CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston football team left very little doubt in their first victory since Oct. 19, 2013 as they ran over Minot State University 45-14 Sat., Nov. 7 at Ed Widseth Field. The Golden Eagles snapped a 24-game losing streak led by their running attack, which amassed 377 yards as the offense put up 525 yards against the Minot State defense. UMC improved to 1-9 (1-5 Div.) with the win, while Minot State dropped to 1-9 (1-5 Div.) with Saturday's loss.

UMC's 31-point win over Minot State was the biggest margin of victory for the Golden Eagles since an Oct. 14, 2000 win over then-NSIC member University of Minnesota Morris 60-14.

The player of the game was Dre Person (Jr., RB, Detroit, Mich.), who put on a show in the backfield with 22 carries for 215 yards and four touchdowns in a banner night for the running back. Person's four touchdowns ties Mark Olsonawski's four touchdown runs against Martin Luther in 1997 for the second-most rushing touchdowns all-time and fell just one short of R.J. Rollins' five against Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2004. In addition, Person's 215 rushing yards was just 22 yards shy of Richard Haley's 237 yards against Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2011, which would have put him in the top five for most rushing yards in a game in UMC history.

In addition to Person's outing, Rodney Stewart (Fr., WR, Fort Worth, Texas) also had an impressive day showing off his big play ability. Stewart rushed four times for 115 yards with an 80-yard touchdown run and also had six catches for 59 yards for UMC.

The victorious quarterback was Nathan Cole (R-So., QB, Aliso Viejo, Calif.), who had a solid day, going 13-of-21 for 128 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception. His top target was Adam Connette (So., WR, Corona, Calif.), who had seven catches for 80 yards and one touchdown.

The Golden Eagles also had a stellar day defensively, limiting the Beavers to 214 yards. Jarvis Mustipher came into the game with over 600 yards rushing, but the Golden Eagles limited Mustipher to 40 yards on 20 carries as the Beavers had just 21 rushing yards on the game. The Golden Eagles would have several players come up with big games. Jake Newman (So., DB, White Bear Lake, Minn.) led the way with 12 tackles, one tackle for loss and two interceptions. Lethzee Calderon (Sr., DB, Eagan, Minn.) added seven tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss. Ali Alkhatib (R-Fr., DB, Rosemount, Minn.) had seven tackles, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble, while Drew Selvestra (Sr., DL, Eagan, Minn.) had one of his best games of the season with four tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks, moving him into fifth all-time for sacks, surpassing Chris Bruggeman.

The Golden Eagles would drive down the field early in the first quarter led by a couple Cole passes to Connette for 11 yards and Stewart to 16 yards. The Beavers would stop UMC in the red zone but Mike Maw (Jr., K, White Bear Lake, Minn.) would connect on a 19-yard field goal to put the Golden Eagles up 3-0.

UMC would add a touchdown later in the first quarter set up by a short field off just a 22-yard punt into the wind by Aaron La Deaux. Person would go in for his first touchdown of four on the day, this time from 17-yards out to make it 10-0.

The Beavers would cut into the lead early in the second quarter as Jose Escobar found Ray Watkins for a 12-yard touchdown pass to make it 10-7.
 
UMC would look to go in later in the second quarter but a Person touchdown run of 56 yards would be called back on a clipping penalty and would go just 40 yards and go back 10 yards from the spot of the foul. UMC would be stopped on downs at the 19.

The Golden Eagles would add their second touchdown of the half and Person's second touchdown of the day on a 3-yard rush set up by another short field as Minot State attempted a fake punt but Isaiah Steinwand wasn't expecting the snap which ended up going for a run for a loss of six yards.

The Golden Eagles would play well in the first half but Minot State was still within striking distance, down just 17-3 at the half.

However, any doubt that this was UMC's day was put to rest early in the second quarter. This started with a spectacular run by Stewart, who had lined up in the backfield, and ran 80 yards to pay dirt on the first play from scrimmage in the second half to make it 24-3.

After Newman's second interception of the day squashed a Minot State drive, UMC would come up with the big play offensively again. This time Person put together a great run of 63 yards, his third touchdown run of the day, to put UMC up 31-3 within the first three minutes of the second half.

The Beavers would look to cut into the lead but the UMC defense came up with a big play in the red zone, as Alkhatib forced the Mustipher fumble, giving the ball back to the Golden Eagles at the UMC 8-yard line.

UMC would put up another touchdown with 2:18 left in the third as Person went in from three-yards out for his fourth touchdown rush of the game.

The Golden Eagles first drive of the fourth quarter would see UMC score on their third play of more than 50 yards as Cole found Connette for a 50-yard touchdown run as UMC's biggest play-maker on the year Connette decided to join the party.

Stephen Day (R-Fr., K/P, Eveleth, Minn.) would have a punt blocked late in the fourth by the Minot State team. Mustipher would go in from one yard out to cut the advantage to 45-14.

Minot State was led by Isaiah Weed, who came off the bench to go 9-of-18 for 97 yards passing with one interception. Escobar was 11-of-19 for 96 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Akkil Walker led Minot State with 10 catches for 84 yards.

UMC will finish up the season at home as they host MSU Moorhead in the Red River Valley Showdown sponsored by State Farm Insurance. The Golden Eagles beat MSU Moorhead the last time they played at Ed Widseth Field, 20-14 on Oct. 19, 2013, which was also the last time UMC had won prior to Saturday's win. Kickoff will be at 1 p.m. Sat., Nov. 14 at Ed Widseth Field as the two rivals battle it out on the gridiron.

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).