Wolves Whip Wildcats

Oct 8th, 2005	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final	Records
Northern State	6	7	9	7	29	4-3, 3-0 NSIC
Wayne State (NE)	0	10	0	6	16	2-5, 2-1 NSIC

Northern State Rushes Past Wildcats

Wayne, America – Northern State remained undefeated in NSIC play as they knocked off Wayne State 29-13 to improve to 4-3 overall and 3-0 in league play. Wayne State falls to 2-5 overall and 2-1 in the NSIC. The Wolves will meet the only other NSIC undefeated team next week when they host Winona State (5-2, 3-0) at Clark Swisher Field in Aberdeen, S.D.

The Wolves took control of the game early as they marched the opening kickoff 77 yards on 15 plays, chewing up 6:38 off the clock, capped off by a six yard John Russell to Greg Agho touchdown pass. Adam Kleckner, filling in for the injured Clinton Arial-Ryan, missed the extra point.

The Wolves defense then stepped up as they allowed only nine offensive plays for the Wildcats in the first quarter that totaled only two yards. For the quarter the Wildcats had the ball for only 2:27.

In the second quarter, on the Wolves first possession, Russell was intercepted at the Wolves 37, and the return set the Wildcats up at 30. Wayne pulled their freshman quarterback Travis Dietz and replaced him with Sean McLaughlin to start the second quarter. The senior stepped up and hit Jake Robinson for a 28 yard strike down to the Wolves two. Two plays later the Wildcats scored and took the lead at 7-6 with 11:12 to play in the half.

The two teams exchanged punts but Northern took advantage of the wind and a 16 yard Wildcat punt to set them up with a first and ten on the Wayne State 43. On a third and six, Russell hit Mike Cahoy for 31 yards down to the eight. The next play Russell hit Demarcus Herford across the middle who took it in to put the Wolves up 13-7 with 5:23 left in the half. Russell finished the day 25 of 35 for 225 yards, two touchdowns and two picks.

Wayne State battle down the field to cut the Wolves lead to three at the half as they hit a 21 yard field goal as time expired in the first half.

Northern State struck first in the second half as Adam Kleckner hit a 23 yard field goal with 2:28 left in the third to put the Wolves up 16-10.

The Wolves pinned the Wildcats at their own six yard line on the ensuing kickoff. Four plays later, Una Lata picked off McLaughlin at the Wayne 37 and returned it 31 yards to the six yard line. Two plays later Chuck Driscoll powered in from five yards out to put the Wolves up 22-10 near the end of the third quarter.

Driscoll struck again on the Wolves next possession, this time from two yards to put the Wolves up 29-10 with nine minutes to go the in the game. The Wolves drive covered 73 yards on nine plays. Herford had a 34 yard gallop down to the nine yard line earlier in the drive. Driscoll finished the game with 69 yards on 21 carries, while Herford had 49 yards on 13 rushes.

Wayne State answered quickly with a six play, 62 yard drive capped off by a 52 yard McLaughlin to Marque McCray touchdown strike to put the score at 29-16 with 7:33 to play.

The Wolves offense did what they needed as they held the ball for the next 6:24 as they went 71 yards on 13 plays setting up a 25 yard Kleckner field goal. The field goal missed but the Wolves had a big enough lead and had chewed up enough time to end any hopes of a Wayne comeback.

For the game the Wolves had the ball for 38:57 compared to 21:03 for the Wildcats. The Wolves rushed for 133 yards compared to 47 for the Wildcats who were averaging 145 yards rushing in the NSIC coming into the game. The Wolves out gained the Wildcats 358 to 213 in total offense in the game.

Leading the Wolves defensively was Chris McClellan, who amassed eight tackles. Una Lata had four tackles, one for a loss and an interception. Shawn Warren returned from injury and got his first interception of the season.

The Wolves host Winona State next Saturday, October 15 th at 1:30 p.m. at Clark Swisher Field in Aberdeen. Winona State remained undefeated in the league as they down Bemidji State 47-13 today.

NSU HOME

NSU ATHLETICS