MORRIS, Minn. – The University of Northwestern football team traveled to face the University of Minnesota Morris on Saturday for their fourth conference match of the season. The Eagles and Cougars battled all four quarters, but UNW fell 28-21 to UMM in the end.
 
Northwestern jumped out to a quick lead less than three minutes into the game. The Eagles defense did as they have all season and recovered a critical turnover, this time on the second play from scrimmage for the Cougars. The fumble was recovered by Jeffrey Markvicka II (Brooklyn Center, Minn./Fridley) at the UMM 44-yard line. UNW capitalized on the turnover as Damon Clapper (Dallas Center, Iowa/Dallas Center - Grimes) hauled in a 21-yard pass from Nick Drinken (Randolph, Minn./Randolph) to put the Eagles up 7-0.
 
Following their costly mistake to open the game the Cougars recovered and scored twice to take the lead from the Eagles. Blake Johnson ran the first touchdown in from 11-yards out, and Marcus Reeb found Cole Mitchell for three yards and six points as UMM went up 14-7.
 
Starting with 5:47 left in the first half, the Eagles strung together a seven play, 43-yard drive to tie the game. On 2^nd and 10 from the UMM 31, Drinken hit Beau Burk (Ogilvie, Minn. / Ogilvie) downfield where the freshman made it to the one-yard line with incredible effort after the catch. Burk extended the ball over the goal line, but was ruled just short. The 30-yard effort would nonetheless be rewarded for the Eagles as Drinken hit Clapper again for another touchdown, this time scrambling to his left and finding the senior tight end with just enough room to get his feet down inbounds for the score.
 
The Cougars answered the Eagles with a touchdown drive of their own, going 84-yards on eight plays in 2:37 to take a 21-7 lead with just 20 seconds to spare in the half.
 
UNW trailed 21-14 at the half, but returned to answer early in the third quarter. George Obitz (Florence, Ariz./Florence) set the Eagles up with prime field position with a fumble recovery near midfield. The offense repaid the defensive effort with a seven play, 54-yard drive to even the game up at 21-21. Drinkin found Caleb Sieben (Anoka, Minn./Anoka) open in the middle of the field, connecting with the senior wideout for a 21-yard touchdown pass.
 
With the score tied, UM-Morris put together a nine play 63-yard drive that started in the third quarter and extended into the fourth to retake the lead. The Cougars rushed it in from three-yards out to go up 28-21. The Eagles would keep fighting, but the Cougar defense held together for Morris as they closed out the game to earn the win.
 
Drinken threw for three touchdowns and 136 yards through the air and led the Eagles on the ground as well, gaining 76 yards with his legs. Burk led UNW with 49 yards receiving while Clapper had a team-high five receptions. Jeremiah Staten (South Elgin, Ill./Wheaton Academy) had 12 carries for 51 yards to average 4.3 per carry.
 
On defense, Brad Kulinski (Milwaukee, Wis./Martin Luther) led Northwestern with six solo tackles, eight total, and two for loss. Gavin Bowser (Roseville, Minn./Roseville) had a pass breakup for the Eagles to go along with six total tackles. Noah Nightingale (Fennville, Mich./Fennville) had a quarterback hit for UNW and added five total tackles. Sam Schlabach (Rapid City, S.D./Rapid City Christian) had two solo tackles and the lone sack for the Eagles in the game.
 
Next up for the Eagles is their final home game of the regular season on Saturday, November 6. Northwestern will host the Crown College Storm at 7:00 p.m. for their Senior Night game.