Oct. 17, 1998

Northern State held the nation's third-best rusher to 81 yards en route to a dominating 34-6 victory over Bemidji State Saturday at a drenched and sloshy Swisher Field in Aberdeen, S.D.

BSU's junior back Chris Meyer, averaging 168 rushing yards per game coming into the contest, was held to just 3.1 yards per carry by NSU's stingy defense. Meanwhile, NSU's offensive line took control of the game, allowing two Wolves' running backs to mush out over 100 yards. Sophomore back Tyrone Morgan (Wichita Falls, Texas), who came into the contest ranked 15th in the nation rushing, racked up 159 yards and ran for three touchdowns. Junior back Troy Hoff (Scotland, S.D.) had 125 yards and two touchdowns on only 11 carries. Most of his yardage came on a 65-yard rumble in the third quarter to put NSU up 21-0.

With a soggy field and 25-35 mph winds howling throughout the game, there wasn't much of a passing game for either team. Neither NSU or BSU went over 100 yards passing, adding more proof the game was won between the hashmarks, in the trenches.

The closest the Beavers came was late in the third quarter on a 8-yard screen pass from quarterback Ben Morie to Meyer. But the Wolves answered to put the game effectively out of reach early in the fourth quarter on nifty a 27-yard run by Morgan, who despite the mucky conditions still made quick, concise cuts to hit the holes the offensive line opened up.