Wolves Pull Off Comeback Win Over Dragons

October 27, 2007	1	2	3	4	F
MSU Moorhead	13	0	7	0	20
Northern State	0	7	7	7	21

Mike Preciado blocked the Dragon field goal with just seconds remaining in the game, saving the NSU win.

October 27, 2007
ABERDEEN, S.D. - There were huge shifts in momentum for the Northern State football team late in the game against MSU Moorhead on Saturday afternoon. The lead in the game changed three times before the Wolves' special teams blocked a Dragons field goal and recovered the ball as the game clock expired and Northern earned the 21-20 win.

The Dragons carried the momentum through the first half of play, scoring two unanswered touchdowns while NSU failed to connect on two field goal attempts. Jared Mack blocked the PAT attempt on Moorhead's second touchdown, a play that would eventually spell a win for the Wolves.

Northern got on the board in the second quarter as Tavis Ve'e rushed the final 17 yards of a 55 yard drive to cross the goal line and set the score at 13-7. The Northern defense made a key defensive stop in the final minutes of the quarter. The Dragons had a first and goal at the Northern 2-yard line but NSU's front line stopped the Dragon rush three times before MSUM quarterback Dustin Long threw a Kellen Fetter interception in the endzone. The Wolves went into the halftime break down 13-7.

Things started to look up for the Wolves early in the second half. The team drove 60 yards on their first possession for a score, a 14-yard connection between Eric Ellingson and Ve'e, who held onto the ball in the back of the endzone for his second touchdown of the game. An extra point from Parrott gave the lead to Northern, 14-13. The Dragons wasted no time in reclaiming the lead, however. An effective passing game gave MSUM a touchdown just four plays later and a 20-14 lead.

The teams each traded their next three possessions and the game went into the fourth quarter. The Wolves took over control of the ball at the 8:54 mark and, after failing to connect with Turner Johnson on first down, Ellingson launched a pass back to Johnson, who evaded defenders and finished the 75-yard touchdown on his feet. The Wolves went up 21-20 with the extra point.

As Northern approached the two-minute mark with the lead, the game took yet another swing. The Dragons forced a fumble and recovered the ball at the Northern 16-yard line. A delay of game penalty pushed MSUM back from the 1-yard line to the 6-yard line and a series of incomplete passes with good NSU coverage set up a third down Dragons field goal attempt with just six seconds remaining. Just when it appeared as if the lead would change hands for the final time, the Northern hopeful jumped to their feet as Mike Preciado blocked the kick and Nate McGruder scooped up the ball, nearly making it the the opposite endzone before he was brought down. The clock expired through the course of the play and the Wolves basked in the glow of their 21-20 win.

The Wolves had 392 yards of offense in the game. Ellingson threw for 291 yards with two touchdown passes. Brian Jark caught 12 balls for 126 yards, with receiving touchdowns going to Johnson and Ve'e. Ve'e also led the rushing front with 57 yards gained and another touchdown. Jackson Hegerfeld led the defense wtih 6.5 tackles and a forced fumble. Jon Peckham had six tackles and a sack, while Travis Frogge had five tackles including 1.5 for a loss of four yards.

The Dragons had 319 yards of offense, split nearly down the middle between passing and rushing. Two of their touchdowns came off of offensive receptions, while their second of the game was a fumble recovery returned for a score.

The Wolves improve to 4-5 overall with an NSIC mark of 4-3. The Dragons are now 3-6 and 2-5 in league play. The Wolves host Upper Iowa in their final 2007 Swisher Field game next week at 1:00 pm.

 

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