ST. PAUL, Minn.- The University of Northwestern Football team hosted their second home game in as many weeks on Saturday afternoon. It was a picture perfect fall day for football at Reynolds Field as the Eagles hosted one of the best teams in the country. #7 Wisconsin-River Falls won their third straight game to start the season, defeating the Eagles 75-3.
The visiting Falcons used a big first quarter to set the tone and propel themselves to the win. The story of that big first quarter for the seventh ranked team in the country was capitalizing on Eagle turnovers. UNW turned it over four times in the first quarter and UWRF scored points following every one of those Eagle miscues.
UNW put together their best drive right at the end of the first quarter. They went 55 yards over seven plays and got their only points of the day thanks to a
Dominic Borges (Tualatin, Ore./Tualatin) field goal from 37 yards out.
One of the bright spots for the Eagles on the afternoon was their defense forcing two turnovers against the explosive and dynamic Falcons' offense. Early in the second quarter,
Jayden Goodwin (New Richmond, Wis./Saint Croix Central) picked off a pass and returned it nine yards. On River Falls' first drive of the second half,
Basil Demco (Fontana, Wis./Big Foot) intercepted a ball and ran it back 33 yards before being brought down.
Offensively, the Eagles had more success in the passing attack than on the ground.
Caden Cantrell (Snowflake, Ariz./Snowflake) finished 13-26 for 115 yards.
Beau Burk (Ogilvie, Minn./Ogilvie) led the Eagles in receiving with 38 yards on two catches.
Bryson James (Apopka, Fla./Central Florida Christian Academy) had four catches for 35 yards.
After splitting their first two home games of the season, UNW Football will now head back out on the road for next week's contest. The Eagles will travel to Holland, Michigan to take on Hope College on Saturday, September 23
rd. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00pm local time which translates to 11:00pm here in the Twin Cities.
