Box Score Box Score

NEW ULM, Minn. – Northwestern College scored 28 first-half points to beat Martin Luther College by a 35-26 final score on Saturday to improve to 5-3 (5-2 UMAC) in 2011. In a rare game statistically speaking, the Knights out-gained the Eagles by more than 200 yards, but six Martin Luther turnovers allowed NWC extra opportunities to score.

All five of Northwestern's possessions that resulted in a score started with the Eagles taking the ball from Martin Luther from an interception or a fumble.  Josh Young (Shoreview, Minn./Concordia Academy) (Shoreview, Minn./Concordia Academy) started NWC's scoring after Joey Baumann (Kerkhoven, Minn./Kerkhoven Murdock Sunburg) picked off Martin Luther's Joe Lindloff to set up 1st and 10 for the Eagles at the Knights 15-yard line. Young crossed the goal line on Northwestern's third play of the drive to give the Purple and Gold a 7-0 lead. Lindloff evened the score for Martin Luther midway through the first quarter before Josh Swore (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) recovered a fumble and ran it 35 yards for NWC's second score of the game.

Just three minutes after Swore recorded the Eagles' fifth defensive touchdown of the season, quarterback Josh Balzer (Shorview, Minn./Mounds View) (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View) connected with receiver Jake Rusinkovich (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) from 20-yards out to increase Northwestern's lead to 20-6. A successful point-after-touchdown kick from Elijah Buecksler (Farmington, Minn./Rosemount) (Farmington, Minn./Rosemount) bumped the Eagles' advantage to 21-6.

NWC's defense turned up the heat on Martin Luther again, this time forcing Lindloff to throw a pass that was intercepted by Ben Anderson (Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial) (Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial). Young then ran 29 yards on the next three plays before Josh Sinnen (Waconia, Minn./Waconia) (Waconia, Minn./Waconia) finished off the Eagles' drive with a two-yard touchdown run that sent Northwestern into the locker room with a 28-6 halftime lead.

Martin Luther scored on its first drive from scrimmage to start the second half before Lindloff successfully navigated his way through traffic to complete a two-point conversion.  Sinnen answered right back, this time with a 28-yard run that resulted in a touchdown to boost NWC's lead to 35-14.  The Knights' Tyler Dorn and Scott Henrich each scored touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but it was too late as the Eagles prevailed to win on the road for the third time in their 2011 campaign.

MLC controlled possession for nearly eight minutes more than the Eagles in the 60-minute contest, giving way to the Knights' unusual 508-294 dominance in total yards.  The home team also earned 28 first downs on the day, while Northwestern finished with 16.

Sinnen finished as Northwestern's leading rusher on the day with 106 yards on 16 attempts. Young was right behind his young apprentice, rushing 20 times for 94 yards and a touchdown. Balzer wrapped up his day just seven of 20 for 82 yards.

Tyler Dorn and Nick Kressin combined for over 170 rushing yards for the Knights, while Lindloff, a running back-turned-receiver-turned-quarterback this season, added 61 yards on the ground for Martin Luther. The senior finished with 237 passing yards on 20 completions.

Several Northwestern players had outstanding performances on defense. Kendall Sommerlot (Pocahontas, Iowa/Pocahontas Area) (Pocahontas, Iowa/Pocahontas Area) had a personal-best 16 tackles, while Luke Delain (Denmark, Wis./Denmark) (Denmark, Wis./Denmark) had 14 before suffering an injury late in the game.  Swore, Anderson and Rob Reynolds (Rochester, Mich./Adams) (Rochester, Mich./Adams) all had double digit tackles as well, with Anderson recording the interception and two forced fumbles.

Both NWC and Martin Luther will play on a different surface next week as the Eagles and Knights participate in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference's (UMAC) annual Dome Day event. Northwestern is slated to face Eureka College on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 4 p.m., while Martin Luther (1-7 overall, 1-6 UMAC) will battle MacMurray College on Friday, Oct. 28 at the same time.  Fans can purchase tickets for Dome Day on Friday and Saturday at Gate B of the Metrodome in Minneapolis starting at 3 p.m. on Friday and 12 noon on Saturday. For more information on Dome Day, click here.