RIVER FALLS, Wis. – University of Northwestern Football traveled to the University of Wisconsin River Falls to take on the No. 17 nationally ranked Falcons on Saturday night. The dangerous passing offense of the Eagles flashed as UNW threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns, but a second half rally fell short as River Falls wore down Northwestern and broke away late in the game for a 63-27 victory.
 
The Falcons offense exploded out the gate as River Falls threw a 73-yard touchdown on their first play from scrimmage to go up 7-0. On their next play from scrimmage one possession later, the Falcons ran 73-yards to score on the ground and take a 14-0 lead early.
 
River Falls scored again in the second quarter on an 11-yard pass to go up 21-0. Needing a big play to get some momentum, Brad Kulinski (Milwaukee, Wis./Martin Luther) delivered what the Eagles needed as the senior picked off the Falcons and ran it back for a 25-yard pick six.
 
The Falcons recovered from the costly turnover and scored once more in the second quarter on a 5-yard touchdown reception. The game went to halftime with No. 17 River Falls up 28-6 over the Eagles.
 
In the third quarter, the Falcons scored on a 4-yard run to take a 35-6 lead. UNW answered on their next possession, moving down the field through the air with the help of a 29-yard reception by Damon Clapper (Dallas Center, Iowa/Dallas Center - Grimes). Northwestern followed through on the drive with a 4-yard touchdown reception by Clapper.
 
Trailing 35-13, the Eagles showed no signs of giving up as the defense quickly gave the offense the ball back with Zane Schlabach (Keystone, S.D./Rapid City Christian) intercepting a pass at midfield for UNW.
 
The Eagle offense went to work again, and once again they found the end zone. On a 4^th and 7 in Falcons territory, Caden Cantrell (Taylor, Ariz./Snowflake) found Beau Burk (Ogilvie, Minn./Ogilvie) downfield for a 36-yard touchdown reception. The strike cut No. 17 River Falls' lead to a two-score game at 35-20 with 14:40 remaining in the fourth quarter.
 
The Falcons scored on their next possession to go up 42-20, but once more UNW answered. On the first play of the drive from the UNW 25, Cantrell launched a bomb downfield to Mike Bostrom (Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd) who hauled it in for a 57-yard connection. Three plays later, Cantrell found Clapper downfield for a 19-yard touchdown reception to get within two-scores at 42-27, trailing by 15 with 10:23 left on the clock.
 
River Falls' offense would deny the Eagles the chance for a comeback victory as the Falcons wore down UNW and scored three late touchdowns to close out the game 63-27.
 
Making his first collegiate start on the road against the No. 17 team in the nation, Cantrell threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns to bring UNW back into the game late. Big plays through the air was the key to the Eagles offense as Cantrell completed a 57-yarder to Bostrom, a 45-yarder to Bryson James (Apopka, Fla./Central Florida Christian Academy), a 36-yarder to Burk, and a 29-yarder to Clapper. Bostrom's 114 yards led UNW through the air. Bryson followed with 98. Clapper had 72 with two touchdowns while Burk had 59 and a touchdown.
 
Up next for the Eagles is a return home to Reynolds Field for their final non-conference contest of the season. Northwestern will battle the Hope Flying Dutchmen, who received votes in the latest D3football.com national rankings, at 12:00 P.M. on Saturday, September 24, of Homecoming Weekend.