Box Score

Minneapolis, Minn., Oct. 26, 2007 – Call it Midnight Madness if you will: The Northwestern College football team won its 16th Upper Midwest Athletic Conference championship Friday night, defeating Rockford College 28-27 in a dramatic overtime victory at the H.H.H. Metrodome in Minneapolis. The game, which was the finale of UMAC Dome Day 2007 - a five-game, 15-hour football marathon - gave players and fans all the highs and lows of emotion that one could ask for, as both sides experienced excitement and distress up until a theatrical finish that concluded just before midnight.

After 60 minutes of regulation and a 21-21 tie, there was more football to be played as Rockford would get the first crack at an overtime score. The Regents did just that, using six plays to score a touchdown before a PAT conversion would put the ball in Northwestern's hands, allowing Rockford's defense to go to work. The Eagles' Zach Holsman (Hill City, Minn./Hill City High School) (Hill City, Minn./Hill City) had different plans though, as he blocked Chris Kunde's kick attempt, opening the door for Northwestern – only if they could score first.

Northwestern looked doomed before quarterback Zack Tarter (Crystal Falls, Mich./Forest Park) found Jeremy Daggett (Winterset, IA/Winterset High School) (Winterset, Iowa/Winterset) in the corner of the end zone on fourth and six from the 21-yard line, yielding the field – and a potential win – to freshman kicker Cody Crum (Rushville, Ill./Rushville Industry) (Rushville, Ill./Rushville Industry). Crum was automatic, as he has been as of recently, putting his PAT attempt through the uprights to give the Eagles a one-point victory.

And that was only overtime.

Rockford hushed the Northwestern fans in attendance on their first drive down the field, marching 76 yards in 7:56 to score first on a 12-yard run by quarterback Matt Muscia, giving the Regents a 7-0 lead halfway through the first quarter.

The Eagles responded midway through the second period, as Daggett caught a seven-yard pass from Tarter with 5:52 left in the half to bring Northwestern even with Rockford. The rest of the half was a defensive battle as the teams entered halftime in a 7-7 gridlock.

Rockford came back right away to start the third quarter, recording back-to-back touchdowns by Kenneth McNeal and Chris Godfrey. McNeal's was a two-yard score on the Regents' first possession of the second half, while Godfrey's five-yard run came at the 6:59 mark in the third quarter.

Northwestern answered with their best, meaning Aaron Pennington (Inver Grove Heights, MN/Simley High School) (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley), who caught an eight-yard pass from Tarter to bring the Eagles within seven.

NWC had their backs up against the wall early in the fourth quarter after a first down and goal from the ten-yard line turned into fourth and goal from the 26. Tarter did it again though, finding tight end Nathan Clanton (Minnetonka, MN/Minnetonka High School) (Minnetonka, Minn./Minnetonka) over the middle for a 26-yard touchdown to even the score at 21 with 12:30 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Fast forward ahead three drives for Rockford when the Regents were steadily moving the ball on the ground within regulation's final two minutes. Chris Godfrey's 16-yard run from the Northwestern 36-yard line set up an opportunity for the conference's South Division champions to win the game on a 37-yard field goal by Kunde with three seconds to play. After a timeout by each team, Holsman blocked Kunde's attempt, sending the end result into extra innings.

Cue the overtime excitement including Daggett's touchdown and Crum's successful PAT and the rest is history, as the Eagles marched off the field with a 28-27 victory and another conference championship in hand.

Unlike the first time Rockford and Northwestern met this year, the Eagles held the upper hand in total yards, amassing 416 yards compared to the Regents' 353. Almost all of Rockford's offense came via the ground, as evidenced by their 319 rushing yards. Almost every other statistic was even, with the exception of time of possession and third down conversions.

Tarter finished the game 17 for 27, totaling 220 yards and four touchdowns. The sophomore quarterback hit six receivers in the game including Daggett, who recorded 63 yards and two scores to lead Northwestern's corps.

Steven Boggess (Ginnell, IA/Grinnell High School) (Grinnell, Iowa/Grinnell) rushed 18 times for 89 yards, while Josh Lundeen (Princeton, MN/Faith Christian High School) (Prinsburg, Minn./Faith Christian) ran the ball three times for 64 yards. Pennington also added nine rushes for 29 yards and a score through the air.

Defensively, Max Meagher (Paynesville, MN/Paynesville High School) (Paynesville, Minn./Paynesville) was all over, recording 10 tackles, which includes 2.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks. Kyle Nash (Fergus Falls, MN/Hillcrest Lutheran Academy) (Fergus Falls, Minn./Hillcrest Academy) also had a big day, totaling nine tackles. Holsman was the difference-maker though, blocking two kicks while accumulating 1.5 tackles.

Muscia completed three of his 10 passes for 34 yards. McNeal accounted for 20 of Rockford's 68 rushing attempts in the game, recording 119 yards. Jason Hosey also contributed 92 yards on 14 attempts.

Northwestern wraps up their conference season with a perfect 7-0 record, and will take their overall mark of 7-2 to Reynolds Field, where they are slated to host the University of Chicago next Saturday, Nov. 3. Game time is set for 1 p.m.

With the win, the Eagles also increased their chances of being chosen for the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Victory Bowl, which will be determined in early November.