NEW ULM, Minn. – The 2025 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference football season is providing more parity than we've ever seen. Just this week, last-place Westminster won 24-7 over Greenville, who entered Saturday tied atop the conference standings. One game that a lot of eyes were on was Martin Luther College hosting the University of Northwestern, both at 2-2 in conference play before kickoff. With the winner staying alive in the title race and the loser facing a steep, uphill climb, a win was a must. After falling behind early, UNW was able to grind out a gritty, 24-17 win on the road to improve to 3-5 on the season and 3-2 in the UMAC.
After neither team's opening series resulted in points, MLC was able to take advantage of good field position and score the game's first touchdown just over halfway through the first quarter. After the teams traded punts, Northwestern was able to answer back with points of its own. Quarterback
Basil Demco (Fontana, Wis./Big Foot) connected with
Braeden Little (Ladysmith, Wis./Ladysmith) (13 yards),
Trey Ulmer (West Melbourne, Fla./Heritage) (20 yards) and
Isaiah Voss (Ogilvie, Minn./Ogilvie) (11 yards), and used a pair of roughing the passer penalties to set up a three-yard touchdown plunge by
Keaton Sargent (Manhattan, Mont./Manhattan) to tie the game at 7.
The Knights were able to move the ball deep into UNW territory early in the second quarter, but
Ian Ahrendt (Nevis, Minn./Nevis Public) forced a fumble to keep points off the scoreboard. Starting at their own 10, the Eagles were able to put together a nine-play drive including 21 rushing yards for Demco and a 45-yard strike to
Tate Westin (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) to set up a 24-yard,
Erich Hulshizer (Casper, Wyo./Kelly Walsh) field goal to put them in front, 10-7. Despite two more possessions for each squad, that score would hold until halftime.
On Martin Luther's first series of the second half, Ahrendt ripped the ball away from the running back on 4
th and 1 after he had picked up first-down yardage. Northwestern's offense hit big play after big play on its ensuing drive, namely a 24-yard Sargent dash and a 37-yard pass from Demco to Ulmer. On 3
rd and 6 from the 15-yard line, Demco rolled to his left and found Little in the end zone to extend the lead to 17-7.
MLC scored on the opening drive of the fourth quarter to trim the deficit to three and made a 24-yard field goal on its next possession to tie the game at 17-all with 5:23 remaining. UNW's offense got right back to it and wasted no time. Demco hit Little for 10 yards and Voss for 17 on the first two plays, then ran for 33 to the Knights' 13-yard line. Two plays later, the senior called his own number again and scored from 13 yards out to regain the lead, 24-17.
It was up to the UNW defense to close out the game, and Martin Luther didn't make it easy on it. The hosts made it to the Eagles' 12-yard line with 1:04 left to play and had four shots at the end zone to tie. The final one was caught by the MLC receiver but he failed to get a foot in bounds, turning the ball over to Northwestern, who kneeled out the clock for a 24-17 road win.
Demco was outstanding, throwing for 209 yards and a touchdown while rushing for a career-high 83 yards and a score. Sargent also ran well, going for 67 yards and a touchdown, while Little hauled in the receiving TD as one of his three receptions for 37 yards. Voss led the Eagles in receiving yards with 65 on three catches, while Ulmer chipped in two for 57 and Westin two for 45. Defensively, Ahrendt led the charge with 11 tackles, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Gideon Cruver (Fayetteville, Ga./Landmark Christian) and
Angelo Johnson (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) each tallied a sack, with the latter recovering a fumble as well.
Jonathan Etter (Rosemount, Minn./Apple Valley) logged one tackle-for-loss, and
Jayden Goodwin (New Richmond, Wis./Saint Croix Central) and
Wes Schlabach (Spearfish, S.D./Rapid City Christian) each had 0.5. Hulshizer's 24-yard field goal was a career-best, and he was a perfect 3-3 on extra points.
UNW will play another crucial road game next week as it tries to avenge a Homecoming loss to Greenville, who is now tied with Northwestern for second place in the UMAC standings. Kickoff in Greenville is slated for 12:00 PM.
