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Sioux Falls, S.D. – A back-and-forth game from start to finish, the Northern State University football team dropped their season opener in a heartbreaker at the University of Sioux Falls. 21-points by the Cougars in the fourth quarter led to the two-score victory, however the game saw four tie scores.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: NSU28, USF 42
Records: NSU 0-1 (0-1 NSIC), USF 2-0 (1-0 NSIC)
Attendance: 3562
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Sioux Falls opened the contest, scoring on their first drive of the game, however the Wolves quickly responded with the ball in their hands
- Daniel Britt connected with Zach Kraft for a 13-yard touchdown, the first of Kraft's Northern State career
- The Cougars regained the lead heading into the half break and the two teams entered the locker room with a score of 14-7
- Cooper Eisenbeisz took the opening kick-off of the second half to the house, running it back 94-yards for the first touchdown of his career and the game was tied at 14-all
- USF was back in the driver's seat and took a 21-14 lead with 11:05 remaining in the third
- The lead did not last long, as another Britt-to-Kraft connection led to a 75-yard touchdown for the Wolves
- The scoreboard tipped in the Cougars favor to open the fourth quarter at 14:18 on a 13-yard passing score
- Britt and the Wolves quickly got to work opening the following drive with a 68-yard rushing score by the NSU quarterback
- Sioux Falls took control in their final possessions of the contest scoring on a pair of 2-yard runs at 5:17 and 1:55
- Northern led the contest with 235 yards passing, 171 kick return yards, and three sacks, while Sioux Falls converted all six times they entered the red zone, possessed the ball for just over 42-minutes, and recorded a game leading 421 yards of total offense
- Britt threw for 186 yards and rushed for 73, combining for three touchdowns; he tallied 75-yard long in the air and 68-yard long on the ground
- Kraft had a career day for NSU, scoring the first two touchdowns of his career with 98 yards receiving
- The NSIC North Division Preseason Player of the Year did not miss a beat, leading the team with 21 tackles; Jake Adams recorded 14 solos stops and 0.5 tackle for a loss in the career high
- Javonnee Szymanski was second on the defense with 11 tackles and one pass break-up
- The three Wolves sacks were recorded by Kegan Mountain, Gabe Gutierrez, and Carl Pevey Jr. for a combined 25 yards lost
- Gutierrez also led the team with 2.0 tackles for a loss, while Noah Hutmacher added 1.0 and Lorenzo Jones Jr. tallied 0.5
- In the kicking game, Jeremy Caruso tallied 307 yards on kickoffs, averaging 61.4 yards per kick, while Jackson Isakson notched 112 yards punting, averaging 37.3 yards per punt
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Daniel Britt: 186 yards passing, 2 TD, 73 yards rushing, 1 TD
- Zach Kraft: 98 yards receiving (career high), 2 TD (career high), 75-yard long
- Jake Adams: 21 tackles (career high), 14 solo tackles
- Javonnee Szymansjki: 11 tackles (career high)
- Gabe Guiterrez: 2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack
- Cooper Eisenbeisz: 143 return yards, 1 TD, 94-yard long
UP NEXT
Northern kicks off their 2025 home slate next Saturday, September 13, hosting Wayne State. Kick-off is set for 6 p.m. from Dacotah Bank Stadium. For full promotional details
CLICK HERE. Tailgating and stadium information can be found
HERE.
