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WINONA
STATE ESCAPES WITH WIN IN 42-35 SCORING BATTLE
November
9 , 2002
ABERDEEN,
S.D.: Despite turning in yet another tremendous offensive
performance, Northern State was defeated by Winona State 42-35
in a high scoring affair at Swisher Field on Saturday.
The Wolves
failed to score on their opening posession but got the ball
right back as Jason Carson forced a Kevin Curtin fumble at
the WSU 21 yard line to set up a five play, 21 yard drive
that would be capped by a four yard touchdown run by Deacon
Burns to give the Wolves a 7-0 advantage.
The Wolves
forced Winona to punt again and took over at their own 32
yard line but WSU's Luke Lokanc picked off a Jake Parten pass
at the Northern 38. WSU used the field position scoring just
two plays later on a 26 yard pass from Bruce Carpenter to
Chris Samp to even the score at seven.
Northern
took possession of the ball with 4:09 to go in the first quarter
and went on an 11 play, 93 yard drive when Burns found paydirt
for the second time on the day. This time, he struck from
eight yards out to give NSU the 14-7 lead with 14:12 left
in the second quarter.
The Wolves
built a small cushion for their lead on their next possession
when Parten hit Burns for an 84-yard touchdown strike to give
the two-touchdown lead to NSU. That passing play was the longest
that the Wolves have seen this season.
The nationally
ranked offense of Winona State would not quit, however, at
they scored two more touchdowns before the half to change
Northern's two-touchdown lead to a 21-all tie.
The Warriors
took over the ball first in the second half and needed just
2:19 before Dave Cruz gave the Warriors the 28-21 lead on
a 19-yard touchdown run.
Both defenses
held for the remainder of the third quarter but on NSU's first
possession of the fourth, they took it 71 yards in eight plays
as Parten completed a 26 yard pass to Ronnie Cruz to even
the score yet again at 28-28.
The Warriors
went up on their next possession when Carpenter hit Samp on
a 13-yard strike, but with a missed PAT, NSU saw an opening.
The Wolves
took advantage of the WSU mistake and went ahead 35-34 when
Parten hit Josh Martin on a 39-yard passing play with 5:54
to go in the game.
But Winona's
high-powered offense had the final say in the game as Bruce
Carpenter hit Alan Hartung from 14 yards out to seal the game
at 42-35 with 4:02 to go.
Northern
was forced to punt on its next possession but Owen Olson boomed
an 81-yard punt that was downed at the Warrior three yard
line to give the Wolves a glimmer of hope.
NSU stuffed
the Warriors and took the ball back with :30 left in the game.
But Northern was unable to convert as time ran out handing
Northern its third straight loss against Winona State.
The Wolves
finished with another outstanding day offensively. Here are
the statistical highlights from the game:
--Jake
Parten finished throwing 24-for-36 for a career high 418 yards
on the day. It was the third consecutive game that Parten
reached the 300-yard plateau passing the ball.
--Ronnie
Cruz went over the 100-yard mark rushing for the Wolves piling
up 119 yards on 20 carries on the day to lead both teams.
--Deacon
Burns led the Wolves in receiving with 120 yards on four catches.
Burns posted three touchdowns (2 rushing, 1 receiving) on
the day.
--Owen
Olson booted the fourth longest punt in school history with
an 81-yard bomb that was downed at the WSU three yard line.
Owens career high (86 yards) came against Augustana in NSU's
season opener this season.
--Charlie
Johnston remains Jake Parten's favorite receiver. He hauled
in a team high eight receptions for 85 yards on the day.
--Jason
Carson led the NSU defense with 11 tackles on the day. The
junior also forced two Winona fumbles and posted one tackle
for a loss.
--Maia
Tupou posted nine tackles including NSU's only sack of the
day.
--NSU
put up 604 total yards on the day. It was the second week
in a row that the Wolves surpassed 600 yards.
Winona
notes:
--WSU
posted 519 total yards (235 rushing, 284 passing)
--The
Warriors posted over 40 points for the sixth consecutive week
--Derrick
Malone led the Warriors with 107 rushing yards on 15 carries
--Bruce
Carpenter threw 18-for-33 for 284 yards
--Jeff
Dobbertin led WSU in receiving yards with 95 on the day
--Deric
Sieck had a game high 17 tackles on the day. He had one fumble
recovery and one sack on the day.
NSU hosts
MSU Moorhead next Saturday in the final game of the season.
Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m. at Swisher Field.
-NSU-
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