ST. PAUL, Minn. - Despite an 0-2 start to non-conference play, there were come encouraging signs for the University of Northwestern Football team. Namely, the Eagles scored 27 points last week against Central College from the American Rivers Conference and only lost by five points at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the season opener. Facing a Loras College squad surrendering 395 yards per game coming in, Northwestern seemed poised to continue to put points on the board; however, five turnovers stymied UNW's chances of keeping up with Loras's high-powered offense, resulting in a 49-13 win for the Duhawks.
Loras's game script was well-exectued, as the visitors picked up first downs on three-consecutive passing plays and took a 7-0 lead, not even three minutes into the game. Northwestern's first offensive possession resulted in an interception, but the defense was able to turn the Duhawks over on downs with a 4th and 1 stuff up the middle by
Michael Montoya (Pueblo, Colo./Central) and
Alex Petersen (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake). After an Eagle punt, the defensive unit once again made a big play with its back against the wall. This time,
Naketa Ellington (Richland, Ga./Chattahoochee County) intercepted a pass in the end zone and dashed 65 yards to set the offense up in plus territory. As luck would have it, Loras would recover a fumble on the very next play.
UNW's defense was unable to keep the Duhawks out of the end zone this time, and the visitors took a 14-0 lead on another passing score. Northwestern answered back with a 40-yard strike of its own from
Elijah Alexander (Minneapolis, Minn./Andover) to
Braeden Little (Ladysmith, Wis./Ladysmith). Little moved the chains again a few plays later on an 11-yard catch, and
Micah Middleton's (Inman. S.C./Homeschool) 18-yard run helped set up a 34-yard field goal from
Erich Hulshizer (Casper, Wyo./Kelly Walsh), the longest of his career, making it a 14-3 score. This time, it was the Northwestern defense forcing a turnover on the first play of a series, as tight end
Isaiah Voss (Ogilvie, Minn./Ogilvie) subbed in as a pass rusher with 36 seconds left and strip-sacked the Loras quarterback. Petersen pounced on the ball, giving the Eagles possession at the 30-yard line with 22 seconds left. Voss did his normal job on the offensive end, catching a 14-yard pass with nine seconds left to set up a 21-yard field goal attempt before the half, but the Duhawks were able to block it to keep the halftime score at 14-3.
After a Northwestern punt in the first drive of the second half,
Luke Sommerlot's defense forced another turnover on downs when
Wes Schlabach (Spearfish, S.D./Rapid City Christian) broke up a pass up the seam. However, as had already happened twice in the game, the first play of the ensuing drive resulted in a turnover, this time for six as the interception was returned 29 yards for a touchdown. UNW's offense responded well, as Alexander hit Little twice for 25 yards and
Trey Ulmer (West Melbourne, Fla./Heritage) for 12 on 4th and 10 to get deep into Loras territory. But the Eagles had to settle for a 30-yard field goal, which Hulshizer nailed to make it 21-6.
Northwestern still had some life in a two-score game with nearly 20 minuntes of game time remaining, but the Duhawks' offense found its rhythm again, this time using a heavy dose of the ground game, and extended the margin to 28-6. The true dagger came on the ensuing drive, when Loras defensive back Charles Williams housed his second pick-six of the day, this time from 40 yards out. To its credit, the Eagles' offense bounced back in a hurry, with Alexander running for 28 yards and finding Ulmer for 17. On 4th and 3 from the Duhawks' eight-yard line, Alexander used his legs again to give Northwestern its first touchdown of the day and trim the deficit to 35-13.
Loras missed a 20-yard field goal on its next series, but the visitors' defense made another play, strip-sacking Alexander on the first play of the drive, the fourth time a turnover occurred on the opening play of a possession between the two teams. This time, the Duhawks made the Eagles pay, scoring on its next two drives to make the final score 49-13.
Little was the spark plug for the UNW offense, hauling in seven receptions for 103 yards. Middleton finished with 34 receiving yards, Voss 31 (plus the strip-sack), and Ulmer 29. Alexander finished the day 15-35 for 208 yards through the air, plus 27 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Ashton Lofton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado Springs Christian) chipped in 26 rushing yards on eight carries, and Middleton finished with 21 on six rushes. Defensively,
Ryan Sommerlot (Pocahontas, Iowa/Pocahontas Area) led the Eagles in tackles with 11 and a tackle-for-loss in his first-career start. Schlabach,
Alex Schultz (Staples, Minn./Staples-Motley) and
Gideon Cruver (Fayetteville, Ga./Landmark Christian) each made nine tackles, and Petersen and Montoya combined for two TFLs.
Naketa Ellington (Richland, Ga./Chattahoochee County) tallied Northwestern's lone interception and Hulshizer went 2-3 on field goals with a long of 34.
The Eagles will have a bye next weekend before kicking off UMAC play on the road at Martin Luther on Saturday, October 3rd at 1:00 PM.
