WOLVES OVERPOWER MORRIS

Oct. 13, 2001

Tefua's Toll -- NSU senior back Tefua Bloomfield wore out the Morris defense with 30 carries for 244 yards and four TDs.

Northern State pounded out a methodical 44-14 win over University of Minnesota-Morris Saturday afternoon at Swisher Field in Aberdeen.

The Wolves (3-4 overall, 3-2 NSIC) didn't have a big day through the air, but didn't need one as their offensive line and ground game controlled play throughout the contest. Senior running back Tefua Bloomield (Kearns, Utah) dominated with 30 carries for 244 yards and four touchdowns.

Junior quarterback Scott Ackley (Stockton, Calif.) spread the ball to six different receivers in going 9-of-24 for 168 yards and a touchdown. Junior wideout Jimmy Johnson (Lodi, Calif.), who played with Ackley last season at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, Calif., led the receiving corps with two receptions for 81 yards.

Senior linebackers Booker T. Bell III (left) and Eddie Hernandez celebrate another solid showing by NSU's defense.

Defensively, junior defensive lineman Keith Cowins (Miami, Fla.) led the way in tackles with seven, including four for loss and two sacks. Cowins also had two sacks and a blocked kick. But the defensive highlight of the game came from senior linebacker Eddie Hernandez (Miami, Fla.), who picked off a Morris pass and returned it 37 yards to paydirt.

Bloomfield and many of his starting mates were able to rest for most of the fourth quarter as Northern gave its underclassmen the chance to gain college experience. The Wolves will need that rest to gear up for next week, as NSU makes the trek to face a conference title contender in Minnesota-Duluth. If the Wolves are to make a bid for the 2001 NSIC title, it will begin there.