Recap story brought to you by Revive Day Spa. Visit them on the web, on Facebook, on Instagram and in person at 301 S Main Street in Aberdeen.
Aberdeen, S.D. – The (RV) Northern State University football team put together a Gypsy Days win over the University of Mary on Saturday in front of a sold out Dacotah Bank Stadium crowd of 7,714. The Wolves defense buckled down when it mattered most, holding the Marauders scoreless in the red-zone and to a conversion rate of 33.3% on third down.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: NSU 21, MARY 14
Records: NSU 4-1 (3-1 NSIC), MARY 2-3 (1-3 NSIC)
Attendance: 7714
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Cooper Eisenbeisz opened the contest for NSU in dramatic fashion, running back to the opening kick-off, 87-yards to the house
- The Wolves extended that lead in the second, via a 1-yard rush by Hank Kraft, diving over the blocking offensive line at 8:49
- UMary answered on the following drive with a 41-yard receiving touchdown, the final score of the half
- With just under five minutes remaining in the third, Kraft rushed for his second touchdown of the afternoon, this time a 2-yard carry
- The Marauders continued the pressure into the fourth adding a 37-yard receiving score at 4:57 and threatened late in the quarter
- Darion Nundley sealed the contest for the Wolves with his first interception of the season on the 13-yard line with 26 seconds to play
- Northern led the contest with 226 yards rushing, averaging 5.7 yards per carry, while the Marauders tallied a game leading 372 yards of total offense
- The Wolves notched 103 total return yards in the win, including their first special teams touchdown of the 2026 season
- The NSU defense added a season high four sacks via Kegan Mountain, Javonnee Szymanski, Ayden Barnby, and Jayden Gournaris for a total loss of 21 UMary yards
- In addition, Northern held the Marauders to just 71 yards rushing
- The contest marked five straight games for Hank Kraft with over 100-yards rushing as he legged out 119 total and two touchdowns, averaging 4.8 yards per carry
- Ty Englehart was second on the team with 59 yards rushing, averaging 7.4 yards per carry
- Kegan Mountain and Cooper Logan led the team with nine tackles each and a combined 3.5 tackles for a loss; Mountain recorded a sack with a forced fumble, the first of his Northern State career
- Jake Adams followed on defense with eight tackles and one pass break-up, while Gabe Gutierrez led the team with 2.5 tackles of a loss and six total tackles
- Eisenbeisz tallied 93 total return yards in the game on both punt and kick returns
- Keaton Docken averaging 39.6 yards per punt with a 52-yard long, while Jeremy Carauso added 168 yards on kickoffs, averaging 56.0 yards per kick
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The 7,714 fans in attendance at the contest broke the facility record for Dacotah Bank Stadium which was previously set on October 8, 2022 with 7,064 fans against Winona State
UP NEXT
Northern remains at home next Saturday, October 3 versus Bemidji State. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. against the Beavers from Dacotah Bank Stadium. For full promotional details throughout the season
CLICK HERE. Tailgating and stadium information can be found
HERE.
