Box Score

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. -- It was a rough go-around for the Northwestern College football team in its 2012 debut as the Eagles lost to Saint John's University 52-7 at Clemens Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles started the game strong, but the Johnnies defense kept Northwestern's offense off of the field, causing the NWC defense to fatigue faster on day where the playing conditions included a nearly 90-degree temperature.

Saint John's won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. The Eagles stood strong on defense, forcing the home team to punt on its first possession. Fans then got a glimpse of the NWC offense for the first time this season as the Purple and Gold started to march down the field. The Eagles successfully got into Johnnies territory before having to punt the ball away. Saint John's was the first team to score as Nick Schneider found the end zone for the first of three times with 3:44 remaining in the first quarter.

The Johnnies added three more scores in the second quarter, holding on to the ball in the process. In the second and third quarters combined, Saint John's more than doubled NWC in time of possession, 21:27 to 8:33. Northwestern's lone score came in the third quarter, when Josh Sinnen (Waconia, Minn./Waconia) crossed the goal line on a six-yard run following a 69-yard connection from Josh Balzer (Shorview, Minn./Mounds View) to Brian Lecheler (Abbotsford, Wis./Abbotsford) to start the Eagles' second drive of the period.

Northwestern was only able to achieve 10 first downs in the game, 16 less than SJU. The Eagles had 104 yards on the ground and 177 through the air, compared to 254 and 332 for the Johnnies. NWC was forced to punt nine times after successfully converting just four of 15 third-down attempts.

Balzer finished 10 of 18 passing for 177 yards and an interception, taking two sacks on the day. Lecheler accounted for 111 of those yards with five catches, while Tim Youtzy (Hinton, Iowa/Hinton) and Matt Dammann (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) each caught two balls. On the ground, Northwestern was led by Chris Simon-Wallace (Minnetonka, Minn./Minnetonka), who rushed 10 times for 42 yards. Youtzy and Sinnen followed with 29 and 28 yards, respectively.

Defensively, Kendall Sommerlot (Pocahontas, Iowa/Pocahontas Area) had six solo and six assisted tackles for a team-best total of 12. Joey Bauman (Kerkhoven, Minn./Kerkhoven Murdock Sunburg) and Valentine Awasom (Coon Rapids, Minn./Blaine) each added nine tackles on the day.

Saint John's quarterback Connor Bruns finished 15 of 22 for 208 yards and a score. Sam Sura needed just one run to pile up a Johnnies-best 59 yards on the ground.

With the loss, Northwestern begins its campaign with an 0-1 record, and will continue its three-game road trip to start the 2012 season -- and its UMAC schedule -- next Saturday at Westminster College. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Fulton, Mo.