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Aberdeen, S.D. – The (RV) Northern State University football team faced off against MSU Moorhead on Saturday evening in a barn burner between two 5-2 squads. The Wolves edged the Dragons in their first overtime contest of the season as
Graham Borden batted down MSUM's 2-point conversion attempt for the win. NSU racked up 365 rushing yards and 282 passing yards, marking another high-powered offensive performance in front of 4,947 fans.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: NSU 49, MSUM 48
Records: NSU 6-2 (5-2 NSIC), MSUM 5-3 (4-3 NSIC)
Attendance: 4947
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The teams traded touchdowns throughout, with the game tied at 42 at the end of regulation
- Northern tallied seven points in the first, ten in the second, 14 in the third, and 11 in the fourth, while Moorhead notched seven in the first, seven in the second, 21 in the third, and seven in the fourth
- The Dragons scored first to open the game at 10:50 on the clock, however the Wolves got to work quickly, opening the drive on their own 30
- Wyatt Block opened NSU's scoring with a 3-yard run on the Wolves opening drive, his first of the evening
- The team's traded scores in the second with a 5-yard running by Jack Strand for MSUM and a 2-yard rushing score by Daniel Britt at 3:57
- Jeremy Caruso gave Northern their first lead of the evening, hitting a 33-yard field goal just before halftime and the two teams entered the locker rooms with NSU up, 17-14
- Trey Birdsong opened the second half with a bang on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Britt at 12:42, extending the NSU lead; the Dragons however responded and cut the lead to three on the following drive
- The tides turned in Moorhead's favor as the third ticked down, with MSUM taking a 28-24 lead with just under five minutes remaining in the quarter
- The Wolves were back to work and regained the lead as Gavin Giesler hauled in an 11-yard touchdown from Brock Bagozzi with a minute to play in the quarter
- That lead did not last long with the Dragons running back the kick-off 97-yards for the score
- NSU trailed 35-31 entering the fourth and MSUM extended that lead by seven with seven minutes remaining in regulation
- The Britt to Birdsong connect replayed with 3:30 on the clock on a 9-yard receiving touchdown, followed by a successful 2-point conversion rush by Block; and the Wolves were within three
- The Northern defense was lock-down on the following drive, going 3-and-out and returning the ball to the offense with 2:19 remaining in game
- Birdsong's second TD reception, a 9-yarder from Britt (plus a Block two-point rush), tied the game in the fourth.
- 11-plays and 78-yards later it was up to Caruso who sent his second field goal of the evening, a 23-yarder, through the uprights, forcing overtime
- The Wolves opened the overtime period with the ball and Block scored his second touchdown of the evening, a 12-yard run, followed by Caruso's fifth PAT to give NSU the 49-42 lead
- Moorhead broke through with an 11-yard passing score on their possession, however the foiled 2-point conversion by Borden sealed the win
- Northern led the contest with 30 first downs, 365 yards rushing, 647 yards of total offense, and three sacks, while adding 282 yards passing
- The defense held MSUM to 125 yards rushing and kept the powerful Dragon passing offense at bay with the game on the line
- Britt had a career game for NSU with 342 yards of total offense and three touchdowns, recording his first 100-plus yard rushing game of the season and second overall as a Wolf
- Block rushed for a team leading 192 yards and two touchdowns, marking his fifth straight contest with triple figure rushing totals
- Birdsong tallied his first 100-yard game as a Wolf, racking up 132 total receiving yards with two touchdowns
- Cooper Logan led the defense with ten tackles, including one sack, while Javonnee Szymanksi and Max Van Landingham added a sack each
- Cooper Eisenbeisz led the return game with 69 total yards, including a 22-yard long
- Caruso was lights out in the kicking game, scoring 11 points for the Wolves on a pair of made field goals and five point after attempts; he also averaged 56.7 yards per kickoff
- Jackson Isakson punted for the first time since October 11 against Minnesota Duluth, averaging 30.7 yards per punt
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Daniel Britt: 210 yards passing (12-19), 2 touchdowns, 132 yards rushing, 1 touchdown
- Wyatt Block: 192 rushing yards, 76-yard long, 7.1 yds/carry, 2 touchdowns
- Trey Birdsong: 132 receiving yards, 36-yard long, 2 touchdowns
- Cooper Logan: 10 tackles, 1.0 sack, 1 break-up
- Javonnee Szymanski: 6 tackles, 1.0 sack
- Jeremy Caruso: 2-for-2 field goals, 33-yard long, 5-for-5 PAT
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Block's 192-yard effort is his fifth 100+ yard game of the season, pushing him over 900 yards for the year and keeping him among the NSIC's top rushers
- Birdsong's 2-touchdown game is a career high as a Wolf, and he now leads the team in receiving touchdowns in 2025
- NSU's 49 points are the most scored in the series against the Dragons since 2013
- Northern is 3-1 in the NSIC North following the win, sitting atop the division and tied for third in the overall league standings
UP NEXT
The Wolves return to action next Saturday, traveling to No. 5 Augustana University. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. against the undefeated Vikings in Sioux Falls.
