Box Score

Morris, Minn., Sept. 29, 2007 – The Northwestern College football team had their best offensive game of the season - backed by six touchdowns - to defeat Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) rival University of Minnesota-Morris 38-22 on Saturday afternoon. NWC amassed 477 total yards in a game that Head Coach Kirk Talley hopes will set the pace for the remainder of the season.

Sophomore Zack Tarter (Crystal Falls, Mich./Forest Park) was 19-for-25 with three passing touchdowns and another score on the ground, setting the pace for an Eagle offense that was running on all cylinders. Tarter's 248 passing yards set the pace for the all-around big day.

The agile Tarter started Northwestern off on the right foot, scoring on a one-yard run with 5:33 to play in the first quarter to put the Eagles up 6-0. After Morris scored on a 27-yard pass play, the Eagles responded with two more TDs of their own. Aaron Pennington (Inver Grove Heights, MN/Simley High School) (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) ran for the first of his two rushing scores on the day, while Josh Lundeen (Princeton, MN/Faith Christian High School) (Princeton, Minn./Faith Christian) followed with a five-yard touchdown reception from Tarter to give Northwestern a 19-7 lead at halftime.

Scoring on their first drive of the third quarter, UMM let the Eagles know they weren't backing down. Northwestern continued to glide though, scoring three touchdowns, courtesy of Pennington and Jake Rusinkovich (San Clemente, Calif./San Clement High School) (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente), in the next four drives that would ultimately seal the deal. The Cougars did score again with 4:42 to play in the game, but NWC's defense did the rest to preserve a win that avenged last year's loss for the Eagles at home.

Pennington's number was called countless times in the game, and it showed. The senior scored three touchdowns on they day (two rushing, one receiving) to go with 63 all-purpose yards. Although he went without a score, freshman Noah Hadro (Northfield, Minn./Northfield) (Northfield, Minn./Northfield) had a breakout day, rushing for 115 yards on 18 carries. Overall, the Eagles put up 229 rushing yards - a season high for 2007.

Lundeen was a big part of the receiving corps that balanced the rushing attack, bringing in seven catches for 101 yards and the touchdown to lead the team. Jeremy Daggett (Winterset, IA/Winterset High School) (Winterset, Iowa/Winterset) also had a big day, catching six catches for 68 yards.

Andrew Magaard (Ogilvie, Minn./Ogilvie High School) (Ogilvie, Minn./Ogilvie) was once again Northwestern's tackling leader, amassing nine tackles. Nate Fehr (Omaha, NE/Millard North High School) (Omaha, Neb./Millard North) and Ty Crabtree (Fergus Falls, MN/Hillcrest Academy) (Fergus Falls, Minn./Hillcrest Academy) followed Magaard's lead with seven tackles apiece. Crabtree also had the team's only interception on the day.

Next Saturday will be a crucial game for the Eagles, as they face off against Martin Luther for what could prove to be the UMAC North Division Championship's deciding game. Both teams are 3-0 in conference play heading into next week's Homecoming match-up, which kicks off at Reynolds Field at 1 p.m.