(Crookston, Minn.)- The University of Minnesota, Crookston hosted Northern State University on homecoming weekend today at Ed Widseth Field. It was a cold, soggy afternoon but the winless Northern State Wolves came out determined to break into the win column. The Wolves used early momentum and first half points to spoil Golden Eagle Homecoming 34-17.

Northern State struck in the first quarter on a five play, 34-yard drive that was capped off by a six yard Montrel Richarson run. The Wolves added seven more points at the 4:56 mark of the second quarter when Richardson caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Joei Fiegler to cap an eight play, 70-yard drive. The Golden Eagles rebounded and with 4:49 left in the half, UMC drove 64-yards to the NSU eight yard line. Quarterback Tim Ennis (QB, 6-2, 205, JR, Lancaster, Calif.) tried to force a pass into the endzone that was intercepted by David Alvarez and returned 62-yards to close out the first half. Ennis finished the half 12-19 passing for 89-yards. Keith McBride (RB, 5-11, 195, FR, Lodi, Wis.) rushed 11 times for 34-yards and Jordan Lecher (WR, 6-3, 195, SO, Litchfield, Minn.) caught six passes for 46-yards.

U of M, Crookston struck first in the second half when kicker Chris Secrest (K, 5-11, 170, FR, Hollywood, Fla.) hit a 21-yard field goal to get the Golden Eagles to 14-3. NSU answered with another Fiegler touchdown pass, this time to Trent DesLauriers for a six yard score. The Golden Eagles drove the field but missed a 29-yard field goal wide to the right. Northern got three plays off before Justin Overby (LB, 6-3, 240, SO, Langdon, N.D.) intercepted a Fiegler pass. It took Ennis and Neil King (WR, 5-5, 145, SO, Sebastian, Fla.) just one play to find pay-dirt to get the Golden Eagle to 21-10. The Wolves iced the game on two consecutive scoring drives on a 41-yard run by Richardson and a seven yard run by Chad Morrison. U of M, Crookston continued to battle and finished the game on an outstanding 10 play, 80-yard drive that was completed by a McBride one yard rush.

The Golden Eagles were led by Lecher who finished the contest with a game-high 12 receptions for 105-yards. McBride rushed 24 times for 87-yards and one touchdown. Ennis rounded out the top offensive players completing 25 passes for 257-yards and one touchdown. Overby was the defensive leader with one interception for 15-yards, one fumble recovery and five total tackles. Devahn Murphy (CB, 5-10, 175, FR, Darien, Ga.) led the defensive unit with seven solo tackles.

The Wolves were led by Richardson who tallied 161-yards rushing on 14 attempts and scored two touchdowns. Fiegler completed 15 of 24 passes for 181-yards and two touchdowns. David Alvarez and Hanipale Seuga led the defensive unit with 12 total tackles each.

The Golden Eagles are 1-5 overall and 0-5 in the NSIC. The Wolves are now 1-5 overall and 1-4 in conference play. UMC travels to St. Cloud State University on October 10 to battle the Huskies. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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

Photo: Jordan Lecher

The University of Minnesota, Crookston is a NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).