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Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University football team ran away with their 2026 season opener Thursday evening, downing (RV) Chadron State in a 25-point tilt. The Wolves racked up 486 yards of total offense in the win, scoring six touchdowns.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: NSU 42, CSC 17
Records: NSU 1-0, CSC 0-1
Attendance: 5587
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Wolves tallied seven points in the first quarter, 14 in the second, and 21 in the third, while the Eagles notched three in the second and 14 in the fourth
- Four of Northern's six touchdowns in the win came off the speedy feet of Hank Kraft who racked up 278 yards of total offense
- Kraft put together a show on the ground with touchdown rushes of 2-yards in the first, 41-yards in the second, and a pair of 68-yard and 89-yard runs in the third
- Jessie Campbell notched his first touchdown in a Wolves uniform with just under three minutes remaining in the second on a 23-yard pass from Ty Englehart
- Cooper Eisenbeisz grabbed the final score of the even for NSU on an 89-yarder off the arm of Englehart in the third; Englehart went down hard on the play but aired it out enough for Eisenbeisz to break into the open field for the touchdown
- Jeremy Caruso capped off each of the scores, going a perfect 6-for-6 in PATs
- Northern tallied 279 yards rushing, averaging 8.0 yards per carry, and 207 yards passing, averaging 14.8 yards per completion
- The offense complete 8-of-16 on third down and 2-of-2 on fourth down
- The Wolves defense held the Eagles to two touchdowns, a 40.0% conversion rate on third down, and tallied 3.0 sacks for a loss of 17 yards
- Englehart led the air attack with 179 yards passing and two touchdowns, completing 8-of-10 attempts with an 89-yard long
- Kraft rushed for a career high 232 yards with four touchdowns, averaging 15.5 yards per carry with an 89-yard long; he also added 46 yards receiving
- Eisenbeisz led the receivers with his 89 yards and one touchdown, while adding a combined 58 yards on punt and kick returns
- Jake Adams led the defense with eight tackles, followed by Kale Johnson and CJ Gainey with seven apiece
- Johnson, Kaydn Turnbow, and Ayden Barnby combined for the team's three sacks in the win, with Barnby notching a team best 3.0 tackles for a loss
- Kegan Mountain led the air defense with three pass breakups and four tackles in the win
- Caruso averaged 62.0 yards per kick-off, while Isakson averaged 43.8 yards per punt with a 51-yard long
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Ty Englehart: 179 yards passing, 8-of-10 completions, 2 touchdowns, 89-yard long
- Hank Kraft: 278 yards total offense, 4 touchdowns, 15.5 yards per rush, 89-yard long
- Kale Johnson: 7 tackles, 1.0 sack
- Ayden Barnby: 5 tackles, 3.0 tackles for a loss, 1.0 sack
- Kegan Mountain: 4 tackles, 3 pass breakups
UP NEXT
Northern State returns to Dacotah Bank Stadium next Thursday for the NSIC opener, hosting Winona State. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. in the Annual Ag Bowl on September 3. For full promotional details throughout the season
CLICK HERE. Tailgating and stadium information can be found
HERE.
