Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Northern State University Wolves held second-ranked University of Minnesota-Duluth to a season-low 27 points and forced five Bulldog fumbles (recovering four of the five), but couldn't find their offensive stride, falling to the Bulldogs by a 27-7 margin Saturday afternoon in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football action.

UMD running back Brad Foss, filling in capably for the injured Isaac Odim, ran the ball 23 times for 165 yards and a touchdown, as the Bulldogs – ranked eighth in the nation in total offense and first in scoring offense coming into the game – racked up 431 yards on the day. 

Foss, however, lost two of UMD's four fumbles, as the Bulldogs were uncharacteristically loose with the ball at times, owing in part to the steady rain that fell throughout the first half of the game and to a relentless Wolves pursuit.  Five different Wolves recorded forced fumbles, including redshirt freshman safety Logan Dosch.  The Aberdeen native recorded a game and career-best 11 tackles and the force.

UMD opened the scoring with a 14-yard Foss run in the first quarter.  NSU junior Lincoln Smith got a hand on Bulldog kicker David Nadeau's point after attempt, however, leaving the score at 6-0.  The blocked kick was the second of the season for Smith.

After trading punts on their next two possessions, the Wolves started their third drive of the game inside UMD territory.  The Bulldogs' Forest Clements put an end to the drive after just three plays, however, picking off NSU quarterback Joei Fiegler trying to go deep.

That interception and ensuing return to the 26 set the Bulldogs up for what looked to be a promising drive, as they ate up yardage in chunks, reaching the NSU 11-yardline in just six plays.  The drive ended as abruptly as it began on the seventh play when NSU senior Adam Carvajal stripped Foss of the football and fellow senior Tony Bock gathered it up.

The Wolves then put together a promising drive of their own, taking the ball all the way to the Duluth 26-yardline before stalling out on three straight incomplete passes and turning the ball over on downs.  NSU got the ball back just five plays later after another Bulldog fumble, but immediately gave it back on the first play from scrimmage on a second Fiegler interception on a play over the middle.

The Bulldogs capitalized on the opportunity, turning the takeaway into a touchdown on a Chase Vogler quarterback sneak.  Nadeau drilled the PAT to make it 13-0 affair, where it would stay through the halftime break.

UMD added a third score midway through the third period on a Brian Hanson 8-yard scamper and pushed the lead to 27-0 after another NSU turnover.  Back-up quarterback Jon Lynch hooked up with senior wide-out D.J. Winfield for a 39-yard strike.

The Wolves, however, would not be deterred.  Following a Chris Hurd force and recovery inside five minutes to play, NSU marched 54 yards on five plays to break-up the shutout.  Fiegler found redshirt freshman Trevor Mau on a 15-yard route for the score and senior Thomas Parrott tacked on the PAT to make it a 27-7 final.

Mau finished the day with six catches for 74 yards and the TD, while Fiegler finished his day with 15 completions on 34 attempts for 196 yards.  UMD held the Wolves to just 24 net rushing yards on the day, although freshman Matt Anderson had 14 carries for 38 yards.

The Wolves go back on the road next week to face Bemidji State in another NSIC North Division match-up.  BSU is coming off a thrilling 23-22 win over U-Mary on Saturday, scoring the winning touchdown with just 21 seconds left in the game.  Kick-off is slated for 1 p.m.