Aberdeen, S.D. - Northern State got up big in the first half, but couldn't get out of its own way at times in the second, failing to score in the final 30 minutes and catering at least 14 points to the Beavers over the course of those final frames.

But Northern's lead from the first two stanzas was big enough, its defense found a way to click back into gear at just the right times, and the Wolves came away with their second consecutive victory, winning in Minot, N.D., 27-19.

Not unlike the victory less than a week ago against MSU Moorhead, it was anything but pretty. But the Wolves played well enough and the Beavers played poorly enough that the win went Northern's way, and the Wolves improved to 2-0 in the North Division and 3-3 overall.

Northern State came out firing on all cylinders. The third snap of the game resulted in Noah MacPherson pick-6. The first offensive drive of the game ended in a Nick Truen touchdown. It was 14-0 before the Beavers could find the keys to the car. It didn't take all that much longer before it was 27-5, and Northern looked ready to win it going away. 

But then there was the second half, and it all came crashing down as one drive became two and Northern gift-wrapped nearly a full field and eventually a touchdown.

The third-quarter Minot State drive started well enough, as Northern forced a 3-and-out deep in Minot territory. But then a roughing the kicker penalty delivered Minot 15 yards and a new set of downs. The Wolves defense quickly forced another punt. 

The punt was muffed deep in Wolves territory, and Minot recovered.

It got worse. A Wolves sack turned into a big gain after a flag was thrown for unsportsmanlike conduct. Another apparent stop became half the distance to the goal and a first after a second identical penalty. From there it just took the third-string Beavers fullback to punch it in and all of a sudden it was just 27-12 Northern State lead.

Northern drove into Minot territory, but the first missed field goal of the season gave Minot the ball back with room to work. A Brian Sumption interception in the end zone ended that drive, but moments later, the Beavers were celebrating in the same end zone after a Jake Comeaux pick-6. Comeaux, who had come into the game in place of the apparently injured Hunter Trautman, was only on the field long enough to attempt three passes, and one of them was completed to the other team.

Trautman returned on the ensuing drive, but couldn't get the Wolves all the way downfield, the drive stalling in Beavers territory as the Wolves turned the ball over on downs with 3:20 left. 

The Beavers were out of timeouts though, and the Wolves defense showed up, stopping Minot ahead of midfield and allowing Trautman to kneel the game out.

Anything but pretty, but a win's a win, and it was a win the Wolves would have struggled to live without. The first team in the North to three division victories, Northern now gets a long week to prepare for a home date with Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 14.