ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Northwestern football team (0-2) lost to Central College (1-1) 51-27 on Saturday under the lights at Reynolds Field in front of a great crowd.
Both teams traded three-and-outs to start the game until an errant snap resulted in a safety to put Central up 2-0 on Northwestern's second possession of the game. Central took the ensuing punt down the field across nine minutes and scored their first touchdown of the game to make it 9-0. A Northwestern fumble and Central touchdown made it 16-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The two sides traded punts until halfway through the second quarter when Northwestern's offense started to get into gear. Elijah Alexander (Minneapolis, Minn./Andover) went 5-5 on the drive as the Eagles went 70 yards through the air across six plays. Trey Ulmer (West Melbourne, Fla./Heritage) caught the 21-yard touchdown pass to finish off the drive, and Northwestern made it 16-7.
Central started their next drive at the 35, and freshman safety Jaquan Ellington (Richland, Ga./Chattahoochee County) made an incredible read to cross the formation and jump in front of the Central slant and brought it 55 yards all the way back to the house. The extra point was blocked, but the score was now 16-13 with 4:11 to go in the half.
Central went down the field and scored a touchdown with 1:55 left to make it 23-13. Northwestern was not done, though, for the half. Alexander stayed hot to start the drive with a six-yard completion and then a 20-yard completion. An incomplete pass, a five-yard rush, a four-yard completion, and then a three yard rush on fourth down made it 1st and ten from the Central 37. With no time left on the clock on third and ten, Alexander threw it deep, and it bounced off a defender's hand in the end zone and bounced into the waiting arms of Trey Ulmer (West Melbourne, Fla./Heritage) for the touchdown to make it 23-20 Central at the half.
Central came out of the half and got a QB draw for 68 yards to set up a touchdown to extend their lead. The two sides traded punts for a large part of the third quarter until Northwestern's final drive of the quarter. Alexander went three for three on the drive with a three-yard, four yard, and 21-yard completions until freshman running back Micah Middleton (Inman. S.C./Homeschool) took his first career touch 22 yards down the left side of the field to the house to make it 30-27.
Central continued to respond to every Northwestern moment with a 66-yard touchdown run on the first play of their ensuing drive to go back up by 10. Central scored on their first and second drives of the fourth quarter to make it 51-27.
Elijah Alexander (Minneapolis, Minn./Andover) finished his first home start at UNW 16-25 for 219 yards and two touchdowns. Ashton Lofton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado Springs Christian) had nine carries for 29 yards to lead the rushing attack for Northwestern. Ulmer had four catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns. Braeden Little (Ladysmith, Wis./Ladysmith) had eight receptions for 70 yards and Isaiah Voss (Ogilvie, Minn./Ogilvie) had four catches for 62 yards.
Alex Schultz (Staples, Minn./Staples-Motley) led the defense with 12 tackles while Gideon Cruver (Fayetteville, Ga./Landmark Christian) also finished in double digits with 10. Cruver and Drake Lindberg (Keystone, S.D./Rapid City Christian) also recorded sacks.
Up Next
Northwestern welcomes Loras College to Reynolds Field next Saturday, September 19th. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 am.
