ST. PAUL – The 2016 University of Northwestern football team did something that no other unit has done in school history, as the Eagles made their debut in the NCAA Playoffs Saturday. The Eagles battled for 60 minutes, but fell to the third-ranked University of St. Thomas Tommies, 43-0, in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs.



UNW finishes its season with a 9-2 overall record – the Eagles' nine victories are tied for the most in a season in school history.

Northwestern took the opening kickoff and via a 13-play drive, found itself with a 1st & 10 at the UST 13-yard line. Facing a 3rd & 10 on the St. Thomas 40, senior Corban Halbur (Richfield, Minn./Richfield) found Cody Carlson (Dallas Center, Iowa/Des Moines Christian) on a 27-yard toss to put the Eagles within striking distance. Four plays later, Northwestern's field goal attempt was blocked and the Tommies took over.

UST went on to put up 15 points in each the first and second quarters to take a 30-0 lead into the locker room. St. Thomas added a score in the third quarter and then again in the fourth to take the contest 43-0.

One the bright spots for UNW was its strong defensive effort on third down, as the Eagles three times stopped the Tommies on fourth down, including a pair of times inside the 10-yard line.

Gideon Burnham (Alexandria, Minn./Jefferson) posted a team-high 11 tackles, including a pair of tackles for loss to lead the defense, while Aaron Regnier (Hawley, Minn./Hawley) posted eight stops. Nick Swore (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northpointe Christian) and Daniel Stratton (Lucerne Valley, Calif./Lucerne Valley) recorded seven tackles apiece. Ben Greener (Foley, Minn./Home School) picked off Jacques Perra pass in the third quarter to finish his four-year career on a high note. Greener was also in on five tackles.  

Corban Halbur (Richfield, Minn./Richfield) finished his final game 12-of-25 for 102 yards. Four of those completions went to Zach Duerwachter (La Crescent, Minn./La Crescent) who racked up 35 receiving yards. BJ Foster (Charles City, Iowa/Charles City) rushed 13 times for 24 yards.