Box Score Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS – Northwestern College won its third straight game on Saturday, defeating Eureka College 53-17 in the 12th rendition of UMAC Dome Day.  The Eagles scored 45 or more points for the fourth time this season to improve to 6-3 overall and 6-2 in UMAC play.

Saturday was filled with big plays for Northwestern as six of the eight plays that resulted in a touchdown were on runs or passes of 40 yards or more. Freshman running back Josh Sinnen (Waconia, Minn./Waconia) (Waconia, Minn./Waconia) started the big plays, rushing 34 yards for the Eagles' first score of the game on NWC's first drive.  Northwestern needed just three plays to find the end zone, as Sinnen's run capped off a 48-yard drive that took just 1:22 off the clock.

After Eureka scored on its first drive, Northwestern started to go off on offense.  Josh Young (Shoreview, Minn./Concordia Academy) (Shoreview, Minn./Concordia Academy) turned a six-play, 22-yard drive into a seven-play, 62-yard drive after crossing the goal line on a 40-yard dash.  NWC got the ball back quickly after a Eureka punt, and quarterback Josh Balzer (Shorview, Minn./Mounds View) found Chad Rusinkovich (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente) on a go route down the right side as the two connected for a 60-yard touchdown, sending Northwestern into the locker room with a 20-7 advantage.

Brian Lecheler (Abbotsford, Wis./Abbotsford) (Abbotsford, Wis./Abbotsford) got in on the action shortly into the third quarter, as Balzer lofted up a pass for the senior on the right side. Lecheler hauled the pass in and beat his man to the end zone on a 54-yard scoring play.  By that time, the scoring was only half over, as Northwestern still had four touchdowns in its tank.  Young found pay dirt again in the third quarter, this time on the Eagles' first play of their drive, breaking free for a 57-yard touchdown run.

Rusinkovich had two more touchdowns before the day was over, hauling in scoring passes of 42 yards and 54 yards.  Matt Dammann (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) was also the recipient of a Balzer TD toss in the third quarter.

Northwestern nearly doubled Eureka in total yards, 549-227, with the final rushing yardage coming out at 265 for the Eagles and a mere five for the Red Devils.

Balzer finished 11 of 19 for 271 yards and a career-best five touchdowns.  Rusinkovich also had a career day with 202 yards on seven catches and his three scores.  On the rushing end, Young had 20 carries for 176 yards, averaging 8.8 yards per carry.  Sinnen added 71 yards on 13 rushes to go with his early-game TD.

While the Eagles offense was busy scoring points, the defense was locked on to Eureka quarterback Sam Durley, who was averaging 316 yards per game coming into Saturday's game.  NWC picked off Durley twice, courtesy of Mitch Swanson (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) and Grant Stroud (Moorhead, Minn./Hillcrest Academy) (Moorhead, Minn./Hillcrest Lutheran Academy).  Northwestern got seven sacks, all from the combination of Josh Swore (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) and Dave Kleiner (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville Academy) (Lakeville, Minn./Bethany Academy).  Overall, the Eagles had 14 tackles for a loss and six quarterback hurries.

Kleiner and Joey Baumann (Kerkhoven, Minn./Kerkhoven Murdock Sunburg) led the team with 11 tackles.  Swore was right behind with 10 total tackles, eight of which were for a loss.  Five Northwestern players had seven or more tackles on the afternoon.

The Eagles have one game left on their schedule with Greenville College awaiting Northwestern next Saturday, Nov. 5 in Greenville, Ill.  After the Purple & Gold make the long trek south on Friday, Saturday's game will kickoff at 1 p.m.