Oct. 9, 1999

Northern State showed a little bit of everything in Saturday's 48-7 shellacking of Minnesota-Morris at Swisher Field in Aberdeen.

One constant, however, was a punishing ground game, fueled by NSU's dominating offensive line. The change in this game was who performed the heroics in the backfield. With a banged up All-American candidate in Tyrone Morgan (Wichita Falls, Texas) seeing very limited action early due to hip and shoulder injuries, sophomore strongman Shane Carter (Aberdeen) filled in and put up Morgan-esque numbers. The Aberdeen Central graduate carried 38 times for 215 yards and four touchdowns, many times churning ahead for extra yardage with two or three Cougars draped on him.

Another of NSU's regulars in the running back rotation, junior Tefua Bloomfield (Kearns, Utah), also sat the game. That allowed for what is becoming a trend in Northern's backfield this season: makeshift linebackers carrying a load in the backfield. First, it was junior Alema Atuaia (Laie, Hawaii), who proved to be a punishing North-South runner in the past few games with his blocky 6-0, 250-pound frame. Saturday, it was junior Dorsett Jefferson (6-0, 220, Littlefield, Texas), who saw action in the second half and ended with five carries for 17 yards. Perhaps even more surprisingly, starting senior middle linebacker Naki Angilau (Kearns, Utah) lined up in goal-line situations and bulldozed the way as a blocking back for two of Carter's touchdowns.

The game also featured a fumbled punt snap that turned into a safety; a blocked punt and touchdown return; and an interception that looked more like a mid-air handoff. All three uncommon occurances happened in favor of the Wolves, who for the first time since they joined the Northern Sun conference in 1978 have started the conference season at a perfect 4-0.

Junior wideout Adam Syphers (Klamath Falls, Ore.) was left unblocked and came up with the blocked punt, which was scooped and returned five yards to paydirt by an alert Dan Hadley (senior, Box Elder). Syphers also came up big on the offensive front, leading NSU with six receptions for 38 yards and one touchdown. The fearless 5-9 receiver came up big on several third-down conversions and also caught a two-point conversion pass. Senior quarterback Nate Breske (Webster) ended the day 12-for-18 for 128 yards and a touchdown.

NSU's defense dominated, winning all battles up front and wreaking havoc in the Cougar backfield. Senior end Marcus Tynanes (Ewa Beach, Hawaii) led the effort with six tackles, including four for loss (19 yards) and two sacks. In all, NSU ended up with 4.5 sacks on the day. Senior Cory Appl (Milbank) would have had another if the quarterback hadn't decided to pass. Instead, Appl intercepted the pass by practically stuffing the quarterback's release and grabbing the ball just as it left his hand.

Northern's win sealed a decade of dominance over Minnesota-Morris. The Wolves have won all 13 meetings between the teams in the 1990's.