Wolves fall hard at Augustana

Aug. 30, 2001

Northern State's season got off to a rocky start Thursday, as little went right in a 57-7 loss at Augustana College. It was the Wolves' worst defeat since a 59-0 loss at South Dakota in the 1993 season opener.

The final stats tell the story: Augustana racked up 601 total yards of offense, while the Wolves mustered just 161. The Vikings, who boasted the best offense in the rugged North Central Conference last season, picked up where they left off as one of the top passing offenses in the nation. Their star receivers, Matt Holmlund and Ryan Nodland, broke an all-division NCAA record for a wideout duo in combined career receptions. The two combined for 13 catches, 252 yards and four touchdowns against Northern's defense, which forced only one punt on the night.

Northern's highlight on the night was senior back Tefua Bloomfield (Kearns, Utah), who had 18 rushes for 83 yards and scored the team's lone touchdown. Down 21-0 in the first quarter, NSU's forced catch-up style of play from the start didn't do a lot to determine a starting quarterback, as juniors Jake Parten (transfer from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa) and Scott Ackley (transfer from San Joaquim Delta College in Stockton, Calif.) split time. Ackley's junior college teammate, junior Jimmy Johnson, led the team in receiving with two catches for 22 yards.

Defensively, the safeties led the way. Junior Tell Hammerstrom (Sturgis, S.D.) recorded nine tackles on the night, followed by senior Jared Harward (American Fork Utah), who registered six including four solos.

Northern's schedule doesn't get any easier next week, as the Wolves are slated to travel to St. Cloud State Sept. 8. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.