GOAL LINE STAND

Sept 24th, 2005	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final	Records
Northern State	7	0	7	3	17	2-3, 1-0 NSIC
MSU Moorhead	0	6	6	0	12	0-3, 0-1 NSIC

Photo From NSU vs. Augie

Wolves Defense Holds MSUM Short in Final Minute

Moorhead, Minn. - Northern State (2-3, 1-0) held on for the 17-12 win over MSU Moorhead (0-4, 0-1) as the Wolves defense kept the Dragon offense out of the endzone with under a minute to go in the ball game, the Dragons having a first and goal.

With less than four minutes to go the Wolves attempted a 52 yard field goal that would give them an eight point lead making the Dragons need to score a touchdown and convert on the two point conversion just to tie the game. However, the kick was short and the Dragons took over on their 42 yard line with under five minutes to play.

The Dragons marched down the field and had a first and goal inside the ten yard line with under a minute to go. The Wolves stopped two plays and took advantage of a broken play by the Dragons to make it forth and goal with under thirty seconds to go. The Dragons lined up with four receivers to one side and threw a screen pass. The Wolves defense swarmed the ball and held the Dragons just short of the goal line securing the Wolves win. The loss marks the 15 th straight for the Dragons dating back threw last season and the win ends a three game skid for the Wolves.

The Dragons won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, giving the Wolves the first opportunity with the ball. The Wolves took advantage as they took the opening drive 73 yards on five plays, capped off by a 24 yard John Russell to Wade Ginsbach scoring strike with 13:32 left in the first quarter.

The Wolves had other scoring opportunities in the first half but penalties and turnovers left the game at 7-0 until late in the half. Then with 1:16 left in the half, Russell was picked off as the Dragons returned it 66 yards for a touchdown. The extra point failed and the Wolves led the narrowest of margins at 7-6.

The second half had the Dragons come out and marched down the field and score on their opening possession to make it 12-7 after their two point conversion failed.

The Wolves answered right back as they went 75 yards on 11 plays as Chuck Driscoll rumbled in from nine yards out to put the Wolves back up 14-12 with 4:37 left in the third.

The Wolves added a 38-yard Clinton Arial-Ryan field goal with 7:41 left to end the scoring in the game.

The Wolves return home next weekend to host Concordia St. Paul at 2:30 p.m. It will be Gypsy Day’s weekend and Clark Swisher Field will be dedicated prior to the kickoff.

Story lines
• MSUM are on four game losing streak, 15 over the last two years
• NSU is 1-2 on the road this season
• This was MSUM's 2005 home opener
• MSUM plays only three home games this season
• NSU has won the last three meetings
• NSU holds a 7-4 series edge the last 11 years
• NSU holds a 23-19-1 edge in the overall series.
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