Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Northern State University Wolves set the tone early on Thursday, marching 80 yards for a touchdown in their opening drive and coming away with a 30-17 season-opening victory over the visiting Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs in a non-conference match-up of the two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference teams.

The win marks the first time since 2005 that the Wolves have won their season opener and avenges last season's 28-24 squeaker by the Mustangs in Marshall.

NSU jumped on the board early with a pair of Kristin James touchdown runs, while holding the Mustangs to just a field goal through the first quarter and a half of play.  The Wolves also came up with a big goal-line stand on the Mustangs' second drive of the game to keep the visitors off the scoreboard.

SMSU finally cracked the scoreboard on their third drive of the night on a Mike Wenk 24-yard field goal in the second quarter.  The Wolves, however, had an immediate answer.  Senior quarterback Nick Wanner, who was 10-for-12 for 183 yards and a TD on the night, hit junior Chris Morton for a 59-yard strike to the SMSU 1-yardline, setting up James' second TD of the night.

The teams two traded scores – a TD for the Mustangs and a Felipe Alfaia field goal for the Wolves – later in the quarter and headed into the break on the heels of a missed field goal attempt from 29 yards by SMSU's Wenk and the Wolves leading 17-10.

The third quarter proved to be a defining time for the Wolves, who interrupted three straight SMSU drives via interception.  Junior Marquis Mulkey picked off SMSU's Tyler Peschong in the end zone, squashing what was to that point a 40-yard SMSU drive.

The Wolves were unable to sustain that drive and were forced to punt the ball away, but senior inside linebacker Mike Bogdanovich got it right back, snagging another Peschong ball out of the air and returning it to the SMSU 11.  Wanner found Morton on the next play from scrimmage to put the Wolves up 24-17.

SMSU redshirt freshman Charlie Kern then took over for a banged up Peschong on the next Mustang drive, but was chased out after throwing an interception to NSU redshirt freshman Ryan Weybrecht.  Peschong returned after a blocked punt set the Mustangs up at the Wolves' 34-yardline and drove the Mustangs into the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter.

NSU freshman Aaron Mayo, who had nine carries for 55 yards in his collegiate debut before leaving the game with an injury late in the game, added the final nail in the coffin on the Wolves' ensuing drive, scoring from 11 yards out to make it 30-17.  Mayo also had a pair of catches for 29 yards.

James finished his NSU debut with 12 carries for 42 yards and the two early touchdowns.  Wanner picked up 46 yards on 10 carries, while spreading the ball around through the air.  Junior Mark Hanley had five catches for 73 yards, while Morton finished with two catches for 70 yards.

Bogdanovich led the way defensively, racking up 11 tackles (7 solo, 2.5 for a loss) and an interception.  Safety Matt Racowschi added nine stops.

The Mustangs, who out-gained the Wolves in total offense by a 407 to 313 margin, got a 94-yard rushing effort from Warren Matthews and another 70 yards on the ground from Gannon Moore.  Peschong was 18-for-34 for 208 yards and a TD strike, but the Mustangs were unable to overcome the turnovers and lost chances.  Senior cornerback Lawson Starr had 10 tackles to lead the defensive effort.

The Wolves are off until Sept. 10 when they open conference play at Minnesota State.  Kick-off is slated for 1 p.m. in Mankato, Minn.