CROOKSTON, Minn. – Upper Iowa University used big plays on the ground and on special teams to upend University of Minnesota Crookston 44-7 in the season opener for both teams Thursday evening at Ed Widseth Field. The Golden Eagles had moments on both sides of the ball, but missed opportunities would squash Minnesota Crookston's hopes in the first game of Mark Dufner's head coaching career. Despite giving up 27 points in the first half, the Golden Eagle defense would hold Upper Iowa's offense to just three points in the second half.

The Golden Eagles open the season with 0-1 (0-1 NSIC) mark. The Peacocks move to 1-0 to commence the 2017 season.

Minnesota Crookston's night was highlighted by the rushing performances by Kevin Evans (Jr., RB, Groveland, Fla.) and Joseph Nava (R-Fr., QB, San Antonio, Texas). Nava turned heads with his ability to make plays out of nothing. He would get the start at quarterback while sharing the duties with Taylor Spier (R-So., QB, Buffalo, Minn.). Nava tallied 45 yards on 14 carries. He wasn't as successful in the passing game as he was 8-of-23 for 67 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Evans added 70 yards on nine carries, averaging 7.8 yards per carry.

The Golden Eagles finished the game with 226 yards of offense, including 95 through the air and 131 on the ground. Spier went 5-of-15 for 28 yards through the air. Adam Connette (Sr., WR, Corona, Calif.) led the U of M Crookston receivers with three receptions for 29 yards. Tyler Kennedy (Fr., WR, Moreno Valley, Calif.) added four grabs for 23 yards. Spencer Stephens (R-Sr., TE, Orange, Calif.) added three catches for 23 yards, while Lincoln Tappe (Jr., WR, Aiea, Hawaii) had three catches for 20 yards. A notable absence on the box score was Rod Stewart (Jr., WR, Fort Worth, Texas), who was targeted but had a couple of drops and a few times he was overthrown.

Defensively, Minnesota Crookston looked to Will Cole (Jr., DB, Compton, Calif.) with 12 tackles and one tackle for loss. Trevor Long, Jr. (R-So., DB, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) added 12 tackles. Austin Howard (Sr., DL, New Albany, Miss.) had a nice game from his defensive end position with 11 tackles, while Will Cross (R-So., LB, Turtle Lake, Wis.) added 11 tackles. Ali Alkhatib (R-Jr., LB, Rosemount, Minn.) notched eight tackles and two tackles for loss and had a forced fumble. Devante Nutall (R-So., DL, Plymouth, Minn.) notched a sack, while Skyler Quinn (R-Fr., DL, Evansville, Minn.) and Ben Branscom (R-Fr., DL, Woodbury, Minn.) each had a half sack.

Upper Iowa finished with 517 yards of offense, led by 300 on the ground and 217 through the air. The Peacocks were led by the play of quarterback Brent Lammers. Lammers was 18-of-29 for 187 yards with one touchdown through the air. His biggest impact though was on the ground, where his read option led him to 110 yards on 14 carries. Ryan Parmely saw the dividends of Lammers' performance on the ground. Parmely tallied three touchdowns with 13 carries and 90 yards.

The top receiver on the day for the Peacocks was Jarred Edmonds, who had five catches for 70 yards, while Skyler Lehman added four catches for 60 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Upper Iowa was paced by Keith Schwickerath, who was also a special teams' ace on the day. Schwikerath had seven tackles, a half tackle for loss, two blocked punts and a forced fumble. Mitchel Siech added five tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, while Jojo Simpson had five tackles and a sack.

The Golden Eagles came out of the gate defensively with a big series as they forced the Peacocks to a three-and-out, getting the ball just over a minute into the game.

However, the U of M Crookston quickly gave the ball back to Upper Iowa, who took advantage. The Peacocks would drive 70 yards on 12 plays, culminating in a one-yard touchdown run by Parmely. A missed PAT from Brady Beuschel would put the game at 6-0.

The Minnesota Crookston offense quickly gave the ball back to the Peacocks, who took advantage once again. This time Lammers found Lehman on a 32-yard strike to push the lead to 13-0.
Upper Iowa added to their lead early in the second quarter as Parmely went in on another one-yard rush, his second touchdown of the game, pushing the lead to 20-0.

Minnesota Crookston would drive mid-way through the second quarter, however Golden Eagles' drive would stall out at the Upper Iowa 31 after six plays, giving the ball back to the Peacocks.
Upper Iowa quickly took advantage as Parmely rambled in from 62-yards out for his third touchdown of the game, pushing the lead to 27-0.

U of M Crookston again moved the football, led by a 16-yard run from Nava and a 38-yard run by Evans. Stephen Day (R-Jr., K/P, Eveleth, Minn.) would have a 33-yard field goal attempt, but the kick was blocked by Simpson, leaving the drive empty for the Golden Eagles. Upper Iowa would go into the break up 27-0.

Minnesota Crookston would go three-and-out on the first drive of the second half, but would get the ball back after an Upper Iowa player touched the ball, allowing Connette to recover the ball for the Golden Eagles at the Upper Iowa 41.

However, an errant Nava pass would be intercepted by Jordan Rommes, giving the ball right back to the Peacocks.

Upper Iowa wouldn't do anything offensively, but would get points off of their special teams. Schwickenrath blocked his first Day punt of the season, allowing Brandyn Tulloch to pick the ball up and go in for a 14-yard touchdown to make it 34-0.

The Peacocks did it again following the next U of M Crookston series. Schwickenrath again blocked the punt, this time taking it in for a 32-yard score by himself to make the game 41-0.
Minnesota Crookston's defense came up with a big red-zone stop to open the fourth quarter, forcing an 18-yard field goal by Beuschel, moving the lead to 44-0.

Despite being down 44-0, U of M Crookston did not give in. They marched 66 yards on 12 plays, scoring on a four-yard strike from Nava to Connette, to cut the lead to 44-7. The drive was led by a 14-yard rush by Evans and a 21-yard pass from Nava to Connette.

Upper Iowa would look to go in for another score late in the fourth quarter as Jon Deprey looked to have nobody between him and the end zone. However after a 56-yard run, freshman Donovan Baker (DB, Tampa, Fla.) didn't give up and knocked the ball out at the 1-yard line. Baker returned the ball 21 yards. However, the play wouldn't be enough as Upper Iowa would take the win 44-7.
The Golden Eagles will return to action Sept. 9 against No. 20 Minnesota State University, Mankato in Mankato, Minn. at 1 p.m.

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

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

The University of Minnesota Crookston is a NCAA Division II university located in the Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. Minnesota Crookston 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.