NORTHERN STATE SINKS VIKINGS 24-21 IN SEASON OPENING THRILLER

September 6 , 2003

ABERDEEN, SD - The Northern State football team treated nearly 5,000 Swisher Field fans to a nail-biting, down-to-the-wire finish that saw the home team claim victory over Augustana 24-21 on Saturday night.

Augustana drew first blood in the second quarter when Ryan DeGraff hit Eric Haugland for a one-yard touchdown pass with 10:42 to go in half number one.

The Wolves then drew within four when Owen Olson drilled a 23-yard field goal home to put Northern on the board for the first time in the 2003 season.

Northern then reached paydirt on its next drive Ronnie Cruz capped an eight play, 70-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown burst to put the Wolves up 10-7 at the half.

Augie reclaimed the lead with 4:47 left in the third with an eight-yard run by Ryan Ovenden to go up 14-10.

NSU struck right back on its ensuing drive going 61 yards in five plays before Toby Korrodi scrambled to find Cruz on a 23-yard screen pass to put the Wolves back on top.

Northern State then gave itself some insurance when Cruz found the endzone for the third time on the night with a three-yard scamper to give NSU a 24-14 advantage with 10:47 to play.

The Vikings wouldn't give in, however and on the next drive took the ball 59 yards in eight plays and, with a six-yard run from quarterback Ryan DeGraff, drew within three points of the Wolves.

Northern then looked like it would put the game away holding the ball first-and-goal at the Augie four-yard line. But the AC defense held and threw Korrodi for a two yard loss on fourth and goal from the one with 2:35 remaining in the game.

Augustana tried to mount one more drive and pulled itself to the Northern 30 before Jason Carson got to DeGraff for the Wolves' only sack of the night on second and four. DeGraff then overthrew Sam Ward and, on fourth down, missed his target and found NSU's Jason Pleasant on the receiving end sealing the game for NSU.

Augustana held a slight advantage statistically gaining 496 total yards to Northern's 455. Augie held the upper hand through the air with 332 yards to Northern State's 268 but the Wolves got the job done on the ground with 215 rushing yards.

Deacon Burns led the Wolves on the ground with 101 yards on just 11 touches while Ronnie Cruz rushed 25 times for 94 yards and two touchdowns.

In his first ever collegiate football game, redshirt freshman Toby Korrodi threw 13-for-30 for 234 yards and one touchdown while Charlie Johnston led the NSU receiving corps with five catches for 121 yards.

Preseason all-American Jason Carson led the Wolves defense with nine tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack. Maia Tupou followed with seven takedowns on the night.

With the win, the Wolves earned their first win over Augustana since 1952 and snapped a nine game losing streak against the Vikings. Ken Heupel earned his first ever season-open victory as head coach of the Wolves and his first victory over Augie.

Northern State (1-0) will host St. Mary (KS) next Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Swisher Field.

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