Sept. 23, 2000

Northern State University senior running back and Harlon Hill candidate Tyrone Morgan (San Fernando, Calif.) set NSU's career rushing record Saturday at Bemidji State, but that feat was overshadowed by the Wolves' 39-38 barnburner loss to the unbeaten (4-0 overall, 2-0 NSIC) Beavers.

NSU (2-2, 1-1 NSIC) suffered its first conference loss in 15 games. The defending NSIC champions fell behind early, as BSU rushed out to a 20-7 lead early in the second quarter. But the Wolves stormed back to take a 21-20 lead into halftime. In the second half, the teams exchanged blows as both Morgan and BSU's star back Eddie Acosta rushed for 50+-yard touchdowns. NSU enjoyed its biggest lead of the day at 35-26 with Morgan's 51-yard burst late in the third quarter. But the final stanza belonged to the home team. BSU broke through on a drive it started after Morgan's run early in the fourth but missed its extra point attempt to pull to within 35-32. After a stalled drive attempt by each team, NSU put together a 13-play, 65 yard drive but couldn't apply the dagger, instead settling for a 28-yard field goal from freshman placekicker Owen Olson (Denver, Colo.) with just over four minutes remaining. That was plenty of time for BSU's offense to march down the field, aided by big plays and a penalty call on a fourth-and-six that kept the drive alive on NSU's 25. Acosta would soon break a tackle to score his third touchdown of the afternoon and give the Beavers the go-ahead score.

But the Wolves weren't through yet. With less than a minute to go, senior quarterback Nate Breske (Webster) marched his team down the field, hitting on big pass plays to senior wideouts Adam Syphers (Klamath Falls, Ore.) and Reggie Schulte (Tyler, Minn.). A BSU penalty put the Wolves in field goal range, but Olson's 36-yard attempt missed wide right with two seconds on the clock.

Morgan finished with 145 yards and three touchdowns on 35 carries. That puts him at 4,122 career yards in just his third year at Northern. It breaks the former mark set by former NSU head coach and athletic director Jim Kretchman, who rushed for 4,121 yards from 1952-55.

Also having a big day for NSU was senior wideout Stokes Aitken (Salt Lake City, Utah), who hauled in two touchdown receptions and ended the day with four catches for 59 yards. Syphers led the receiving corps with four catches for 88 yards. Both offenses shined with balance run/pass attacks, gaining over 400 yards of total offense apiece (BSU 415, NSU 408).

Defensively, junior end Chris Rogers (Talahassee, Fla.) led the team with six stops, including five solo tackles. Sophomore end Eric Rambow (Litchfield, Minn.) recorded his first career interception.

Saturday's game leaves the Wolves quest for back-to-back conference titles in the hands of Bemidji State. According to how the conference season has played out thus far, the Beavers' toughest test will come at Minnesota-Duluth Oct. 21. BSU does not play perennial conference power Winona State this season. The Wolves have both Duluth and Winona at home this season. But for now, NSU's focus rests squarely on homecoming game week and Southwest State, who comes to visit for a 2:30 kickoff Saturday, Oct. 30.