside at Waldorf, 1 p.m
Northwestern at Dordt, 1 p.m
Briar Cliff at Dakota Wesleyan, 1 p.m
Mount Marty at Hastings, 2:30 p.m