Box Score
FAYETTE, Iowa – A shootout broke out during the Northern State versus Upper Iowa football game Saturday at EB Eischeid Stadium in Fayette, Iowa, as the two teams combined for 77 points and 999 offensive yards with Upper Iowa finding themselves on the better end of the scoreboard 42-35 in overtime.
With the loss the Wolves fall to 0-3 on the year, and 0-2 in the Northern Sun. The Wolves have now lost eight games dating back to last season.
The Peacocks started the ballgame off with some offense, as quarterback Ben Curran found Jessie Hubbard crossing to the right side of the field for a 20-yard touchdown pass. The point after would be good to give the Peacocks a 7-0 lead with 12:50 remaining in the first quarter.
Northern State answered the score in the form of a 13-play 68-yard drive that covered six minutes of time, capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by sophomore Calvin McGruder. The Parrott extra point would be true to bring the score back to even at seven points apiece.
The defense would do their job, and force a punt on the next Peacock possession to give the Wolves the ball again at their own 31-yard line with 4:38 showing on the clock. After a few plays, Montrel Richardson would bust loose and out-run a few Peacock defenders before breaking a few tackles on his way to a 44-yard rushing touchdown to give the Wolves their first lead of the season at 13-7. A two-point conversion attempt would fail and the score would remain at 13-7.
With 14:19 to go in the 2nd quarter, Wolves quarterback Joei Fiegler scrambled for about 10 total yards before throwing across his body to find sophomore wide out Josh Aho for a 37-yard touchdown to bring the score to 19-7 in favor of Northern State. A fake point after attempt would be good when holder Trent DesLauriers found Matt McNabb in the corner of the end-zone, bringing the score to 21-7.
The two teams would trade turnovers and possessions until Upper Iowa's Sam Epsteen broke loose for a 17-yard touchdown run to bring the score to 21-14.
Northern State would answer immediately when Montrel Richardson took the ensuing kickoff at his own 10-yard line, picked up a few key blocks, and sprinted 90-yards untouched to paydirt to bring the score to 28-14, which would remain until halftime.
Northern State opened up the second-half scoring when Fiegler found DesLauriers for a two-yard touchdown with 10:23 remaining in the third to bring the score to 35-14 after the Parrott extra point.
Epsteen would add another touchdown with 4:22 remaining in the third on a five-yard pass from Ben Curran to bring the score to 35-21.
The Peacocks would add another score in the form of a Jordan Otdoerfer six-yard touchdown run with 13:47 remaining in the fourth to bring the score to 35-28.
The score would remain until 1:04 remained in the game when Curran found Hubbard once again for a 19-yard touchdown pass. Northern State would get a hand on the extra point kick but the ball still made it through the uprights to tie up the score up at 35 points apiece.
Northern State started the ensuing drive on their own 35-yard line and backup quarterback Jeff Ross, filling in for an injured Fiegler, hit John Michael Migdal for a 17-yard gain. Ross then found Zuri Nance on a deep post route but the ball bounced helplessly off his hands and the Wolves were forced to punt with 14 seconds to go. The Parrott punt was downed by Chris Hurd inside the Peacocks 2-yard line and the Peacocks would run out the clock to send the game to overtime.
The Wolves would win the toss and start on defense to start the overtime period. On third and eight to go, Curran hit La'Mont Williams for a 23-yard touchdown. August Preuss would add the extra point to give the Peacocks a 42-35 lead.
Northern State picked up a first down on second and eight to go with a 14-yard run from Montrel Richardson. On first and goal from the 9-yard line, quarterback Jeff Ross was hit as he threw the ball into the end zone and it was picked off by Marquise Figueroa to end the game.
Offensively, Montrel Richardson had his official Northern State coming out party, as he accounted for 289 all-purpose yards (157 rushing, 136 returns, -4 receiving) and two touchdowns (one rush, one return).
Fiegler was 17-29 for 288 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Ross was 7-12 for 60 yards and two interceptions in relief of Fiegler.
Josh Aho led the receiving corps with four catches for 94 yards and a touchdown. DesLauriers added another impressive game to his season, finishing with six catches for 65 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Wolves were led by Anthony Ponzo, Jr. and his seven tackles including one for loss. Augustus Capers finished the day with four tackles, one tackle for loss, one fumble recovery, and two pass breakups.
The Wolves will look to regroup next week when they travel to St. Cloud, Minn. to take on the St. Cloud State Huskies in an NSIC matchup.
Last year 31-26 UIU in Aberdeen.
