NORTHERN OFFENSE GAINS 711 YARDS IN 49-31 WIN OVER CROOKSTON

November 2 , 2002

CROOKSTON, MINN.: Northern State used an offensive explosion gaining a season high 711 total yards to defeat Minnesota-Crookston in a 49-31 shootout on Saturday.

The Wolves got on the scoreboard first when quarterback Jake Parten found Charlie Johnston for a 36-yard touchdown midway through the first quarter. Parten would then find Travis Heitmann on a seven-yard strike on Northern's next possession to put the Wolves up 13-0 early in the contest.

The Golden Eagles found their first points of the game with 1:02 left in the first when they went on a 13 play, 65 yard dirve capped by a run by Justin Schreiber to bring the Eagles within eight at 13-6.

The Wolves needed just one play on the ensuing drive to see Jake Parten strike for the third time on the day when he found Josh Martin for a 70-yard touchdown to give NSU the 19-6 lead at the end of the first.

UMC tacked on a score early in the second but NSU would extend its lead when Ronnie Cruz and Charlie Johnston found paydirt for the Wolves before halftime to make the NSU lead 32-13.

NSU's Owen Olson drilled a 28-yard field goal on the Wolves' first possession and Charlie Johnston caught his third TD of the day to give the Wolves their largest lead of the game at 42-13.

The Golden Eagles scored on a 60-yard run by Luon Spearman and a 20-yard reception by Kyle Kraska to put the score at 42-25 with 13:18 to go in the game but NSU's Ronnie Cruz scored again from eight yards out to give the Wolves the 49-25 lead with under nine minutes to play.

UMC would tack on six with just :24 to go in the game but NSU was able to hold on for the victory, 49-31.

Northern found plenty of offensive stars on the day. Charlie Johnston led the Wolves with six receptions for a new career high of 147 yards and three touchdowns.

Jake Parten threw 16-for-30 on the day for 307 yards and five touchdowns. The 307-yard performance marks the second week in a row that the senior has surpassed the 300-yard passing mark.

Ronnie Cruz led the NSU rushing attack with 21 carries for 152 yards and two TDs. Deacon Burns and Matt Wagner each went over 100 yards rushing on the day with 102 and 100 yards on the ground, respectively.

UMC gained 182 yards on the ground and 236 through the air for 418 yards of total offense on the day.

NSU's defense was led by Justin Briese who posted ten tackles including one for a loss on the game.

Northern (4-5, 4-3 NSIC) faces Winona State at home on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

-NSU-