ST. PAUL, Minn. – All eyes were on Reynolds Field Saturday, as the University of Northwestern Football team looked to avenge a loss to the University of Minnesota Morris in the 2023 win-and-in regular season finale. The result gave Morris the UMAC championship, ended Northwestern's season, and set the table for Saturday's battle, which was dubbed the UMAC Game of the Week. Using a run-heavy and defensive-minded gameplan that would make Jim Harbaugh blush, the Eagles completed the task, taking down the Cougars 44-13 to move into sole-possession of first place in the conference.
UNW marched down the field on the opening possession, thanks in large part to a 42-yard scamper from reigning UMAC Offensive Player of the Week and NCCAA Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week,
Sivert Klefsaas (Motley, Minn./Staples-Motley). Northwestern got all the way down to the seven-yard line, but settled for a 24-yard field goal to go up, 3-0. After forcing a three-and-out on Morris's first drive, the Eagles struck again. A 24-yard
Will Schleicher (Victoria, Minn./Chanhassen) reception and a pass interference penalty drawn by
Beau Burk (Ogilvie, Minn./Ogilvie) set up a 33-yard touchdown strike from
Caden Cantrell (Snowflake, Ariz./Snowflake) to
Trey Ulmer (West Melbourne, Fla./Heritage) to make it 10-0, Eagles.
UMM was able to get on the board on the following possession via a one-yard plunge, but
Nate Jennings (Palm Bay, Fla./Heritage) got his hand on the extra point attempt, keeping UNW's lead at 10-6. The following Northwestern drive would result in its only punt of the afternoon. With 6:05 left in the first half,
Luke Malamisuro (Cambridge Isanti, Minn./Cambridge Isanti) hauled in his third interception of the season, which set up another Eagle scoring drive. Klefsaas carried the ball five times for 57 yards, which set up Cantrell to run in a touchdown from two yards out. On the final drive of the opening half, the Cougars were able to get the ball near midfield before Jennings shut the door with a sack to close out the half with UNW on top, 17-6.
Coming out of the half, Morris was able to put together a long drive to get down to the Northwestern seven-yard line, but the Eagles' front stepped up.
Jeffrey Markvicka II (Brooklyn Center, Minn./Fridley) and
Elijah Simmons (Kissimmee, Fla./Gateway) teamed up for a four-yard tackle for loss on second down, and Jennings picked up a four-yard TFL of his own on third down to force UMM into a 32-yard field goal attempt, which was missed. UNW put together a long, methodical drive of its own in response, as Offensive Coordinator
Boomer Roepke dialed up a balance of Klefsaas runs and Cantrell passes. The junior connected with three different receivers, setting up a 27-yard field goal attempt for reigning UMAC Special Teams Player of the Week
Dominic Borges (Tualatin, Ore./Tualatin). Morris was able to break through the middle of the line to block the kick, and returned it 87 yards for a touchdown to trim the deficit to 17-13.
Although it appeared the momentum might be swinging in the Cougars' favor, the rest of the game was dominated by the home team. It took Northwestern just five plays, including 27 and 18-yard receptions by Burk, to score and push the lead back to 11. Cantrell punched it in with his legs for the second time from two yards out. UNW's defense forced a turnover on downs on the next UMM drive, then Klefsaas delivered the dagger, rushing four times for 40 yards, including a seven-yard touchdown to make it a three-score game at 30-13. Three plays later, Jennings recovered a fumble forced by
Jayden Goodwin (New Richmond, Wis./Saint Croix Central), which set up a one-yard rushing touchdown by
Michael Montoya (Pueblo, Colo./Central), the first of the freshman's career.
The Eagles weren't done, though. Already holding a 37-13 lead with just under three minutes remaining, Simmons picked off an errant pass and took it 65 yards to paydirt to put the final nail in the coffin. The 27-0 run after the blocked kick by Morris gave Northwestern a 44-13 win in a game it had circled since November of last year. Because Martin Luther lost at Greenville on Saturday, UNW (3-3 overall, 3-0 UMAC) moved into sole possession of first place in the UMAC as the only unbeaten team.
In a game that featured the top two running backs in the conference, Klefsaas was the top dog. The junior ran for 205 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries (7.9 yards per carry). Cantrell threw for 185 yards and a score, adding a pair of rushing touchdowns. Burk caught five passes for 68 yards to lead the receivers, while Ulmer chipped in three receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown.
Ian Ahrendt (Nevis, Minn./Nevis Public) was UNW's leading tackler with 11, Goodwin finished with 10, and Jennings nine, including two for loss. The latter two each notched a sack, as did
Jaikub Jones (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Osseo).
The Eagles will travel to Crown College next Saturday, October 26
th, for their second matchup of the season with the Polars. Northwestern defeated Crown 69-14 on October 5
th at Reynolds Field. You can watch the game, which kicks off at 5:00 PM, on the UMAC Sports Network.
