ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Northwestern Football team picked a good time to win its first game of the 2024 season, and what a win it was. In front of a sell-out, Homecoming crowd at Reynolds Field, Northwestern jumped all over Crown College early and often to set the table for a 69-14 win on a gorgeous Saturday to start conference play 1-0.
UNW wasted no time getting on the board, going 74 yards in just four plays on its first possession, capped off by a
Beau Burk (Ogilvie, Minn./Ogilvie) touchdown reception from
Caden Cantrell (Snowflake, Ariz./Snowflake). That connection would become a theme in the first quarter, as the battery connected on Northwestern's next two possessions as well, from 34 and 23 yards out. The third touchdown came after
Jonathan Etter (Rosemount, Minn./Apple Valley) forced a punt that
Austin Ahrendt (Nevis, Minn./Nevis Public) recovered.
After forcing a turnover on downs on the ensuing Crown possession, the Eagles went up top again. This time, Cantrell found
Jaylen Brown (Cusseta, Ga./Chattahoochee County) behind the Polars' defense for a 38-yard score to make it 28-0, much to the delight of Eagles of present and past in attendance. Northwestern wasn't done with its first-quarter scoring as
Naketa Ellington (Richland, Ga./Chattahoochee County) jumped a hitch route and took the interception 45 yards for six. UNW's two-point attempt was no good, and the first quarter ended at 34-0 in favor of the home team.
Crown was able to get on the board early in the second quarter to cut the lead to 27, but Northwestern answered right back. Cantrell threw a swing pass out to
Sivert Klefsaas (Motley, Minn./Staples-Motley), who appeared he would be pushed out of bounds after a modest gain. Somehow, Klefsaas was able to tip-toe along the sideline to stay in bounds and dash 46 yards for a touchdown to make it 41-7, giving Cantrell five touchdown passes on the day. After the Eagles' defense forced another turnover on downs, Klefsaas found pay dirt again, this time from two yards out. Receptions from Burk and Brown set up the short score by the junior. The 48-7 score would hold as halftime commenced.
The onslaught continued early in the third, when after the Eagles' defense forced another Crown three-and-out,
Luke Malamisuro (Cambridge Isanti, Minn./Cambridge Isanti) returned a punt 56 yards for a touchdown to make it 55-7. Then, with 7:13 left in the third, history was made.
Ashton Lofton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado Springs Christian) caught a similar swing pass to the one Klefsaas hauled in for a touchdown, and went 18 yards untouched for a score. It was the sixth passing touchdown of the game for
Caden Cantrell (Snowflake, Ariz./Snowflake), which breaks the previous record of five set by Josh Balzer (2011 vs. Eureka) and Zach Tarter (2007 vs. Trinity Bible). Cantrell now owns UNW's single-game passing touchdowns and passing yards records (459 at Martin Luther last season).
Northwestern tacked one more score for good measure, a 49-yard touchdown toss from
Cody Duffy (Columbus, Ga./Chattahoochee County) to
Tate Westin (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie), and came away with a 69-14 Homecoming victory to begin UMAC play 1-0. Cantrell was perfect on the day, completing all 11 of his passes for 258 yards and the historic six touchdowns. Duffy was perfect as well, as the 49-yard touchdown was his only pass of the afternoon. Burk finished with seven receptions for 141 yards and three scores, while Brown hauled in two catches for 53 yards and a touchdown. Klefsaas had 195 total yards (143 rushing, 46 receiving) and two total touchdowns. UNW out-gained crowd 504-279 on the day.
Northwestern's defense caused the Polars fits all afternoon as well, as 13 different players logged at least half of a tackle for loss.
Drake Lindberg (Keystone, S.D./Rapid City Christian) led those 13 with two, including a sack and six tackles.
Jayden Goodwin (New Richmond, Wis./Saint Croix Central) also tallied a sack, in addition to 1.5 tackles for loss and a game-high 10 tackles.
Nate Jennings (Palm Bay, Fla./Heritage) finished with seven tackles and 1.5 for loss, while Etter and
Jaikub Jones (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Osseo) both forced fumbles, and Ahrendt recovered Etter's. Ellington's pick-six was the only other turnover forced by the Eagles. In the special teams department, Malamisuro's punt return touchdown was the second of his career, and
Dominic Borges (Tualatin, Ore./Tualatin) made all nine kicks he attempted in what may end up being the most field time he will see in his career (11 kickoffs as well).
UNW will travel to Greenville University next Saturday for the first of two matchups this season with the Panthers. Kickoff will be at 11:00 AM in Greenville between the two 1-0 UMAC teams.
