ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. - The ability to win games in a variety of ways is a mark of a good football team, and the University of Northwestern certainly proved it's capable of doing just that in Saturday's 42-0 win at Crown College. After running for 280 yards in last week's blowout win over Greenville, UNW dismantled the defending Upper Midwest Athletic Conference champions via an aerial attack and four forced turnovers. The Eagles scored 14 points in each of the first three quarters and cruised to the win to improve to 5-3 this season and 5-0 in the UMAC. With Martin Luther's win at Westminster on Saturday, Northwestern now owns a two-game cushion in the conference standings.
After punts on the first three series of the game,
Elijah Alexander (Minneapolis, Minn./Andover) hit
Ian Ingram (Hillsboro, Ore./Hillsboro) on a deep ball down the left sideline, resulting in a 48-yard touchdown to put UNW in front, 7-0. After Northwestern's defense forced another three-and-out, the offense took its time this time, using eight plays to score instead of two. Alexander found running back
Keaton Sargent (Manhattan, Mont./Manhattan) twice for 35 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown that extended the lead to 14-0.
Austin Ahrendt (Nevis, Minn./Nevis Public) intercepted a Crown pass on the ensuing possession, setting the Eagles up with great field position at the Polars' 36-yard line. UNW was able to move the ball inside the 10-yard line, but would settle for a 23-yard field goal, which
Erich Hulshizer (Casper, Wyo./Kelly Walsh) converted. Three drives later, after
Drake Lindberg (Keystone, S.D./Rapid City Christian) recovered a Crown fumble forced by
Gideon Cruver (Fayetteville, Ga./Landmark Christian), Hulshizer's number was called once again, and the senior booted a career-long 37-yarder to extend the lead to 20-0 with 4:36 to go before halftime. After a turnover on downs was forced by Northwestern's defense, Alexander and the offense took over at their own 44. On 3rd and 6, the senior signal caller hit
Trey Ulmer (West Melbourne, Fla./Heritage) for 47 yards to the Crown five-yard line. One play later, Alexander and Ingram hooked up for the tight end's second TD of the day. After a penalty moved the ball closer to the goal line, the Eagles elected to go for two and converted, making the halftime score 28-0.
UNW wasted no time getting back on the scoreboard in the second half, as Alexander found Ulmer again for a 60-yard strike on the second play from scrimmage. The Polars moved the ball into Eagle territory on the ensuing series, and made the call to go for it on 4th and 2 from the 38. Lindberg had other ideas, intercepting the pass for his second turnover of the day. UNW subbed in its second-team offense with the lead at 35, and it was hardly noticeable.
Ty Schultz (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) connected with Ulmer on a 24-yard pass, and found
Tyler Schwaab (East Bethel, Minn./St. Francis) for a 17-yard touchdown one play later, the first of Schwaab's career.
On the third play of the fourth quarter, with the Eagles ahead 42-0,
Daniel Khomich (Andover, Minn./Legacy Christian Academy) recovered a fumble to give the UNW defense four takeaways on the day. The remaining three full drives of the game would result in turnovers on downs, giving Northwestern a big 42-0 win on a field it lost the year prior, and cementing the Eagles as the team to beat in the conference.
Four of Alexander's 14 completions were touchdowns, and the senior added 259 passing yards and a team-high 35 on the ground. Ulmer hauled in five passes for 152 yards and a touchdown, while Ingram finished with 53 yards and touchdowns on each of his receptions. Schwaab caught two balls for 51 yards and a score, and Sargent contributed four receptions for 48 yards and a TD. Schultz finished with 86 passing yards and a touchdown in relief. Defensively,
Isaiah Voss (Ogilvie, Minn./Ogilvie) led the way with 11 tackles, three of which were for loss. Lindberg added eight tackles, 1.5 for loss, a touchdown and an interception, while
Gideon Cruver (Fayetteville, Ga./Landmark Christian) forced a fumble and logged two TFLs. Ahrendt and Khomich were responsible for the other two takeaways, and
Alex Petersen (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake) (2.0),
Clay Fee (Weyauwega, Wis./Weyauwega-Fremont) (1.5) and
Michael Montoya (Pueblo, Colo./Central) (1.0) each added tackles for loss. Hulshizer was perfect on the day, making all four PATs and going 2/2 on field goals, from 23 and 37 yards.
Northwestern will host Martin Luther for its final home game of the season on Saturday, November 7th at 1:00 PM. Not only will it be Senior Day, but the Eagles will also have a chance to clinch the conference championship on their turf with a win.
