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Football

Long, defense throttles Eagles over Crown

Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS (Oct. 31, 2008) – Even though the final contest of UMAC Dome Day pitted the conference's current Nos. 1 and 2 teams in a game that meant nothing towards the league's standings, Northwestern didn't leave much in question as to who was the top dog. Running back Ryan Long (Dassel, Minn./Dassel-Cokato) (Dassel, Minn./Dassel-Cokato) amassed 186 yards and the Eagles' defense nearly posted a shutout as the UMAC champions cruised to a 44-7 win in the Metrodome.

Northwestern scored all 44 of its points before Crown was able to cross the goal line with just under two minutes left in the game. Long scored the Eagles' first three touchdowns, as NWC led 20-7 with 8:22 to play in the second quarter. The sophomore scored on runs from 10 and 29 yards out before catching a 38-yard pass from Zach Tarter (Crystal Falls, Mich./Forest Park High School) (Crystal Falls, Mich./Forest Park).

Three minutes later, Spencer Sommerlot (Pocahontas, IA/Pocahontas Area High School) (Pocahontas, Iowa/Pocahontas) forced Crown quarterback Adam Hayes into throwing an interception, and Kyle Nash (Fergus Falls, MN/Hillcrest Lutheran Academy) (Fergus Falls, Minn./Hillcrest Lutheran) took it 74 yards the other way for a touchdown. Josiah DeFelice (Temuco, Chile/Xenia Christian)'s successful PAT- attempt gave Northwestern a 27-0 lead going into halftime.

After Cody Crum (Rushville, Ill./Rushville Industry) (Rushville, Ill./Rushville) made a 32-yard field goal to increase the Eagles' lead to 30-0, Tarter found Kyle Thomforde (Northfield, Minn./Northfield High School) (Northfield, Minn./Northfield) on a 14-yard fade route that resulted in a touchdown.

Early in the fourth quarter, Long found pay dirt again on a four-yard run to give NWC its final point total of 44.

Northwestern amassed 453 yards of total offense while holding Crown to 283. Once again, the Eagles, who have a tendency to be a passing team, brought a balanced attack that featured the run. Long had 141 of NWC's 259 yards on the ground, while Tarter & Co. posted 227 yards through the air. The junior quarterback had a 235 quarterback rating after completing 10 of his 15 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Rahnee Dennard (Mesa, Ariz./Brophy College Prep) (Mesa, Ariz./Brophy College Prep) added 58 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries to the Eagles' running game.

Thomforde amassed 73 yards on three receptions, while Jake Rusinkovich (San Clemente, Calif./San Clement High School) (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) caught two passes for 61 yards.

Hayes was 16 of 32 for Crown, tallying 164 yards on the night. Lemone Johnson amassed 74 yards on 22 carries.

Defensively, Luke Delain (Denmark, Wis./Denmark) (Denmark, Wis./Denmark) led Northwestern with nine tackles.  Nash added seven tackles, while Mike Polley (Plymouth, MN/Wayzata High School) (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) and Noah Hadro (Northfield, Minn./Northfield) (Northfield, Minn./Northfield) each had five tackles.  Taylor Swanson (Monticello, Minn./Monticello High School) (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) also had an interception while tallying two solo tackles.

At 8-1 overall and 4-0 in the UMAC, Northwestern has won its last seven contests. After taking a week off next Saturday, St. Thomas University will come to Reynolds Field on Nov. 15 for what could be a make-or-break game. If the Eagles beat the Tommies (currently 5-2), NWC could have a legitimate chance at being invited to the NCAA playoffs as a Pool B team.  The game will begin at 1 p.m.
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