Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. – What would have been a go-ahead touchdown drive stalled out inside Concordia-St. Paul's 20-yardline and, after taking over on downs, the host Golden Bears ran out the clock to thwart a late-game Northern State rally on Saturday night, edging the Wolves by a final tally of 27-22 in a battle of cross-divisional Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponents.

The loss drops the Wolves to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in NSIC play, while CU moves to 2-1 on the season and an even 1-1 in league action.

The two teams opened the first quarter trading possessions twice before the Golden Bears managed to turn an NSU turnover into a scoring opportunity.  Cedric Okoi picked off NSU's Nick Wanner in the end zone and returned it all the way to the 35 yardline.  CU quarterback Jared Russo connected with receiver Tre Mason for a 59-yard touchdown three plays later to put the Golden Bears on top.

NSU tied it up late in the second quarter after forcing CU into a 3-and-out possession.  The Wolves took advantage of good field position to put together a 10-play drive that ended with a 5-yard Kristin James touchdown run.

Concordia, however, was not content to run out the clock to halftime after returning the ensuing kick-off to midfield.  The Golden Bears executed an 8-play drive that took just a minute and ten seconds out of the 1:35 remaining in the half.  Russo found running back Charles Gilbert from eight yards out to cap the drive and give the Golden Bears a 14-7 lead heading into the break.

The Wolves cut it to 14-10 after a 39-yard field goal from redshirt freshman Evan Nolte, but CU came right back on their first possession of the second half to score on another Russo-to-Mason connection, this time from 11 yards out that made it a 21-10 Concordia advantage.

After an NSU 3-and-out, Concordia's Russo – who threw five interceptions in a Week 2 loss to nationally-ranked St. Cloud State – threw his lone pick of the night.  NSU junior Logan Fahnhorst snagged Russo's pass and returned it into Golden Bear territory, setting up the Wolves for their second TD drive of the game.  Wanner found NSU newcomer Chris Morton for a 44-yard strike that cut it to 21-16.  The Wolves went for the two-point try, but could not convert.

NSU's defense held CU to another 3-and-out possession, giving the Wolves' offense the ball back, but with a long field ahead of it.  However, seven of the 11 plays on their ensuing drive went for seven or more yards, including a 31-yard pass from Wanner to Benjamin Jastram on the first play of the fourth quarter.

James capped the drive with his second touchdown of the night, giving the Wolves their first lead of the game at 22-21.  NSU again went for the two-point attempt, but was again denied the conversion, leaving it a one-point affair.

Concordia responded with a 9-play drive that included three straight third down conversions and ended with a 16-yard touchdown run by Sam Campbell.  The Golden Bears also went for the two-point conversion, but Russo's pass attempt failed.

Still down by five and needing a touchdown to regain the lead, the Wolves took over on their own 30 yardline and marched down field to the Concordia 17 before the drive fell apart.  A holding penalty pushed the Wolves back outside the red zone.  Two plays later, the Wolves were back inside the 20, but Wanner was sacked on third-and-9, setting up a fourth-and-12 situation with time running out.  Wanner's pass to junior Mark Hanley was broken up by CU's Mike Willett, returning the ball to Golden Bear possession and leaving the final score at 27-22.

NSU posted 412 yards of total offense, outgaining its opponent in that category for the first time this season.  Two hundred seventy-seven of those came through the air, all from the arm of Wanner.  Junior Mark Hanley hauled in six of Wanner's 18 completions for 94 yards while Morton had five catches for 68 yards and a score.  James carried the ball 21 times for 76 yards to lead the ground attack.

CU was led by Campbell on the ground, who had 24 carries for 98 yards and a touchdown.  Mason caught four passes for 85 yards and two more scores to pace the air game for the Golden Bears.

NSU returns home next weekend to face Wayne State, who knocked off the No. 1 team in the nation in Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday, shutting out the Bulldogs 7-0 at home.  Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. at Swisher Field.