CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston football team earned a triumphant 29-21 win over Minot State University Sat., Sept. 22 at Herb Parker Stadium in Minot, N.D. The Golden Eagles used a balanced effort that included over 400 yards of offense, a defense that held the Beavers to just 253 yards and crucial plays from special teams.  

Minnesota Crookston improves to 1-3 (1-3 NSIC North) with Saturday's victory over Minot State. The win is the first for the Golden Eagles since a 45-14 victory over Minot State Nov. 7, 2015 at Ed Widseth Field. The victory is also the first NSIC road win for Minnesota Crookston since Nov. 3, 2007 over Minnesota State University Moorhead. Minot State drops to 1-3 (1-3 NSIC North).

The Golden Eagles took an early 13-0 lead over the Beavers and they did not look back as they earned the 29-21 win. Minot State made a late charge scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter, but the Golden Eagles came away with a crucial safety with under two minutes left as Ali Alkhatib (R-Sr., LB, Rosemount, Minn.) came on a rush from the right side forcing Ben Bolinske to try to throw the ball away in the end zone. Bolinske got an intentional grounding penalty as the Golden Eagles were awarded the safety. The final stamp on the win was put as Elijah Todd (Jr., RB, Toledo, Ohio) ran for three yards on a fourth-and-one to ice the victory.

Key Players
Minnesota Crookston
Jalin Scott, 12-of-17, 213 yards, 1 TD
19 carries, 53 yards, 3 TD
Elijah Todd, 26 carries, 130 yards
Jonattan Mudd, 3 receptions, 84 yards
Andy Groebner, 3 receptions, 77 yards
Ali Alkhatib, 8 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 sack, safety
Julian Jackson, 6 tackles, 1 sack
Will Cole, 5 tackles, 1.5 TFL

Minot State
Ben Bolinske, 16-of-28, 159 yards, 3 TD
Lane Torgerson, 8 carries, 49 yards
Lavante Bushnell, 4 receptions, 74 yards, 2 TD
Kywan Owens, 14 tackles
Matthew Cole, 8 tackles, 2 TFL, 0.5 sack 

Minnesota Crookston got off to a great start on the game as they forced a three-and-out defensively. The Golden Eagles turned the defensive stop into points on the offensive end as Jalin Scott (Jr., QB, Houston, Texas) ran in from three yards out for the score to push the lead to 7-0.

Minot State looked to respond as they moved the ball to the Minnesota Crookston 30 propelled by a 12-yard rush by Lavante Bushnell. The Golden Eagle defense came up in a crucial spot again as they held Jemal Williams to a one-yard rush on fourth-and-two to force the turnover on downs.

The Golden Eagles responded as they drove down the field 71 yards on eight plays, culminating in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Scott to Mohamed Mahmoud (Fr., TE, Eagan, Minn.). A blocked extra point kept the score at 13-0 in favor of Minnesota Crookston.

Minnesota Crookston looked to widen their lead as they drove the ball down deep into Minot State territory at the 23. However, Dawson Hoerauf and Matthew Cole sacked Scott on fourth down to force the turnover on downs and keep the score at 13-0.

Minot State was able to get on the board later in the second quarter when Ben Bolinske found Bushnell on a 42-yard strike to cut the lead to 13-7.

The Golden Eagles quickly countered, this time driving 83 yards on 10 plays culminating with a Scott 11-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 20-7. The drive was ignited by a 22-yard pass from Scott to Jonattan Mudd (Jr., WR, Gardena, Calif.). The touchdown run was the second of the game for Scott.

Minnesota Crookston went into the locker room with the 20-7 lead on Minot State.

The Golden Eagles were able to get the second half scoring started mid-way through the third quarter. Scott went in for the one-yard touchdown run, his third rushing touchdown of the game and his fourth score overall, to push the lead out to 27-7. The score was set up by a 36-yard pass from Scott to Andy Groebner (Fr., WR, Andover, Minn.) and a 29-yard connection between Scott and Mudd, the latter were also junior college teammates.

Minot State began their fourth quarter charge with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Bolinske to Bushnell to cut the deficit to 27-14.

The Beavers quickly got the ball back after an interception by Chris Rivers. This time the defense came up big as they forced a three-and-out to get the ball back.

Minnesota Crookston was forced to punt but Lane Torgerson would bobble the return and Julian Jackson (R-So., LB, Tampa, Fla.) came charging for the ball, giving the Golden Eagles the football back in Minot State territory. The Golden Eagles would drive the ball down to the Minot State nine, but would come up just short on a fourth down.

The Beavers responded as they drove down the field, 91 yards on 11 plays ending with a 13-yard touchdown strike from Bolinske to a diving Connor Beeston in the end zone. The touchdown for Minot State cut the deficit to 27-20.

Minot State came up with a crucial defensive stop on the next possession, quickly getting the ball back with 1:53 left on the clock after a Stephen Day (R-Sr., P, Eveleth, Minn.) punt pinned the Beavers with their backs against the wall and 92 yards to drive.

That is when Alkhatib came on the blitz from the right side untouched forcing Bolinske to desperately throw the ball away. Bolinske would get charged with the intentional grounding in the end zone, giving the Golden Eagles two points for the safety to move the lead to 29-21.

Minnesota Crookston would seal the win on Todd's run on fourth down as they swarmed Head Coach Mark Dufner to celebrate the victory, his first as the head coach of a team he has spent the last 16 seasons as a staff member. Only 11 players on the current team were part of the teams last win in 2015, with several of those players redshirting. Only eight of those players were active for the game on Nov. 7, 2015.

The Golden Eagles will look to build off their momentum as they return home for Homecoming to take on Augustana University Sat., Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. at Ed Widseth Field.