2006 Season Wrap-UP

The Northern State Wolves were a young and eager team in 2006.  They posted a 4-7 overall record, finishing NSIC play with a 3-5 record, good for a sixth place tie with Upper Iowa.  In addition to being young, the Wolves were plagued with injuries, but used each game as an opportunity to learn and never quit fighting.  The Wolves started the season off with a 2-2 record, gaining both wins at home against Dickinson State and Southwest Minnesota State.  In their first two games of the season, NSU threw for a combined 500 yards, while they rushed for a combined 42 yards.  The numbers began to even out as the young team, and an especially young offensive line, gained experience on the field.

  After starting 2-2, the Wolves looked forward to a tough trio of games against Bemidji State, Wayne State, and Winona State.  NSU dropped each decision but stayed with their opponent every week, keeping the score to within eight points.  The offense put regular points on the board but the Wolves were unable to close the gap for the win.  4,730 fans packed into Swisher Field for they Gypsy Days dual with Bemidji State. 

  The Wolves snapped the three game slide with a 31-6 defeat over Minnesota-Crookston at the Pheasant Day/Shrine Game.  The win marked the sixth straight time that NSU has come out on top against the Golden Eagles.  The game was also important in jump-starting NSU’s running game.  In the seven games that preceded the meeting with UMC, the Wolves rushed for a combined 196 yards.  Against the Golden Eagles, Northern racked up a whopping 206 yards of rushing offense.  The momentum would carry on into the remaining games of the season, where NSU evened out their play with a much more effective running game. 

  With a 3-5 record and three games remaining in the season, the Wolves looked to climb the ranks of the NSIC standings.  In their next matchup with MSU Moorhead, Northern's offense stalled and the team combined for 156 yards worth of penalties.  They made a run for the game in the fourth quarter, but there was simply not enough time to close the gap and the Wolves fell 15-26. 

  The team responded with an impressive game against Upper Iowa the following week, scoring each quarter on their way to a 26-20 win.  They had a season high 442 yards of offense and held onto the game with a strong defensive effort late in the game.  In the 21st Annual Metrodome Classic on November 11, the final game of the season, the Wolves were matched up with the University of Mary.  The Wolves entered the game with a two-game winning streak at the Dome, but once again could not get their offense firing on all cylinders.  Mary, with the third best defense in the league, kept the Wolves to just one scoring play throughout the entire game and won 20-7.

  The team averaged 17.8 points per game while allowing 19.1 ppg.  They came in third in the NSIC with 237.8 yards per game passing and topped all NSIC members by allowing opponents just 171.0 ypg passing.  The Wolves went to the run game for 55.5 ypg, the second lowest figure among league teams.  With a true freshman leading the way as quarterback for the majority of games this season, the Wolves had a pass efficiency rating of 116.1, completing 59.2% of passes (265-448).

  The Wolves had several players stand out among the top in the league in 2006.  Junior punter Eric Schwan (Aberdeen, SD) was named NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week on September 25 after punting seven times for a total of 246 yards (35.1 ypp).  Schwan was also named D2Football.com Special Teams Player of the Week on October 3 following a 47 yards-per-punt performance against Bemidji State.

  Redshirt-freshman Brian Jark, also a local athlete from Aberdeen, led the league and came in second in the nation for receptions per game with a 7.6 rpg average.  Jark caught a total of 84 passes for 925 yards, leading the Wolves in offense in 2006 (15th nationally).  He recorded nine touchdowns, becoming the sixth best scorer in the NSIC.

  Senior wide reciever Wade Ginsbach (Hill City, SD) had another successful season, finishing with 56 receptions for 505 yards, averaging 56.1 yards per game (8th in NSIC) and 6.22 receptions per game (2nd in NSIC, 12th nationally).  Ginsbach had four touchdowns in 2006.

  NSU's final standouts were on the defensive side of the ball in senior linebacker Rudy Jones and senior back Una Latu.  Jones came in second in the league and 21st in the nation for tackles, averaging 9.5 per game with a total of 104 on the season.  Jones also tallied 1.5 sacks and had 8.5 tackles for loss.  Latu had 40 tackles, three pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, one blocked kick, and an interception returned 95 yards for a touchdown.

The Wolves had several post season awards including Brian Jark, Rudy Jones and Una Latu making the First Team All-Conference, Kia Tupou and Eric Schwan making the Second Team All-Conference, and Bryar Johnson, Wade Ginsbach, and Jackson Hegerfeld making the Honorable Mention All-Conference team.

Other awards included Rudy Jones making the Daktronics All-Northwest Region Defense Second Team and Brian Jark making the Don Hansen's Football Gazette 2006 All-Northwest Region Third Team.

NSU ATHLETICS

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More Info:
2006 FB Prospectus

2006 Weekly Releases

2006 Photos

Media Guide 2005 Football Media Guide

Football Contact
Ben Barnes
@northern.edu

NSU Football
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