ST. PAUL, MINN. – The University of Northwestern football team welcomed Greenville University to Reynolds Field for the 2019 UMAC opener on Saturday. The game, which served as UNW's 2019 Homecoming celebration, resulted in a 42-14 win for the Panthers. With a steady stream of offense (14 points apiece) in the first three quarters, Greenville dug Northwestern into an inescapable deficit. The Panthers put together 283 yards passing and 163 yards rushing to UNW's 106 passing and 168 rushing yards.
Northwestern begins the year 0-3 after facing three talented teams. Greenville was picked to finish just 6th in the UMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, but returning quarterback George Harris and freshman running back Paul Garrett make them a tough team to beat in the UMAC.
The Panthers gained momentum right away – following a 51-yard pass completion from Harris, Greenville ran it in to go up 7-1 just three minutes into action. The Panthers scored again after intercepting a Damon Clapper (Dallas Center, Iowa/Dallas Center - Grimes) pass to take a 14-0 lead with just under five minutes remaining in the first.
Greenville would score twice in the second quarter before Northwestern gave the home town crowd a burst of offense. With time expiring, the Eagles put together a four play, 62-yard drive. Damon Clapper (Dallas Center, Iowa/Dallas Center - Grimes) completed a 46-yard pass to Caleb Sieben (Anoka, Minn./Anoka) followed by another pair of Clapper to Sieben passes for a UNW touchdown. Blake Mitchell's (Watertown, S.D./Watertown) PAT was good to send the teams' into halftime with a 28-7 score.
The second half told a similar story as Greenville tacked on two more TDs in the third quarter. The Eagles would respond with their second scoring drive of the game late in the third. On a drive that included a 28-yard rush from Payton Bowdry (Minneapolis, Minn./South), UNW ultimately scored on a Clapper to Sieben 15-yard touchdown pass.
Bowdry led the running efforts, picking up 63 yards on 10 attempts. Damon Clapper added 50 yards rushing and completed nine passes for 106 yards. Caleb Sieben (Anoka, Minn./Anoka) recorded both of the Eagles touchdowns on 107 receiving yards.
On the defensive end, George Obitz (Florence, Ariz./Florence) led the Eagles with nine tackles. Felipe Ramirez (Faribault, Minn./Faribault) added 8.5 tackles and a sack.
Northwestern will return to their home turf on Saturday, Sept. 28 when they welcome Crown College for the 2019 Football Frenzy. Kickoff is slated for 7 PM at Reynolds Field.
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