Aberdeen, SD (NSUWolves.com) – The Northern State University football team battled back on Saturday afternoon, but ultimately fell to the 22nd ranked Minnesota State Mavericks in their final home game of the season. The Wolves scored a pair of touchdowns in the second and fourth quarters, with the Mavericks notching 21 points in the second and three in the fourth.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: NSU 14, MSU 24
Records: NSU 5-5 (5-4 NSIC), MSU 7-2 (6-2 NSIC)
Attendance: 4676
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Down 14-0 as the second quarter ticked down, Wyatt Block broke through for the Wolves at the 2:38 mark with a 22-yard run; hurdling the MSU defender as he entered the endzone
- Minnesota State answered back and closed out the half with their third touchdown of the game with just 30 seconds on the clock and entered the locker room up 21-7
- After a scoreless third quarter, MSU extended their lead to 24-7 on a 30-yard field goal in the opening minutes of the fourth
- Just under 2-minutes later at the 9:01 mark, Daniel Britt connected with Tanner Branson for a 10-yard touchdown and the Wolves were within ten
- The Wolves got the ball back with 2:15 to play, however it wasn’t enough time to rally from the deficit
- The two teams were neck and neck in offense totals with Northern recording 135 yards rushing and 182 yards passing, and Minnesota State notching 148 yards rushing and 186 yards passing
- The Mavericks converted on three of the six occasions they entered the red-zone, while the Wolves went 1-for-3
- Northern suffered four offensive turnovers in the contest, two of which happened in opponent territory
- Britt led the offense with 182 yards passing, completing 15-of-26 attempts with a touchdown and 48-yard long
- Block led the rushers with 74 total yards, averaging 4.6 yards per carry with a touchdown and 22-yard long
- Jake Adams returned to double figures on defense with 20 tackles, including 1.0 tackle for a loss, and forced a fumble
- Trevor Johnson and Elijah Jopp followed with eight and seven tackles respectively, while Luke Gunderson, Cody Smidt, and Max Van Landingham each recorded 1.0 tackle for a loss
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
Daniel Britt: 182 passing yds, 1 touchdown, 41 rushing yds
Wyatt Block: 74 rushing yds, 1 touchdown, 22-yd long
Jacob Van Landingham: 58 receiving yards, 48-yard long
Jake Adams: 20 tackles, 1.0 tackles for a loss, 1 forced fumble
UP NEXT
Northern State closes out their 2024 campaign next Saturday at Wayne State with a 12 p.m. kickoff against the Wildcats.