Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University football team unleashed on the University of Mary Thursday evening, winning the MidcoSN Game of the Week 66-21. The Wolves move to 2-0 in MidcoSN Thursday night games, while also tying the single game scoring record with 66 points which was set a season ago. Northern improves to 5-5 overall and 4-2 in the NSIC North.
The Wolves scored early and often notching nine touchdowns, one field goal, and one 2-point conversion in the game.
Nicholas Truen got things rolling on the Wolves first drive of the game, breaking through the Marauder defensive line for a 26 yard run to the end-zone. Truen added two more long rushing touchdowns in the win, a 41 yarder in the second quarter and 48 yarder to open the second half.
Chaka Kelly tallied the team's second score of the first quarter a six yard rushing scoring, notching his second of the season. Kelly also led off scoring in the fourth quarter with a five yard rush.
Zachery Barber was the final Wolf to record a touchdown in the first half, notching two receiving scores. His first came just minutes into the second quarter on a ten yard pass from Trautman, for Barber's first of the season. Following the Truen 41 yard score, Trautman again connected with Barber but this time for a 12 yard completion, putting the Wolves up 35-7. Barber wasn't finished, as a tallied his third reception from Trautman of the game, a 33 yard touchdown midway through the third.
Nathan Shaw capped off the first half for the Wolves with his fifth field goal of the season, and 30 yarder straight through the uprights. Shaw went 7-for-8 in PATs for the Wolves in the win. Northern tallied their final touchdown of the evening, late in the fourth quarter notching a career first for the redshirt freshman Colten Drageset. Jake Comeaux hit Drageset from eight yards out, giving the Wolves the 64-21 lead. The Wolves then attempted the 2-point conversion, via the holder
Kyle Lavand to streaking tight end Spencer Johnson. The completion gave Northern their record tying 66 points.
The Wolves tallied a season high 30 first downs offensively, and held the Marauders to 14 defensively. NSU notched a game leading 406 yards rushing, 169 yards passing, and 575 yards of total offense. As a team, they averaged 9.0 yards per carry and 8.5 yards per completion. Northern converted on 7-of-11 third downs, and scored on 6-of-9 red-zone chances. Defensively NSU held Mary to 165 yards rushing and 159 yards passing, with two sacks for a total loss of nine yards.
Hunter Trautman and Jake Comeaux both saw time at quarterback in the game. Trautman tallied 194 yards passing, completing 19-of-28 attempts with two touchdowns. Comeaux tallied 19 yards passing and one touchdown to Drageset. Trautman added 70 yards rushing, averaging 7.8 yards per carry.
Nicholas Truen led the Northern State rushers matching his single game career high of 204 yards. The senior tallied three touchdowns, with a 48 yard long. He averaged 14.6 yards per carry as well.
Chaka Kelly was second on the team, notching the first 100-yard game of his career with 109 total yards and two touchdowns. The junior averaged 6.4 yards per carry with a 22 yard long.
Trautman spread out the wealth to the NSU receivers with four players notching over 20 yards and another three with double digit receiving yards. Barber led the team with 55 yards receiving, followed by
Cody Kraft with 28 yards and Nick Kayl with 27.
A total of 27 Wolves tallied a tackle in the win led by,
Josh Coyle with seven total tackles, including four solo stops. Brayden McNeary and Bryce Zawatzke were second on the team with six tackles each, while Zawatzke tallied the team's lone forced fumble. Preston Droessler and Jacob Cross notched the two sacks for NSU, while Landon Hoellein and Brock DeGroot each recovered a Marauder fumble.
Jacob Wiedrich tallied just one punt for 38 yards, while
Nathan Shaw recorded 580 yards on kickoffs. Shaw averaged 52.0 yards per boot, with one touchback.
Raekwon Robinson led the returners with a 76 yarder in the second half.
Zech Culbreath followed with 68 yards on two kick returns, while Riley Frantzen tallied ten yards on one punt return.
The Wolves will hit the road next weekend for their final game of the regular season versus Minnesota Crookston. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. between the two teams.
