Mary Shuts Down Wolves In Season Finale

 

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Northern State football team wrapped up the 2006 season at the 21st Annual Metrodome Classic Saturday afternoon. The Wolves entered the game with a two-game winning streak at the Dome, but could not get their offense running on all cylinders to keep the streak alive. The University of Mary kept the Wolves to just one scoring play, taking the game 20-7.

The Wolves started the game out on the right foot, stopping a 51 yard Marauder drive and keeping Mary scoreless after a missed field goal attempt. Northern then got a dose of their own medicine, pushing the ball to the Mary 24 before pushing their own field goal attempt wide right. The Wolves quickly got the ball back on Mary’s next play, with Stanley Kailahi recovering a Marauder fumble. The Wolves were unable to take advantage of the extra possession, turning the ball over on downs.

Mary’s first score of the game came early in the second quarter. Despite a Josh LeBrun sack that set the team back nine yards in the first play of the series, the Marauders marched 57 yards down the field and completed the scoring drive with a six yard rush into the endzone. Mary missed the extra point attempt and went up 6-0 at the 7:01 mark. The Wolves went scoreless in the remainder of the half, losing the ball on a fumble and kicking away with a punt.

The Wolves did not have luck on their side in the opening minutes of the second half and went down by another touchdown. They lost another fumble on their first possession, which gave the ball to Mary at Northern’s 26-yard-line. The Marauders used an efficient passing game to put the ball across the goal line for the second time, taking a 13-0 lead.

Northern, who relies heavily on a passing game featuring several of the league’s top receivers, could not complete passes when they needed them, while Mary ate up time on the clock with a mixture of passing and rushing plays. Mary’s final score of the game came at the 4:34 mark of the fourth quarter. The Marauders used 11 plays to get to the Northern 8-yard-line and went airborne for the score.

The Wolves put the ball into the endzone on their last possession of the game. They had recovered a blocked punt by Josh Nazaire at the Mary 23 and used just three plays to score with 34 seconds remaining. Wade Ginsbach was the recipient of the seven yard Andrew Wanner loft and the Wolves stopped the shutout.

Northern recorded a season-low 157 passing yards in the game and 184 total yards. Wanner completed 21-of-37 passes and had no interceptions. The Wolves’ top receiver was Brian Jark, who caught seven passes for 48 yards. Ginsbach had 43 yards and one touchdown in the game. Chuck Driscoll had seven carries for 30 yards. With another impressive punting night was Eric Schwan, who averaged 37.7 yards in three kicks. The Wolves had three sacks in the game and were led on the defensive front by Rudy Jones with 12 tackles.

The Marauders had 241 yards of offense, including 186 yards passing. Rod Samuel went over the century mark with 117 receiving yards in 12 catches, including a long ball caught for 29 yards. The team recorded two sacks and nine pass break-ups, explaining NSU’s trouble in the passing game.

The Wolves complete the 2006 season with a 4-7 overall record and a mark of 3-6 in the NSIC. The win sets Mary’s record at 6-4 on the season.

 

 

NSU ATHLETICS

NSU HOME

More Info:
2006 FB Prospectus
2006 Weekly Releases

Media Guide 2005 Football Media Guide

Football Contact
Ben Barnes
@northern.edu

NSU Football
Barnett Center
1200 So. Jay Street
Aberdeen, S.D. 57401