DULUTH, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Duluth used 40 points in the second and third quarter to ignite a 54-6 win over University of Minnesota Crookston Sat., Nov. 4 at James S. Malosky Stadium in Duluth, Minn.

The Golden Eagles fall to 0-10 (0-6 NSIC) with Saturday's loss. Minnesota Duluth improves to 9-2 (6-0 NSIC) and remains in the lead of the NSIC North. The game was the final road game of 2017 for Minnesota Crookston and the final home game of the season for UMD.

The Golden Eagles were held to just 149 yards of offense by a stout Minnesota Duluth defense. Minnesota Crookston had 37 yards on the ground and 112 yards through the air. Joseph Nava (R-Fr., QB, San Antonio, Texas) went 10-of-19 for 59 yards with two interceptions. Stephen Day (R-Jr., K/P, Eveleth, Minn.) ran a fake punt, going 1-of-1 for 26 yards.

On the ground, Shavez Hawkins, Jr. (Fr., RB, Gilbert, Ariz.) paced the Golden Eagles with nine carries for 29 yards for an average of 3.2 yards per carry. Matt Haire (So., WR, Detroit Lakes, Minn.) led all receivers with six catches for 22 yards. Nathan Coy (Fr., WR, Sun Prairie, Wis.) had one catch for 21 yards. Will Cole (Jr., DB, Compton, Calif.) was the receiver on the fake punt with one catch for 26 yards. Rod Stewart (Jr., WR, Fort Worth, Texas) added one carry for 19 yards, while Adam Connette (Sr., WR, Corona, Calif.) tallied three grabs for 18 yards. He still is looking for his 23^rd career receiving touchdown, which would tie the school record set by Carl Aho.

 The Golden Eagle defense looked to the play of Trevor Long, Jr. (R-So., DB, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) with nine tackles and a 69-yard fumble return for a touchdown. Ali Alkhatib (R-Jr., LB, Rosemount, Minn.) notched eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Will Cole (Jr., DB, Compton, Calif.) had seven tackles and notched his team-leading third interception.

Minnesota Crookston tallied three sacks on the day. Austin Howard (Sr., DL, New Albany, Miss.), Chuck Lofquist (Sr., LB, South St. Paul, Minn.) and Donovan Baker (Fr., DB, Tampa, Fla.) all tallying sacks on the game.

In the return game, Stewart had seven returns for 155 yards for an average of 22.1 yards per return with a long of 43 yards.

Minnesota Duluth tallied 518 yards of offense with 307 yards passing and 211 yards on the ground. The Bulldogs looked to John Larson, who was 17-of-23 for 253 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. The ground game was led by Anthony Wood with nine catches for 71 yards and a touchdown. Larson added 60 yards on 14 carries with one touchdown.

Larson's top target was Jason Balts, who notched five catches for 132 yards with two touchdowns. James Conner added four grabs for 87 yards.

The Bulldogs looked to Bishop McDonald with five tackles and a half tackle for loss. Zach Bassuener added five tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Karl Finkel notched two tackles for loss. Mitchell Johnson-Martin, Alex Helmer and Kale Boomer each notched an interception on the day.

Stewart built on his impressive kick return resume on the opening kick, returning it 39 yards. Stewart came into the game as the leader in the NSIC with 32.3 yards per return. In addition, he was fourth in the nation. The Golden Eagles were not able to move the ball as they were forced to punt.

The Bulldogs responded as Larson found Balts for an 81-yard strike to give UMD the lead. A Balts rush put Minnesota Duluth up 8-0.

The Golden Eagles came up with a big stop as Cole notched his third interception of the season, giving Minnesota Crookston the ball at their own 36.

Minnesota Crookston was able to move the ball down to the Minnesota Duluth 17 led by a 19-yard pass to Stewart and an 11-yard connection from Nava to Connette. However, the Golden Eagles would turn the ball over on downs, giving it back to the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs added to their advantage when Wood ran in for a one-yard touchdown. Dan Branger ran in for the extra point to move the lead to 16-0.

UMD added to their lead as Larson ran in for a 19-yard touchdown. A Balts rush attempt moved the lead to 24-0.

The Golden Eagles again moved the ball into Minnesota Duluth territory down to the 39 led by a Day fake-punt, in which he had a 26-yard completion to Cole. However, Minnesota Crookston turned the ball over on downs.

The Bulldogs added to their lead later in the second quarter as Branger connected on a 33-yard field goal to make it 27-0. Minnesota Duluth went into the locker room with the 27-0 advantage.

UMD opened the second half with a 14-play, 75-yard drive culminated by an eight-yard touchdown pass from Larson to Balts to make it 34-0.

Stewart fumble the following kickoff, giving the ball back to Minnesota Duluth. The Bulldogs added to their lead when Larson found Nick Eliason for a nine-yard touchdown strike to make it 41-0.

UMD quickly got on the board three plays later when Alex Helmer ran back an interception for a touchdown to extend the lead to 48-0.

Minnesota Crookston got on the board as Long recovered a fumble at the Minnesota Crookston 31 and ran it back 69 yards to pay dirt. Day would have his extra-point attempt blocked as the deficit was cut to 48-6.

The Bulldogs added to their lead when Jack Connolly ran in for a 15-yard touchdown. Branger's kick attempt would be blocked by Baker as the lead for UMD would be 54-6. The Bulldogs would win by that tally.

Minnesota Crookston will return for their final game of the season at the friendly confines of Ed Widseth Field Sat., Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. in Crookston, Minn.