Aberdeen, S.D. - The Northern State University football team recorded their first victory over Minnesota Duluth in the Dosch era this Saturday from Swisher Field. The Wolves took down the No. 18 Bulldogs 23-15, with a strong performance on defense. The win marks the first for the Wolves against the Bulldogs since September 27, 2003.
Northern snapped a 26-game NSIC North Division winning streak by Minnesota Duluth. The Bulldogs committed a season high six turnovers, while NSU held them to their lowest offensive production this season.
The Wolves scored first with just over three minutes remaining in the first quarter. Redshirt freshmen running back
Chaka Kelly broke through the Duluth defense for a 41 yard run to the goal line. Duluth quickly answered back with a touchdown of their own in the second, to take the 7-6 lead.
Northern chipped away on the next drive, going 66 yards down field for
Cameron Pudwill's second rushing touchdown of 2015. After a quick UMD drive and 35 yard interception return by
Taylor Zemlicka, the Wolves were back in possession with seven minutes remaining in the half.
Kyle Lavand connected with
Zachery Barber for a 23 yard completion, and Northern's third touchdown in the game. The Wolves took the 20-7 lead and added a 32 yard field goal off the foot of
Adrian Krupka in the fourth to seal the victory.
Kyle Lavand tallied 133 yards passing and three yards rushing, with one touchdown in the win. Kelly led the NSU rushers with 42 total yards and averaged 8.4 per carry.
Cody Kraft led the receiving effort for the Wolves with a game long reception of 33 yards.
The Northern State defense shined, led by junior
Tyson Zemlicka with ten total tackles. Zemlicka added one sack for a total loss of six yards, as well as one fumble recovery, one interception, and one break-up. The Zemlicka's were all over the field as
Taylor Zemlicka added six tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, a forced fumble, a 13 yard sack and a 35 yard interception. The brothers combined for 16 tackles and 2.5 tackles for a total loss of 19 yards.
Channing Barber was productive on defense and offense with a team second best nine tackles. Barber also recorded 18 yards rushing on a fake punt by the Wolves in the third quarter. Channing added a half a tackle for a loss, one interception, and two break-ups in the win.
A total of 15 Wolves recorded two tackles or more in the victory including:
Tyson Zemlicka,
Channing Barber,
Devin Olson,
Cody Braeger,
Taylor Zemlicka,
Joe Parsley,
Trever Heining,
Chad Stoterau,
Cameron Pudwill,
Blaine Schmidt,
Brendon Hoellein,
Dakota Lutz,
Alex Bernstein,
Dalton Wangerin, and
Blake Lohr. The Northern defense combined for a total of six tackles for a loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles, four break-ups, and four interceptions.
Matt Thorson tallied the team's fourth and final interception to end the game.
Adrian Krupka battled the wind throughout the game, tallying eight punts, averaging 33.1 yards and five kickoffs, averaging 54.0 yards.
Northern will be back in action next weekend against St. Cloud State on the road. The Wolves and Huskies will kick-off at 1 p.m. from St. Cloud. The Wolves will then return home for the final regular season game of 2015, and face Bemidji State on November 14
th.
