FULTON, Mo. - The longest road trip of the season for the University of Northwestern Football team will be a fun one on the return home. The Eagles squared off with Westminster College in the UMAC Game of the Week, with both teams coming in 2-0 in conference play this season, the only two unbeaten squads in the league. UNW proved it belongs at the top, scoring points in every quarter and fending off a second-half comeback to earn a 30-14 road win.
After three-and-outs from both offenses to begin the day, Northwestern's offense went to work, taking over five minutes off the clock in 11 plays. Reigning UMAC Offensive Player of the Week,
Elijah Alexander (Minneapolis, Minn./Andover), moved the chains on throws to
Blake Becker (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek),
Ashton Lofton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado Springs Christian) and
Braeden Little (Ladysmith, Wis./Ladysmith), and used his legs a handful of times as well, before finding
Ian Ingram (Hillsboro, Ore./Hillsboro) in the end zone for an eight-yard score to put the first points of the game on the board.
Following the touchdown, the teams began trading punts until Alexander hit
Trey Ulmer (West Melbourne, Fla./Heritage) on a 30-yard deep ball to move into Westminster territory. The very next play, the senior signal caller found
Braeden Little (Ladysmith, Wis./Ladysmith) for 13 yards to enter field goal range, and despite a seven-yard carry from
Keaton Sargent (Manhattan, Mont./Manhattan), the Eagles would have to settle for a field goal after a penalty backed them up.
Erich Hulshizer (Casper, Wyo./Kelly Walsh) booted it through from 33 yards to make it 10-0 with 8:06 to go before halftime.
With a pair of three-and-outs for UNW's defense sandwiched by a Northwestern fumble, the Eagles got the ball back at their own 16-yard line wth 4:55 remaining in the second quarter. 84 yards was apparently no problem for
Ken Ingram's offense, as Alexander completed a pass to
Tate Westin (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) for 29 yards on the drive's opening play. After a 10-yard completion to Ingram and a pair of strong runs from UNW's backfield, Sargent caught a pass for 13 yards to move the chains and put Northwestern in the red zone with just over a minute left. Facing a 3rd and 13 with under a minute left, Alexander once again went to Westin, who hauled in a 14-yard reception to reset the chains and give the Eagles the ball inside the five. One play later, Sargent ran in from four yards out to give UNW a 17-0 advantage heading into the half.
After a pair of punts to open the second half, the Blue Jays were able to get on the board via a one-yard touchdown run. Little took the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to WC's five-yard line, but Northwestern was unable to punch it in, ultimately getting a 19-yard field goal from Hulshizer to make it 20-7. Westminster punched right back; however, scoring on a 16-yard run to pull within a possession at 20-14 with 13:27 to go in the game.
An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the ensuing kickoff set the Eagles up with great field position at their 45, and Alexander and co. were able to turn it into points. UNW's operation was a well-oiled machine, gaining at least seven yards on five of its first six plays to cross the Jays' 10-yard line. But Westminster's goal line defense held strong, stuffing Northwestern on three-straight plays to force a 21-yard field goal, which Hulshizer converted to remain perfect on the day.
The Eagles' strong special teams day continued on the ensuing kickoff, as
Andreas Adamsson (Vadnais Heights, Minn./Concordia Academy) recovered a fumbled kickoff to set UNW up at the WC 25-yard line with 6:43 remaining. Running the ball on a majority of the 10-play series, Sargent provided the dagger with an eight-yard touchdown to give the visitors a 30-14 lead with 2:31 to play. Northwestern's defense forced a turnover on downs near midfield after a big
Isaiah Voss (Ogilvie, Minn./Ogilvie) sack, and the offense kneeled out the Eagles' biggest victory of the season.
Alexander was nearly perfect through the air, completing 20 of 24 pass attempts for 211 yards and a score. Sargent led the rushing attack with 39 yards and two touchdowns, while Westin was the leading receiver with four receptions for 62 yards. Ingram hauled in four passes for 38 yards and a TD as well, and Little caught six passes for 45 yards. Defensively,
Austin Ahrendt (Nevis, Minn./Nevis Public) made his return to the starting lineup and made an immediate impact, leading the team with sven tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Voss, the defending UMAC Defensive Player of the Week, added 1.5 TFLs and a sack, while
Gideon Cruver (Fayetteville, Ga./Landmark Christian) and
Alex Petersen (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake) each recorded one tackle for loss. Adamsson's fumble recovery was the lone turnover that went UNW's way, and Hulshizer's right leg was perfect, going 3/3 on PATs and 3/3 on field goals, hitting from 33, 19 and 21 yards.
Northwestern (3-3, 3-0 UMAC) will return home next Saturday, October 24th, to take on Greenville. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 PM at Reynolds Field.
