CROOKSTON, Minn.- The University of Minnesota Crookston football team had a strong day with 517 yards of offense, but 11 penalties for 95 yards and two interceptions paint the story of a game that was much closer than the 55-21 score that went in favor of Northern State University. The Golden Eagles had 278 yards passing and 239 yards rushing led by a stand-out performance from Dre Person (Jr., RB, Detroit, Mich.), who put together the best game of his career thus far with 18 carries for 178 yards and two touchdowns. With the win Northern State improves to 3-4 (3-0 Div.), while UMC drops to 0-7 (0-3 Div.).

Northern State was led by their rushing attack, which accumulated 352 yards, despite missing starter Nicholas Truen, who was at a family wedding. The Wolves would have three players accumulate over 90 yards in his absence. Stephen Erlandson led the way with 99 yards on 15 carries with two touchdown runs. Chaka Kelly had 14 carries for 90 yards and three touchdowns, while back-up quarterback Christian McAlvain had seven carries for 93 yards and a touchdown. In the passing game, Kyle Lavand was 11-of-16 for 98 yards with a
touchdown and an interception.

In addition to Person's great day, Adam Connette (So., WR, Corona, Calif.) also put together a strong day for UMC, as he was used at wide receiver, in the wildcat formation as a quarterback and in the backfield as a running back. Connette had his best game on the ground with six carries for 60 yards, while putting together his second-conseuctive 100-yard receiving game with 10 receptions for 126 yards. Connette now has 1,038 career receiving yards joining Carl Aho and Mark Olsonawski as the only three 1,000 yard receivers in program history. He currently ranks third behind those two players. Constant Jackson (Sr., WR, Jacksonville, Fla.) also had a strong game with nine receptions for 73 yards.

At quarterback, Nathan Cole (R-So., QB, Aliso Viejo, Calif.) started and was 22-of-35 for 213 yards with two interceptions. Tra Hearns (So., QB, Bloomington, Minn.) came on in relief and was 7-of-11 with 65 yards passing.

Defensively, Northern State suffered several injuries in the game and were depleted at times. Matt Thorson led the team with seven tackles, while Channing Barber had six, as did Brendon Hoellein. Alex Bernstein and Joe Parsley each had interceptions.

For UMC, Dion Wallisch (R-Fr., DB, Oakdale, Minn.) led the way with eight tackles and an interception. Brody Davidson (Sr., LB, Crookston, Minn.) also had eight tackles, while William Cole (Fr., DB, Compton, Calif.) had a career day with seven tackles, while Casey Kraska (R-So., DL, Stephen, Minn.) had six tackles with two tackles for loss and a sack.

The Wolves first drive started out strong with a balanced attack highlighted by a QB option play to get them into the eagles red zone. The freshman quarterback Kyle Lavand attempted to hit his receiver in the back of the end zone but was picked off by Wallisch.

After a three and out, UMC punted the ball and allowed the Wolves Parsley to make a huge return inside the Eagles red zone. Two plays later Kelly was in the end zone on a draw play for his second career touchdown to put the Wolves up 7-0. With a shaky possession in the air for Northern, they were able to finish strong with a six yard run from Erlandson up the gut for the Wolves touchdown to put NSU up 14-0 in the first.

UMC opened up their first possession of the second quarter with heavy usage of Connette. Adam's dynamic playing ability helped to get the Golden Eagles into the Wolves' red zone for the first time in the game. A pass interference by Jackson doomed a solid UMC drive that would have resulted in a Josh Zitzmann (Jr., WR, Farmington, Minn.) touchdown. The following play, Cole threw a pass in the end zone that was picked off by Parsley of the Wolves who then returned it to the 19 yard line.

The Eagles made a strong stand but continued to shoot themselves in the foot with a dropped punt return by Connette. The Wolves were able to start their drive in UMC's territory at the 25 yard line. The possession ended in a 2 yard touchdown run by senior Defensive Lineman Cameron Pudwill to make it 21-0.

Person made an impressive 52 yard run breaking a last effort tackle by the safety with a spin move on his way to the end zone for UMC's first score of the game. 21-7.

The Wolves' were again able to take advantage of a struggling UMC rush defense as Kelly was able to break several Eagle tackles to get into the end zone for the second time this game with 4:30 to go in the first half

In the first half the Eagles were able to move the ball with regularity but many of the big plays that were made were brought back by penalties. Eight penalties were committed for 80 yards. Cole had a productive half throwing for 204 yards with a long of 42. Cole threw at a clip of 20-30 with one interception. Connette also had a busy half gaining 35 yards on the ground and 86 yards in the air. Person was able to accrue 71 yards rushing highlighted by a 52 yard run and two receptions for 9 yards in the air. Wallisch had a strong first half performance with seven tackles and an interception to stop a Wolves' touchdown.

Northern State opened up the second half with a strong rushing attack. The drive ended in the air with a 13 yard pass from Lavand to Conner Dohertyto make it 35-7.

Cole threw an interception on the first play of the following drive to Bernstein, which quickly led to an Erlandson 30-yard touchdown run to quickly turn the game into a 42-7 game.

After a quarter change, Hearns was able to generate a strong Golden Eagle drive. The drive concluded with a Person leap into the end zone for his second touchdown of the day over two Wolves to put UMC on the board for the first time in the half and make it 42-14.

UMC would drive deep into Northern State's territory late but a missed fourth down attempt on the Wolves' 15 would give the ball back to the Wolves. Northern State would convert it into another touchdown as
McAlvain went in on a 36-yard touchdown run to make it 49-14.

Another great run by Person, this time of 54 yards, would put UMC on the one-yard line where Hearns would pound it in from one-yard out to make it 49-21.

Northern State would recover the ensuing on-side kick and add on to their lead with Kelly's third touchdown run of the game, this time from 10-yards out, to make it 55-21.

The Golden Eagles will hit the road next weekend to face No. 21 University of Minnesota Duluth in Duluth, Minn., Oct. 24 at 1 p.m.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

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The University of Minnesota Crookston is a NCAA Division II university located in the Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. UMC sponsors 11 intercollegiate athletic teams with membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference (NSIC) and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The NSIC is a 16-team conference with schools situated in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.
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