Sioux Falls, S.D. – The Northern State University football team fell in heartbreaking fashion to No. 25 Augustana University in the Saturday NSIC Opener. The Wolves dropped the game 34-37, in overtime, to the Vikings. The two teams exchanged scores throughout the game, however Augustana was able to connect for a touchdown in the overtime period.
 
The Wolves went down with four minutes remaining in the first quarter, but worked back to tie things at seven all with just 45 ticks on the clock. On the eight play of the drive, senior quarterback Christian McAlvain rushed for a 28 yard touchdown to notch his first of two in the game. The Vikings quickly responded with a pair of touchdowns in the second and third, leaving NSU down 21-7 through the midway point of the third quarter.
 
Northern went to work, bringing the score within seven, as McAlvain connected with Conner Doherty for a ten yard reception and touchdown. It was Nicholas Truen's turn as the Wolves led off the fourth, rushing 12 yards to the goal line for the score. The fullbacks 12 yard run, tied the game at 21 all with just under 15 minutes remaining.
 
Both teams added a touchdown and field goal in the half to leave things at 31-31 as the clock ticked down to zero. Scoring for the Wolves was McAlvain with his second of the day, a seven yard run, and junior kicker Nathan Shaw with a 21 yard attempt with just 11 seconds remaining.
 
In front of a packed house, the game headed to overtime with the Wolves in possession to lead off the 15 minute period. The Viking defense held strong as the Wolves worked through three rushing plays to gain nine yards. Shaw returned to the field for his second field goal attempt of the day, a 33 yarder straight through the uprights. Northern had taken the 34-31 lead and was forced to hold Augie on defense. The Vikings worked their way to the goal line and ultimately connected for a six yard pass and a touchdown, handing the Wolves their first loss of the season.
 
McAlvain paced the NSU offense with 180 yards passing and 97 yards rushing. The senior connected for two rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown in the loss. Truen was a force on the ground for NSU, leading all rushers in the game with 126 total yards, averaging 7.9 for the game. Chaka Kelly and Stephen Erlandson added 30 and 25 yards respectively on the ground to bring the team total to 276. The Wolves out-rushed the Vikings 276-187, however Augustana quarterback Trey Heid passed for a game high 253 yards and three touchdowns.
 
Doherty was the leading receiver for the Wolves with 72 yards in the game, followed by Zech Culbreath and Zachery Barber with 47 and 27 apiece. Culbreath tallied the team's longest reception of 38 yards late in the third quarter, leading the Wolves to a first down and score to open the fourth.
 
Tyson Zemlicka and Joe Parsley led the Northern defense with nine tackles each in the game. Zemlicka battled on the lines for a sack and a tackle for a total loss of three yards. Parsley grabbed one of the team's two interceptions in the game, alongside fellow senior Trever Heining. Heining added five tackles of his own as well as one for a loss.
 
Notching the team's final two sacks were linemen Chad Stoterau and Tanner Lopez for a total loss of ten Viking yards. Taylor Zemlicka was second on the team with eight tackles and led the Wolves with two tackles for a loss. Channing Barber and Stoterau weighed in with five tackles apiece, while Matt Thorson and Conner Sheehan led NSU with two pass breakups.
 
The Barber brothers combined for 64 yards on kick returns, while Parsley and Riley Frantzen notched 25 and 15 yards respectively on punt returns. Nathan Shaw aided the Wolves with four made PAT's and two field goals, while recorded 334 yards on kickoffs with a 55.0 yard average. Jacob Wiedrich stepped in to take seven total punts for the Wolves, combining for 244 yards and a 45 yard long.
 
Northern will return to action next Saturday from the confines of Swisher Field in the 2016 home opener. The Wolves will face off against Southwest Minnesota State at 6 p.m. in the second annual InsuraCrop Ag Bowl. The game will also be carried on ESPN3, with more information to be released early next week.