ST. PAUL, Minn. – Saturday was a day full of celebration at Reynolds Field. The University of Northwestern Football team honored its 14 graduating seniors before taking the field in the UMAC Game of the Week against Greenville University. Not only was it hyped up as the game of the week, but a conference crown was on the line for Northwestern. The mission was simple: win and the UMAC title is coming back to 3003 Snelling Ave N. Greenville had some stake in the game as well, as a win for the Panthers would give them a shot to claim the conference throne with a win next week and a likely tiebreak advantage. The stage was set for a memorable day, and the game delivered. In a back-and-forth affair for two-and-a-half hours, the Eagles were able to emerge victorious and win their 18
th conference championship all-time and punch their ticket to their third NCAA Division III Playoffs appearance.
After stopping Greenville in UNW territory,
Matt Moore's squad put together a drive that lasted over nine minutes and resulted in the game's first of many points.
Sivert Klefsaas (Motley, Minn./Staples-Motley) accounted for nearly every Northwestern yard and ran in a touchdown from eight yards out to go ahead, 7-0. The Eagles' defense forced a three-and-out on the Panthers' next series, but a
Caden Cantrell (Snowflake, Ariz./Snowflake) fumble set the visitors up to score their first touchdown of the day.
Edward Dyer (Kissimmee, Fla./Gateway) blocked the ensuing point-after-attempt, which kept UNW in front by one point.
Northwestern's offense went three-and-out on its next possession, and Greenville responded with a long drive to take a 13-7 lead with 1:12 left in the first half. The momentum only stayed with the Panthers for a moment; however, as reigning UMAC Special Teams Player of the Week
Luke Malamisuro (Cambridge Isanti, Minn./Cambridge Isanti) returned the ensuing kickoff 63 yards to give the Eagles a spark. One play later, Cantrell found
Trey Ulmer (West Melbourne, Fla./Heritage) for a 19-yard touchdown strike to put UNW back on top, 14-13. Despite only 57 seconds remaining before the half, the teams still traded turnovers before the intermission.
Austin Ahrendt (Nevis, Minn./Nevis Public) made a diving, one-handed interception on a deep ball down the middle of the field before Greenville recovered a fumble on the very next play. Neither team was able to turn the mistakes into points, and the halftime score remained 14-13.
The second half began with fireworks. On the second play from scrimmage, Klefsaas dashed 58 yards for his second touchdown of the day. Moments later, the Panthers took the kickoff back for a touchdown to get back within one at 21-20. The sudden shootout continued on the Eagles' next possession, as Cantrell completed passes to Ulmer and
Beau Burk (Ogilvie, Minn./Ogilvie) to move into Greenville territory before a 14-yard Klefsaas scamper set up a one-yard touchdown plunge by Cantrell. Now leading 28-20, UNW forced a turnover on downs and got right back to work on offense. After completing passes of 17 and 52 yards to Burk, Cantrell called his own number once again, this time from seven yards out. The quarterback's second rushing score of the day made it 35-20, Northwestern.
The Eagles' defense was once again able to turn the Panthers over on downs, but UNW left the door open after another fumble gave their opponents the ball back. It took Greenville only three plays to go 44 yards and get on the board once again. After a failed two-point conversion attempt, Northwestern led 35-26 with 12:58 remaining. Klefsaas wasted no time elevating his great game to a legendary one, running 55 yards on the first play of the series. Four plays later, he completed his hat trick by scoring from one yard out.
Dominic Borges's (Tualatin, Ore./Tualatin) extra point put the Eagles ahead 42-26.
Despite trailing by 16 points, the Panthers weren't ready to roll over and die. A quick drive resulted in a 32-yard touchdown, and this time Greenville successfully went for two and cut UNW's lead to 42-34 with just over seven minutes left to play. Northwestern's offense went three-and-out on its next possession, but the defense once again came through. Facing a 4
th and 26, the Panthers elected to punt, and the Eagles never let them touch the ball again. Coach Moore made a gutsy call to go for it on 4
th and 1 from his own 43 and it paid off. Cantrell kneed out the clock and Moore received a Gatorade bath as his team clinched a UMAC championship and a berth in the NCAA Division III Playoffs for just the third time in program history, and the second time in Moore's tenure as head coach.
Klefsaas gashed the Greenville defense to the tune of 245 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 8.4 yards per attempt. His 1,203 rushing yards give him a comfortable lead at the top of the UMAC, and his 12 rushing touchdowns lead the conference as well. Cantrell completed 10 of his 14 passes for 163 yards and a score, in addition to 32 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground. His 10 completions were split evenly between Burk (five receptions for 98 yards) and Ulmer (five for 65 and a touchdown). Reigning UMAC Defensive Player of the Week
Jayden Goodwin (New Richmond, Wis./Saint Croix Central) led UNW in tackles with 13 and added a tackle for loss.
Elijah Simmons (Kissimmee, Fla./Gateway) contributed nine tackles, one for loss and a sack, while
Ian Ahrendt (Nevis, Minn./Nevis Public) finished with eight tackles.
Nate Jennings (Palm Bay, Fla./Heritage) tallied two tackles for loss and a sack, while
Austin Ahrendt's (Nevis, Minn./Nevis Public) interception was the only takeaway of the day for Northwestern. On the special teams side, Borges made all six of his kicks,
Will Schleicher (Victoria, Minn./Chanhassen) averaged an impressive 49.5 yards on his two punts, and Malamisuro returned his only kick for 63 yards.
Despite the championship celebration, Northwestern's regular season is not quite finished. The Eagles (6-3, 6-0 UMAC) will look to complete an undefeated conference season next Saturday, November 16
th at Westminster (1-8, 0-6 UMAC). Kickoff is scheduled for 11:00 AM in Fulton, Missouri, and the game can be streamed on the UMAC Sports Network.
