ST. PAUL, Minn. - Don't look now, but the University of Northwestern Football team may have just found the recipe for success. Saturday night under the Reynolds Field lights, the Eagles got a second crack at UMAC-leading Crown College, who defeated UNW 22-3 in St. Bonifacius three weeks prior. The Polars traveled up to St. Paul with a perfect 3-0 conference record and a 4-2 overall mark, looking to cement themselves as the runaway favorites in the league against the reigning champions. But this was not the same Northwestern team from October 4th; even before picking up their first win of the season last week at Minnesota Morris, the Eagles appeared to figure out their early-season offensive woes in a close Homecoming loss in which UNW erased a 20-0, second-half deficit. With a clear emphasis on physical play, an offense clicking under first-year offensive coordinator
Ken Ingram, and a defensive game plan constructed to make Crown quarterback Jamarrius Courtney, the second-leading rusher per game in NCAA Division III, a pocket passer, Northwestern led from start-to-finish and won 24-16, picking Courtney off four times in the second half.
After the aforementioned UNW defense forced a turnover on downs on the Polars' opening series, the offense went to work. Facing a 3rd and 10 at his own 35,
Basil Demco (Fontana, Wis./Big Foot) threw a beautiful ball down the left sideline to
Trey Ulmer (West Melbourne, Fla./Heritage), who dashed 49 yards, deep into Crown territory. Six plays later, Demco called his own number and punched it in from two yards out to give Northwestern a 7-0 lead, something it never did in the first meeting between the two schools.
Luke Sommerlot's defense forced a three-and-out on Crown's second possession, setting the offense up with great field position. Demco hit
Braeden Little (Ladysmith, Wis./Ladysmith) and
Tate Westin (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) for 10 and 12 yards, respectively, then a
Christian Marques (Vero Beach, Fla./Indian River Charter) scamper set the Eagles up at the one-yard line. A penalty set them back and they had to settle for a 20-yard field goal, which
Erich Hulshizer (Casper, Wyo./Kelly Walsh) drilled with no problems to make it 10-0, home team.
After another Polars three-and-out and a Demco interception, Crown was able to take advantage of a short field and score to pull within three points. However, UNW's offense responded with aplomb, getting back-to-back, five-yard runs from Marques to set the table for another touchdown plunge from Demco, this time from a yard out. Hulshizer's PAT made it 17-7. Crown then went on a 13-play drive deep into Eagles' territory, but the defense held strong and forced a 19-yard field goal with four seconds remaining in the first half, making the halftime score 17-10.
Northwestern began the second half with a three-and-out on offense, but that's when the interception parade commenced. On the second play of the ensuing drive for the Polars,
Jayden Goodwin (New Richmond, Wis./Saint Croix Central) went vertical and intercepted Courtney from close range. The Eagles wound up turning the ball over on downs, but on the very next drive for Crown, Courtney was again picked off, this time by
Alex Schultz (Staples, Minn./Staples-Motley), who dragged his toe in-bounds while falling toward the sideline. The two offenses remained in a stalemate for the remainder of the period, but UNW added a third interception when
Gideon Cruver (Fayetteville, Ga./Landmark Christian) hauled in an errant pass in Northwestern territory, stymieing an otherwise promising drive for the Polars.
As the fourth quarter began, the Eagles were finally able to turn a takeaway into points. With the ball on the Crown 49-yard line, Demco dropped one in the bucket to Little deep down the right sideline. The freshman hauled it in and immediately hit the breaks, sending a Crown defender flying past him as he waltzed into the end zone to extend the lead to 24-10 with 11:32 left in the game. Later in the quarter, with the Polars facing a do-or-die 4th and 10 in their own territory, Courtney flashed his athleticism by scrambling for a first down. Crown was able to capitalize and score seven plays later, but missed the extra point, putting the score at 24-16 with 1:54 remaining. UNW recovered the ensuing onside kick and began to bleed clock while forcing the Polars to burn their remaining timeouts. Cruver delivered a perfect punt with 51 seconds left, pinning Crown at its own four-yard line, and
Wes Schlabach (Spearfish, S.D./Rapid City Christian) picked off Courtney on the very next play, nearly taking it back for six. Demco kneeled out the clock as Northwestern got its revenge with a 24-16 win, holding serve at home against the UMAC's leader.
Demco completed eight passes for 133 yards and a touchdown, while also scoring twice with his legs. Marques was UNW's leading rusher with 51 yards on 16 carries, while Little had four receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown, and Ulmer caught two passes for 53 yards. Goodwin tied for a game-high 10 tackles, two of which were for loss and added the interception. He tied
Ashton Robinson (Sharon, Wis./Bigfoot), who took on a bigger role and had 1.5 tackles-for-loss.
Hakeem Anderson (Cuero, Texas/Cuero) finished with nine tackles (0.5 for loss), while
Ian Ahrendt (Nevis, Minn./Nevis Public) (1.0) and
Drake Lindberg (Keystone, S.D./Rapid City Christian) (0.5) also logged TFLs (Lindberg's was also a sack). Schlabach had 1.5 tackles-for-loss, 0.5 sacks and the clinching interception, while Cruver and Schultz also tallied INTs. On special teams, Hulshizer was a perfect 3-3 on PATs and made his lone field goal attempt, from 20 yards out. Cruver booted a career-long 54 yard punt, averaged 44.8 yards per punt, and pinned one inside the five.
Northwestern will be back on the road next week to face Martin Luther, who is tied with UNW at 2-2 in conference play. Kickoff in New Ulm is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
