Crookston, Minn. – Early and often was the name of the game for the Northern State University football team as they defeated Minnesota Crookston 62-20 in the 2017 regular season finale. The Wolves finish the year with a 6-5 record overall and 5-2 mark in the NSIC North, winning their final three games of the season.
It was a career day for senior running back
Nicholas Truen who led the team with five touchdowns. The White Bear Lake native, notched a career high 252 yards rushing, moving his season total to 1,061 yards, making him the first Wolf since 2003 to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. He averaged 18.0 yards per carry with 14 total in the game. Truen tallied his longest score of the day on a 69 yard in the first quarter. He tallied touchdown on touchdown in the first, two in the second, and two in the third.
Cody Kraft opened the scoring for the Wolves on the first drive of the game, notching a 33 yard reception from Hunter Trautman. The touchdown was Kraft's second of the season and ninth of his career. Cameron Eisenhauer added his third touchdown of the season late in the third quarter, a 17 yard reception from Trautman which gave the Wolves the 21-0 lead.
After Truen's second score of the afternoon, senior
Eric Peterson came up with the first of his career. Trautman hit Peterson for an eight yard pass with 5:02 left to play in the first half, giving the Wolves the 35-0 lead. Truen added his third of the afternoon just under two minutes later, however the Wolves weren't done in the first half.
Nathan Shaw stepped in for a 37 yard field goal attempt, and sent it right through the uprights for the 29
th of his career. Shaw then opened the second half for the Wolves with a 34 yard field goa, and a 48-0 lead on the scoreboard.
Crookston tallied their first touchdown of the afternoon on the following drive, however Truen quickly answered back with his fourth touchdown in the win, a 20 yard rush to the goal line. Truen and the Golden Eagles traded touchdowns in the two following drives leaving the scoreboard reading 62-14 in favor of the Wolves. UMC added their final touchdown with four minutes remaining in regulation however were unable to overcome the first half deficit.
In total the Wolves tallied 24 first downs, 363 yards rushing, 215 yards passing, and 578 yards of total offense, They averaged 8.3 yards per rush and 10.8 yards per completion. Defensively, NSU forced two interceptions including a 65 yard return by
Brian Sumption. They tallied six sacks for a total loss of 21 yards, and held the Golden Eagles scoreless in the redzone.
Trautman tallied 215 yards passing with three touchdowns. He completed 20 of his 27 attempts with a 33 yard long to Kraft. The redshirt freshman added 36 yards rushing, for 251 yards of total offense in the game. Riley Frantzen was second on the team with 48 yards rushing, averaging 3.7 yards per carry.
Zachery Barber led the receivers with 54 yards and a 29 yard long. Barber averaged 7.7 yards per reception for the Wolves.
Josh Coyle and Joe Gorghuber led the Wolves defense with seven total tackles. Coyle tallied two tackles for a total loss of seven yards, including one solo sack.
Brady Thielges was second on the team with six tackles, including five solo stops. Thielges was one of four Wolves to record a sack in the game, notching two tackles for a total loss of eight yards.
Marcus Marcellus tallied a sack of his own, while
Quest Parham led the team with 1.5 sacks for a total loss of five yards.
Logan Shockman, Landon Hoellein, and Zach Mohs each tallied a half a sack.
Sumption and
Etienne Ezeff notched the team's two interceptions in the game. AJ Frazier led the team with two pass break-ups, while
Noah MacPherson tallied one. A total of 15 Wolves recorded multiple tackles in the victory.
Jacob Wiedrich punted for 104 yards, averaging 26.0 yards per punt with a 32 yard long and one inside the 20. Wiedrich added 90 yards on two kickoffs for the Wolves.
Zech Culbreath led the Wolves returners with 34 yards on one kickoff, while Bryce Zawatzke followed with 13.
Nathan Shaw was lights out, going 8-for-8 in PATs and 2-for-2 in field goals. The senior scored 14 total points for the Wolves, finishing his career with 30 field goals and 148 PATs. He tallied 418 yards on eight kickoffs, averaging 52.0 yards per boot.
Northern State seniors
Mitch Brockhaus,
Austin Nath,
Brian Sumption,
Nathan Shaw,
Nicholas Truen,
Cody Braeger,
Zachery Barber,
Raekwon Robinson, Cameron Eisenhauer,
Logan Shockman,
Josh Hilgemann,
Eric Peterson,
Quest Parham,
Marcus Marcellus, and
Cody Kraft exhausted their eligibility playing the final games of their career for the Wolves.
