| October23rd, 2004 | 1 |
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Final |
Records |
| Bemidji State | 6-3, 3-2 NSIC | |||||
| Northern State | 4-4, 3-2 NSIC |
Wolves Blow Lead - Battle Back to Baffle Beavers
ABERDEEN, S.D. -The Wolves won their 500 th game in school history in dramatic fashion. After blowing a 20-10 halftime lead, Toby Korrodi hit Josh Martin on fourth and seven for a 28 yard touchdown with 2:26 left in the game to give the Wolves the 34-31 come from behind win.
The stats show just how close this game was: Both teams had had 482 yards of total offense with the Wolves winning the rushing game 207 to 191 and the Beavers taking the passing game with 291 compared to 275 for the Wolves. Both teams had 24 first downs. The Wolves took 77 snaps, the Beavers 79. Both teams were 7 of 16 on third down conversions and 1 of 2 on fourth down. The Wolves averages 6.3 yards per play, while the Beavers had 6.1 ypp.
The Wolves took advantage of a pair of Beaver fumbles to hop out to an early 10-0 lead in the contest. Shadee Shikir hauled in a 19 yard Korrodi pass to kick off the scoring, while Clinton Arial-Ryan added a 20-yard field goal with six minutes left in the first quarter.
After a Beaver field goal Wade Ginsbach snatched an 11-yard toss from Korrodi to put the Wolves up 17-3 with 12:48 left in the first half. The Beavers countered as they marched 73 yards on six plays, and scored on a 15-yard reverse to bring the score to 20-10 at the half.
The second half had the Wolves receive and march 63 yards down to the Beaver two-yard line before turning the ball over on downs. The Beavers again countered, as they marched 98 yards on eight plays capped off on a 10 yards rush to bring the score to 20-17.
After a Wolves punt the Beavers used their momentum to drive 59 yards on ten plays to take the lead on a two-yard touchdown pass with four minutes left in the third quarter.
The Wolves drove the field and looked to retake the lead, but Korrodi was picked off in the end zone to deflate the Wolves sails.
After the two teams traded possession the Beavers tasted blood as they continued to pour it on. They again marched the field and went 84 yards on 11 plays, taking a 31-20 lead with nine minutes left in the game.
The seesaw trend continued as the Wolves took their ensuing possession 63 yards on seven plays capped off by a four yard Korrodi to Martin touchdown (set up by a 41 yard Kevi Covington reception) to bring the score to 31-27.
The Wolves defense stepped in and forced the Beavers to punt, but more importantly kept the Beavers to only removing 55 second from the clock.
The Wolves took over with 5:08 left in the game with the ball on their own 38-yard line. Wade Ginsbach took a Korrodi pass 16 yards to the BSU 47. Chuck Driscoll caught a pass in the flats, broke a tackle and moved the Wolves down to the BSU 31. After a Jones three-yard rush and a pair of incompletions the Wolves found themselves in a fourth and seven on the BSU 28. Korrodi dropped back and found Josh Martin on a crossing pattern in the front of the end zone for the Wolves game winning touchdown with 2:26 left in the game.
The Beavers were stopped on downs on their next possession, with Josh LeBrun having a quarterback hurry on fourth and seven forcing the Beavers to turn the ball over and sealing the win.
Rudy Jones finished the day with 40 carries for 212 yards, including a 54 blast. All three being season highs for Jones.
Korrodi went 19 for 33, and four touchdowns, which marks his third four-touchdown game this year and seventh of more or more in his career.
Josh Martin caught four passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns, both coming in the fourth quarter including the game winner.
Defensively, Steve Espinoza who sawed down 12 Beavers in game, one for four yards lost, led the Wolves. Veaila Tupou also had 12 stops including one for a yard lost. MisiFinau and Matt Klawitter chopped down 11 Beavers a piece as well on the day. MisiFinau and SteveFinau each forced a fumble, while KiaTupou and Josh LeBrun scooped up the dropped balls. Shawn Warren had an INT and returned it 20 yards. He also had a pass break up and a tackle in the game.
Espinoza, the NSIC leader in tackles, collected his fifth game in a row with ten or more tackles.
With the Wolves improving to 3-2 in the NSIC they pull into a four-way tie for second place in the league with Bemidji State, Concordia St. Paul and Southwest Minnesota State. The Wolves travel to Crookston to take on the Golden Eagles next Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on Ed Widseth Field.
Rudy Jones Named NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
Moorhead, Minn. - Junior running back Rudy Jones rushed for 212 yards on 40 carries to help lead the Wolves to a 34-31 win over the Bemidji State Beavers. Jones posted season highs for yards (212), carries (40) and longest rush from scrimmage (54) in the game.
The win keeps the Wolves chances alive for a bid to the Mineral Water Bowl on December 4th, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. The Wolves must win out to have a chance to receive the bid.
Northern State University (located in Aberdeen, SD) is an NCAA Division
II institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
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