Box Score (.pdf)
The Northern State defense bent but it didn't break on MSU Moorhead's final offensive drive as the Wolves held on fourth down from its own 11 yard line to escape Moorhead with a 40-38 victory. The Wolves forced four straight incompletions that were capped-off by
Zach Neer's pass breakup in the end zone with just eight seconds left to play.
With the win, Northern moves to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the NSIC North Division. The Wolves are a perfect 3-0 on the road this season and have won three consecutive road games for the first time since winning six straight from 1999 to 2000. NSU has also won three road contests in one season for the first time since 2003.
The Dragons (1-5) got off to a fast start on a windy day at Nemzek Stadium. MSUM had the 30 MPH wind at its back in the first quarter and jumped out to an early 18-0 lead. However, Moorhead missed its first two extra-point attempts in the game and failed to convert a two-point conversion after its third touchdown.
With the wind at its back in the second quarter, the Wolves went to work scoring 21-straight points.
Cameron Pudwill began the scoring for Northern with a one-yard touchdown run to begin the second quarter to cut the deficit to 18-7. NSU then scored a key touchdown on a 64-yard touchdown pass from
Jared Jacobson to
Zachery Barber with just seven seconds to go in the half and Northern trailed 18-14 heading into the break. The catch was the longest of Barber's career.
Barber was not done there however as he took the opening kickoff of the second half back 58 yards to the Moorhead 38 and Jacobson scored five plays later on a 15-yard run to give NSU its first lead of the game at 21-18. The Dragons responded on their next drive going 75 yards on 13 plays and retook the lead 25-21. MSUM added another score two drives later and went up 32-21.
The Wolves got right back in it on their next offensive play however as
Nicholas Truen scampered 75 yards for the touchdown to make it 34-32. The run was Northern's longest play of the season. Truen ended the game with a career-best 152 yards rushing on 15 carries and the one score. The Wolves found the lead again, this time for good with its first drive of the fourth quarter as Barber scored on a 19-yard reverse to put the Wolves up 34-32.
NSU lengthened its lead to 40-32 with 6:49 left to play in the game on a Jacobson six-yard touchdown pass to tight end
Conner Doherty, but Moorhead still had a shot after NSU missed the PAT. After a long 12-play 75-yard scoring drive from Moorhead cut the lead to 40-38, Pudwill stopped Jake Hodge on the two-point attempt on a quarterback draw and Northern kept the edge. The Wolves recovered the ensuing on-side kick but were forced to punt three plays later making the Dragons burn all three of their timeouts in the process. Moorhead's drive started with 1:53 to play and went 69 yards before stalling-out at the 11.
Jacobson finished the game passing for 239 yards and had two touchdowns to go along with an interception. He also netted 65 yards rushing on 12 attempts and had the one score. Barber caught a team-best seven passes for 97 yards while four others caught two passes in the win for Northern.
Defensively, the Wolves were led by
Devin Olson's nine tackles and 1.5 sacks in the contest.
Joe Parsley and
Chad Stoterau also recorded nine stops. Stoterau had a half sack in the win.
Tanner Lopez had eight tackles and 1.5 sacks as well for the Wolves.
Moorhead gained almost 100 more yards of total offense on the day and had possession for over 10 minutes longer in the game and did not commit a turnover. The Dragons went 5-of-7 in the red zone however while Northern went 4-of-4.
Next week, the Wolves travel to face fourth-ranked Minnesota Duluth in a big 1 p.m. contest in Duluth. NSU and the Bulldogs are tied atop the North in the league right now along with Bemidji State.
