Box Score CROOKSTON, Minn. – The Northern State University Wolves put up 21 points in the first two quarters to upend the University of Minnesota Crookston football team 28-0 Saturday at Ed Widseth Field in Crookston, Minn in cold and snowy conditions in the Red River Valley.

"We struggled offensively and defensively in the first half, but our defense came back out strong in the second half," said Head Coach Mike Fritze. "We have a young offense so we're going to keep working them and they will keep showing more improvement and we're looking forward to that."

The game marked Senior Day for the Golden Eagles, as UMC honored 10 seniors who have put it all on the line for the University of Minnesota Crookston. The Golden Eagles fall to 2-8 with the loss to Northern State and have one game remaining, on the road against University of Mary. Northern State improves to 4-6 with Saturday's win.

Northern State quarterback Jared Jacobson led the Wolves with 254 passing yards of 16-of-29 attempts with two touchdown passes. Jacobson's top target was his tight end Connor Doherty, who brought in six catches for 112 yards and both touchdown passes from Jacobson. Cody Kraft added three catches for 69 yards. The Wolves would finish the game with 383 total offensive yards with 254 passing and 142 rushing. Northern State's rushing game was paced by 46 yards on 12 carries from Terrelle Walker.

Conversely, the Golden Eagles struggled to get any resemblance of an offense going on the day in the tough conditions as they would finish with just 105 total offensive yards, with 67 rushing and 38 passing. Kyle Larson (Fr., QB, Clayton, Wis./Health Science) struggled on the day, finishing 8-of-23 for 38 yards with one interception. His top target was Forrest Dunivin (Fr., WR, Las Flores, Calif./Aviation) with three catches for 18 yards.

On the ground, senior Keith McBride (RB, Lodi, Wis./Management) playing his final home game at Ed Widseth Field after an impressive five-year career in the Maroon and Gold, led the team with 11 rushes for 64 yards. McBride will end his career in the top five in at least three categories (career rushing yards, career rushing attempts and career rushing touchdowns).

Seniors Ricky Jacobs (LB, Junction City, Kan./Sports and Rec Management) and Paul Webster (DB, Opa-Locka, Fla./Criminal Justice) led the Golden Eagle defense with nine tackles apiece.
The game would open up with both teams struggling to find much offensively, until the Wolves would finally end the first quarter, culminating a 14-play, 42 yard-drive as Jacobson found Doherty for a 10-yard touchdown strike.

After stopping UMC, the Wolves would add another touchdown early in the second quarter to end a 13-play 73 yard drive as Jacobson dove in from one-yard out to put Northern State up 14-0 over the Golden Eagles.
 
The Golden Eagles would add another score later in the second quarter when Jacobson hooked up with Doherty for a 13-yard touchdown pass to end a 66-yard drive.

Both teams would again struggle to find the end zone for the remainder of the second quarter.
The Golden Eagles would create an opportunity later in the third quarter, when UMC's do-everything man Tyler Hansen (Jr. DB/P, Morris, Minn./Natural Resources) blocked a Nathan Shaw punt. Hansen has been a starter at safety, has been the team's top punter and their top kickoff returner this season.

UMC would get the ball at the Northern State 37 but would go three-and-out and attempt a fourth down conversion but McBride's run was short, giving the Wolves the ball back.

Northern State would finally end the scoring drought for both teams on the next drive as they drove down the field led by a 61-yard pass from Jacobson to his favorite target Doherty. The drive would end as Cameron Pudwill went in on a three-yard touchdown run.

The Wolves would get another scoring attempt early in the fourth quarter, but Shaw's 39-yard field goal was wide left. Neither team would score in the fourth quarter, allowing the Northern State Wolves to hold on and come away with the victory.

The Golden Eagles held Senior Day ceremonies for 10 seniors who have meant a lot to the Golden Eagle program. The group has been part of the start of a turnaround at UMC. The Golden Eagles, led by the 10 seniors, have won four games in the last two years in the NSIC after going winless in the league for four years from 2008-12. This group has been instrumental on the field and off on helping to change the culture in recent years. Included in the group was five-year team member McBride, along with four-year players Freedom McCullough (DB, Los Angeles, Calif./Sports and Rec Management), Andrew Steinfeldt (RB, Green Bay, Wis./Health Science), Joshua Perea (DB, Pico Rivera, Calif./Criminal Justice), Nataki Morris (DB, Orlando, Fla./Management) and Jonique Andrews (DL, Oakland, Calif./Criminal Justice). Three-year team member Tevin Kellum (DB, Detroit, Mich./Criminal Justice) joined the ranks one year later, but has been an All-NSIC player for the Golden Eagles and has been the leader of the defense in 2013. Two-year players Tyler Bos (DL, Larchwood, Iowa/Criminal Justice), Jacobs and Webster.

Two other players were scheduled to be part of the 2013 senior class in Jeff Pryor (Jr., OL, Havana, Ill./Sports and Rec Management) and Adam Eyton (Jr.,  TE, Burnsville, Minn./Marketing). Both players earned medical redshirts earlier in their careers and will utilize them. Pryor will enter his sixth year as a Golden Eagle as he has been a huge part of the UMC community during his time on campus. Eyton transferred to UMC prior to the start of the 2012 season and will end up playing three years for the Maroon and Gold.
 
UMC will culminate the 2013 season on the road Sat., Nov. 16 against University of Mary at 1 p.m. in Bismarck, N.D.