CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston football team put up their best defensive performance of the season, but fell short 28-7 Sat., Oct. 1 to St. Cloud State University at Ed Widseth Field.

The Golden Eagles limited their foes to 363 yards of offense and forced a fumble, in addition to a season-high three sack performance. However, inopportune penalties would plague the Golden Eagles in what was a penalty-filled game for both teams. The Golden Eagles would have 11 penalties for 92 yards, compared to the Huskies' seven penalties for 55 yards.

Minnesota Crookston was led on the game by the performance of Will Cross (R-Fr., LB, Turtle Lake, Wis.) with nine tackles and one sack. Chuck Lofquist (R-So., LB, South St. Paul, Minn.) would lead the team with 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss, including a key sack on third down for the Golden Eagle defense. Trevor Long, Jr. (R-Fr., DB, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) continues to improve as a youngster for UMC, as he posted eight tackles and one tackle for loss.

Ali Alkhatib (R-So., LB, Rosemount, Minn.) would tally five tackles and one tackle for loss, while forcing the team's one turnover, his third forced fumble of the season.
Isaiah Armstrong (Sr., DL, Fairfield, Calif.) added six tackles and one sack for the Golden Eagles.

Offensively, Adam Connette (Jr., WR, Corona, Calif.) led the way with seven catches for 80 yards. Connette did exactly what he needed to move into second on the all-time charts for receptions and yards, as he surpassed Carl Aho for catches and Mark Olsonawski for yards. Connette needs just 13 receptions and 132 yards receiving to break the records in each category. Olsonawski holds the mark for receptions and Aho for yards.

UMC would play both Nathan Cole (Sr., QB, Aliso Viejo, Calif.) and Taylor Spier (R-Fr., QB, Buffalo, Minn.) at quarterback. Cole would go 14-of-23 for 112 yards with one interception. He added a rushing touchdown. Spier struggled, going 2-of-8 for 29 yards.

Andre Person (Sr., RB, Detroit, Mich.) would lead the running game with 23 carries for 86 yards for an average of 3.7 yards per carry. The Golden Eagles would finish with 227 yards of offense on the day.

St. Cloud State looked to quarterback Nate Meyer, who was 15-of-22 for 248 yards and two touchdowns. His top target on the day was Jameson Parsons with 7 catches for 125 yards. In the running game, Jaden Huff would rush 21 times for 65 yards and a touchdown. Joe Blando would have a strong day off the bench with nine carries for 49 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, St. Cloud State was led by Jake Schley's seven tackles. Graham Miller would lead the way with two sacks, while Carvel Graham had an interception and Adam Josephson forced a fumble.

The Huskies would force a turnover on the first drive of the game for UMC as Josephson knocked out the ball from Person's hands. Jerry Duckworth would recover giving the Huskies great field position at the UMC 37.

St. Cloud State would be able to go in for the score as Huff ran in from four yards out to make it 7-0.

The Golden Eagles would get the ball into St. Cloud State territory on the ensuing drive but a holding penalty would set UMC back as they went four-and-out and gave the ball back to the Huskies.

Minnesota Crookston would quickly get the ball back as Alkhatib stepped up with a big hit on Parsons. Aeric Berner (So., DB, Antigo, Wis.) would recover the ball at the Huskies 41 giving UMC terrific field position.

The Golden Eagles would go backwards from there, led by a Ferris Ingrham sack and a personal foul, forcing a Stephen Day (R-So., K/P, Eveleth, Minn.) punt.
The Huskies would add to their lead early in the second quarter as Meyer connected with his tight end, Anthony Carver, from 10 yards out to make it 14-0.
St. Cloud State would add to their lead late in the second quarter as Blando went in for the one-yard touchdown run to make it 21-0. That would be your half-time score in favor of the Huskies.

The UMC defense would do a great job of shutting down the Huskies early in the third quarter.

Minnesota Crookston would get a chance at a score mid-way through the third as they moved the ball down to the St. Cloud State 17. However, sack by Schley and Josephson would negate the Golden Eagles. They would attempt the 37-yard field goal, but a Mike Maw (Sr., K, White Bear Lake, Minn.) miss would keep the game at 21-0 in favor of the Huskies.

The Golden Eagles would come away with a big stop, led by Lofquist's clutch sack on 3^rd-and-15. UMC would get the ball in great position with the ball at their own 44. A Person 30-yard rush would set Minnesota Crookston up for the score as they were down to the 3-yard-line. On 4^th-and-goal, Cole would come through with the one-yard dive into the end zone, aided by a little help from his friends including a push from behind to get him across from Devante Nutall (R-Fr., TE, Plymouth, Minn.).

UMC would look to ride the momentum after a series of penalties set the Huskies back to 3^rd-and-28. A 16-yard pass from Meyer to John Pass would still put the Huskies short 12 yards. The punt team would come on, but it was deemed that a UMC player attempted to jump the protection wall in front of the punter as the officials called personal foul, giving the Huskies a first down. The play would change the momentum completely as St. Cloud State would end up adding to their lead to make it 28-7 after a 24-yard pass from Meyer to Parsons.

The Huskies would come away with the 28-7 win. The effort was a vast improvement for the Golden Eagles over their NSIC North foes. Minnesota Crookston had lost last season 62-14 to the Huskies, showing just how far they have been able to come in a short time.

The Golden Eagles will return to play Oct. 8 on the road at Minnesota State University Moorhead at 6 p.m.