(Crookston, Minn.)-  The University of Minnesota, Crookston Football team opened the 2011 NSIC season this afternoon at Ed Widseth Field. Last year's meeting between the two teams in Wayne, Neb. saw the Wildcats put up 68 points against the Golden Eagles in a 68-6 WSC win. The 2011 Golden Eagle squad had a short memory as UMC came out and overcame a quick 7-0 deficit to take a 24-21 halftime lead. The Wayne defense tightened up in the second half and held UMC scoreless as WSC added 14 second half point to take the NSIC victory 35-24 in a thriller to open the conference season.
 
Wayne State opened the game scoring in just 1:52. The Wildcats drove 60 yards on five plays, capped off by a Nick Pulscher two yard touchdown run. UMC cut the lead to 7-3 when the Golden Eagles drove 23 yards on six plays and last week's hero kicker Chris Secrest (K, 5-11, 170, Jr., Hollywood, Fla.) hit a 21-yarder. Minnesota, Crookston took the lead just 35 seconds into the second quarter as quarterback A.J. Barge (QB, 6-3, 190, Fr., Carrollton, Ga.) scampered 70 yards to put UMC up 10-7. The lead would be short lived as WSC kick returner Kevin Paulson took the ensuing kickoff 93 yards to put Wayne up 14-10. UMC answered with two more scores to go up 24-14. The first score was a five play, 60 yard drive that was capped off by a Barge one yard rushing touchdown. The Golden Eagles then put together the team's best offensive drive of the day as UMC marched 83 yards, on nine plays as Richard Haley (RB, 6-0, 205, Jr., Detroit, Mich.) ran in from 15 yards out. Wayne State again cut into the lead with 40 seconds remaining in the half as Pulscher scored from five yards out on a 58 yard drive. The teams would go into the half seeing UMC with a 24-21 edge.
 
After seeing 45 points go on the board in the first half, both defenses came out strong in the second half. The Golden Eagles held the Wildcats to just 14 points. Evan Johnson had a 19 yard run after a 50 yard drive and Pulscher had a one yard run after a 67 yard drive. Unfortunately, Wayne State held Minnesota, Crookston scoreless and took the 35-24 NSIC victory.
 
Leading the scoring for the Golden Eagles was A.J. Barge who rushed for two touchdowns from the quarterback position. He threw 16 times and completed seven passes for 71 yards. Haley rushed 30 times for 154 yards and one score to lead all running backs in the game. He busted a long rush of 55 yards and averaged 5.1 yards/carry. Wide out Eric Fiege (WR, 5-9, 175, Jr., San Diego, Calif.) caught three Barge passes for 49 yards. The Golden Eagle defense forced three fumbles and recovered two of them. UMC was led defensively by Tevin Kellum (DB, 6-1, 195, Jr., Detroit, Mich.) who tallied a game-high 13 tackles of which nine were solo. Freshman Tanner Dahlen (LB, 6-1, 190, Fr., East Grand Forks, Minn.) had an outstanding day defensively as he recorded seven total tackles 1.5 sacks for a loss of seven yards.
 
Wayne State was led by running back Nick Pulscher who rushed for 101 yards in the second half and finished with 141 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Evan Johnson was 15-24 passing for 220 yards. Kevin Paulson was Johnson's main target as he caught six passes for 96 yards. Benjamin Perry led the Wildcat defense with 11 total tackles and one tackle for a loss.
 
The Golden Eagles are now 1-1 on the season and 0-1 in the NSIC. Wayne State moves to 1-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play. UMC heads to Minnesota State, Mankato next Saturday to do battle with the Mavericks. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Mankato, Minn.
 
For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.
 
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The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).