CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston football team fell 63-7 to No. 5 University of Minnesota Duluth Sat., Oct. 27 at Ed Widseth Field in Crookston, Minn. The Bulldogs scored 56 first-half points to propel them to the victory, their 15^th straight in the series. The Golden Eagles tied Minnesota Duluth in the second half 7-7 as they held the Bulldogs to just the one score in the final two quarters. UMD accounted for just 136 yards in the second half.

Minnesota Duluth is an unblemished 9-0 (5-0 NSIC North) following the win. Minnesota Crookston falls to 1-8 (1-4 NSIC North) after the loss. The game was played on a foggy and wet day in Northwest Minnesota.

The Golden Eagles picked up 109 yards on the game, compared to 509 for Minnesota Duluth. The Golden Eagles passed for 41 yards and rushed for 68 on the game, while the Bulldogs had 336 passing yards with 173 on the ground. Minnesota Crookston came away with two turnovers on the game, while Minnesota Duluth also gained two turnovers on the contest.

The best play of the game for the Golden Eagles came on a bad punt snap over the head of the Bulldog punter. Kyler Banks (R-So., WR, Cannon Falls, Minn.) came up with the big special teams play as he jumped on the ball in the end zone for a quick seven points.

Minnesota Crookston was led by Jalin Scott (Jr., QB, Houston, Texas), who ran 15 times for 55 yards. Andy Groebner (Fr., WR, Andover, Minn.) notched two catches for 35 yards. Scott was 3-of-41 through the air for 41 yards.

Defensively, the Golden Eagles looked to Austin Steele (R-Fr., LB, La Crosse, Wis.) with 12 tackles and a sack, while Will Cole (Sr., DB, Compton, Calif.) notched 11 tackles. LaDerek McCray (R-Jr., LB, McComb, Miss.) picked up eight tackles and an interception. In addition, Skyler Quinn (R-So., DL, Evansville, Minn.) had seven tackles and two tackles for loss.

Minnesota Duluth was guided by Ben Everhart, who was 13-of-22 for 232 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Tory Adams paced the run game with 18 carries for 101 yards. In the pass game, Obi Ibeneme had six catches for 118 yards and three touchdowns, while Dain Hudson tallied six catches for 71 yards.
Defensively, the Bulldogs looked to Braden Jorenby with seven tackles. Bryce Harder added five tackles, while Austin Kurylo had four tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Key Players
Minnesota Crookston
Jalin Scott, 3-of-15, 41 yards, 15 carries, 55 yards
Andy Groebner, 2 catches, 35 yards
Kyler Banks, 1 TD
Austin Steele, 12 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack
Will Cole, 11 tackles
LaDerek McCray, 8 tackles, 1 INT
Skyler Quinn, 7 tackles, 2 TFL

Minnesota Duluth
Ben Everhart, 13-of-22, 232 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
Tory Adams, 18 carries, 101 yards
Obi Ibeneme, 6 catches, 118 yards, 3 TD
Dain Hudson, 6 catches, 71 yards
Braden Jorenby, 7 tackles

The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard early in the first quarter when Mike Rybarczyk found Wade Sullivan out of the backfield for an 18-yard touchdown pass to move the lead to 7-0.

After a defensive stop, Minnesota Duluth added to their lead when Alex Lasinski rushed in from nine yards out to extend the advantage to 14-0.

The Bulldogs were put in scoring position when Cory Dixon recovered a Scott fumble at the Minnesota Crookston 13. UMD went into the end zone as Rybarczyk ran in from two yards out to move the lead to 21-0.

UMD moved the lead to 28-0 when Cole Refsnider blocked a punt that would be recovered by Harder in the end zone for seven points.

The Bulldogs moved their lead to 35-0 early in the second quarter when Everhart connected for Ibeneme for an 80-yard strike.

The pair connected on the next drive, as well, this time from six yards out, to move the advantage to 42-0.

An Everhart 19-yard touchdown run moved the lead to 49-0 in favor of the fifth-ranked team in the nation.

Minnesota Duluth was again set up in strong position as they recovered a Tristan Robbins (Fr., QB, Muskegon, Mich.) fumble at the Golden Eagle 20. Everhart found Ibeneme for the third time on the game, this time from nine yards out, as they took a 56-0 lead.

Minnesota Crookston got their first turnover late in the second quarter as McCray intercepted Everhart to halt a drive for the Bulldogs.


The Golden Eagle defense came through early in the second half as they held the Bulldogs scoreless throughout the third quarter. The only chance UMD had for points in the frame was a 27-yard field goal for Cameron Hausman, that was missed.

Minnesota Duluth got on the scoreboard for their only time in the second half when Garrett Olson found Kurtis Weigand for a five-yard strike to move the lead to 63-0.
The Golden Eagles answered and got on the scoreboard as the punt snap went over Hausman's head. Several players scrambled for the ball in the end zone with Kyler Banks (R-So., WR, Cannon Falls, Minn.) diving on the pigskin for seven points to cut the lead to 63-7, which would be the final tally.

Saturday was also the Ed Widseth Scholarship Game. Prior to the game Groebner, Sam Bissen (Fr., LB, Stillwater, Minn.), Nathan McRoberts (Fr., P, Kabetogama, Minn.), Tyler Wilcox (Fr., OL, Pillager, Minn.), and Mohamed Mahmoud (Fr., TE, Eagan, Minn.) were awarded with the $5,000 renewable scholarship in former Northwest School of Agriculture great Ed Widseth's name. Widseth went on to a phenomenal football career at the University of Minnesota and with the New York Giants in the NFL. Ed Widseth's nephew Dick Widseth, also a former Northwest School of Agriculture football player, took in the game from the press box Saturday.
Minnesota Crookston hits the road for the final time this season as they trek to Northern State University Sat., Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. in Aberdeen, S.D.