Box Score
Box Score (html)
ABERDEEN, S.D. - Northern State sophomore quarterback
Jared Jacobson threw for a career-high 330 yards and four touchdowns while the NSU defense dominated the line of scrimmage and the run game as the Wolves claimed their third straight victory with Saturday's 31-17 homecoming win over Minot State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division football action.
The win moves NSU to 3-3 overall, all in NSIC play. The Wolves have started off North Division play with two straight wins. NSIC newcomer Minot State - which won its first league game last week over U-Mary - slipped to 1-5 overall and 1-1 in the division.
NSU led from the start, jumping out to a quick 14-0 lead on two long Jacobson TD passes. The NSU defense aided in the effort, holding the Beavers to 3-and-out in their first three offensive series. Jacobson capitalized on the second of those defensive stands, hitting Chris Morton for a 67-yard catch-and-run touchdown on the first play from scrimmage after MISU's second punt.
The Beavers responded with a 57-yard touchdown pass of their own to cut the score in half, but that would be as close as the score would get. NSU scored twice in the third on TD passes of 23 and 14 yards from Jacobson to Hanley. Senior
Felipe Alfaia tacked on a 42-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, while MISU managed just one touchdown and a field goal in the second half.
Hanley caught nine of Jacobson's career-high 25 completions for 121 yards and the two touchdowns. Jacobson spread those 25 completions around to eight different receivers. The sophomore also ran the ball 15 times for 67 yards to lead the Wolves.
MISU was led by Zac Cunha's 12-of-30 passing effort for 229 yards, 143 of which went to Porter Sturm. A full 120 of those yards came on two different plays, including a the long TD pass in the first quarter.
Defensively, the Wolves were led by
Ikee Sirleaf, who had four tackles, a sack and a big forced fumble in the game. Junior
Logan Dosch also had four tackles and the fumble recovery, while senior Mason Thorstand had just three tackles but two of which went down as quarterback sacks.
NSU goes back on the road next week to visit Bemidji State in another key NSIC North Division match-up. The BSU Beavers were 29-21 winners over U-Mary on the road on Saturday. Kick-off in Bemidji is set for 1 p.m.