ST. PAUL, Minn. – They say good things come to those who wait, and on Saturday, the University of Northwestern Football team had to do plenty of waiting before those good things came. Despite the first points of the game coming in the second quarter, Northwestern was able to wear Martin Luther College down and capitalize on some big plays by the defense and special teams en route to a 35-7 home win. The win keeps UNW (5-3) in first place in the UMAC with a perfect 5-0 record, setting up a showdown next week with Greenville that will determine the conference champion.
After the UNW defense forced Martin Luther to punt on its first possession, Northwestern moved the ball into enemy territory. Unfortunately,
Caden Cantrell's (Snowflake, Ariz./Snowflake) pass over the middle was intercepted, giving the ball back to the Knights. The Eagles' defense was able to turn MLC over on downs, but their offense wasn't able to capitalize.
Austin Ahrendt (Nevis, Minn./Nevis Public) intercepted a deep pass on Martin Luther's next possession, but the Knights' defense held strong as the first quarter ended in a 0-0 tie.
Martin Luther was able to get the ball across midfield early in the second quarter, but
Sam Schlabach (Keystone, S.D./Rapid City Christian) thwarted any hopes of a scoring drive with a 13-yard sack on second down. That's when UNW's offense asserted itself. Cantrell and
Sivert Klefsaas (Motley, Minn./Staples-Motley) took turns carrying the mail and
Eli Werner (Moose Lake, Minn./Moose Lake) broke free for a 22-yard reception after Cantrell somehow avoided a sack for the third time that drive alone. On third and goal at the 12-yard line, Cantrell was once again able to escape pressure and found
Trey Ulmer (West Melbourne, Fla./Heritage) in the end zone for the game's first points, giving Northwestern a 7-0 lead. The 13-play drive covered 85 yards and took 7:19 off the clock. The 7-0 score would hold for the remainder of the half after
Naketa Ellington (Richland, Ga./Chattahoochee County) intercepted a Martin Luther pass as time expired.
The fireworks began in the third quarter. After the teams traded three-and-outs, the Eagles started their drive at the MLC 42-yard line. Cantrell completions to Ulmer and
Beau Burk (Ogilvie, Minn./Ogilvie), plus an 18-yard dash by Klefsaas, put UNW at the seven-yard line. Three plays later, freshman fullback
Michael Montoya (Pueblo, Colo./Central) plunged in from a yard out for his second career touchdown to make it 14-0. Northwestern's defense forced yet another three-and out which set up
Luke Malamisuro (Cambridge Isanti, Minn./Cambridge Isanti) housing the ensuing punt from 48 yards out to break the game open and give his team a 21-0 advantage.
The Eagles weren't finished with big plays in the third, either. On MLC's very next possession,
Jayden Goodwin (New Richmond, Wis./Saint Croix Central) jumped a crossing route over the middle and cruised to an easy, 35-yard pick six. The onslaught put UNW ahead 28-0 heading into the fourth quarter. Martin Luther put together a long drive to get on the board on its next drive, but the Eagles answered right back. Klefsaas broke loose for a 64-yard run to the Knights' eight-yard line, and punched it in from nine yards out three plays later to finish off the scoring for the day at 35-7 with 5:22 remaining. Northwestern's defense had one more splash play in it, as
Brady Harlan (Ogilvie, Minn./Ogilvie) stripped an MLC runner after a sizable gain, and
Jah'Kiing Joseph (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Heritage) returned the fumble 13 yards.
Klefsaas was once again the star of the Eagles' offense, toting the rock 22 times for 197 yards (nine yards per carry) and a touchdown. Cantrell threw for 106 yards and a score to Ulmer, who caught two passes for 20 yards. Burk led UNW's pass-catchers with four receptions for 56 yards, while Werner finished with two for 24. The Eagles out-gained Martin Luther 329-170 in the contest. There were numbers aplenty on the defensive side of the ball for Northwestern as well, beginning with
Ian Ahrendt's (Nevis, Minn./Nevis Public) nine tackles. Schlabach had eight tackles, including three tackles for loss and a sack, while
Nate Jennings (Palm Bay, Fla./Heritage) had seven tackles, 2.5 for loss, and 1.5 sacks.
Jaikub Jones (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Osseo) also racked up seven tackles, one of which was for loss, and Goodwin contributed five tackles, 0.5 for loss, 0.5 sacks and the pick six.
Jeffrey Markvicka II (Brooklyn Center, Minn./Fridley) added four tackles and a TFL, while Ellington broke up two passes on top of the interception.
Dominic Borges (Tualatin, Ore./Tualatin) was a perfect 5-5 on extra points, and
Will Schleicher (Victoria, Minn./Chanhassen) averaged 46.7 yards on his three punts.
Senior Day next Saturday at Reynolds Field will be one for the ages, as Northwestern and Greenville sit atop the UMAC standings in first and second, respectively. The Eagles defeated the Panthers in Greenville earlier this season, but must win on Saturday to clinch the conference title due to tiebreakers. Kickoff for the much-anticipated contest will be at 11:00 AM.
