Box Score

DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Scholastica football team took on the defending Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) champion Northwestern College Eagles and fell tonight in its second home game by a score of 35-14 at Malosky Stadium.

The story of the game for the Saints was defensive end #Travis Larson# (Jr.-Ashland, Wis.), who had four sacks, all in the first half, including one for a safety. The all-division record for sacks in a game is 7.5. Larson led the defense with 13 tackles.

It was a fumble fest early on as the Eagles (6-1, 3-0) fumbled on its first possession of the game. After the Saints (0-5, 0-3) went three-and-out on its first possession, CSS added another first to history books as #Phil DesMarais# (So.-Duluth, Minn./Denfeld) intercepted the first pass in the program's history. However, the Saints would fumble three plays later. Northwestern gave the ball back to the Saints when it fumbled on its second play. But, the fumbles were not done as the Saints gave it back to the Eagles on its second play.

Northwestern capitalized on this possession going 40 yards on four plays, capped off on a 9-yard touchdown run. The Saints moved the ball down to the Eagles' 8-yard-line on the proceeding possession, but fumbled on fourth down. After the CSS defense forced a three-and-out, the Saints threw an interception on their first play. However, that interception inside the 5-yard-line led to the Travis Larson (Ashland, Wis./Ashland HS) sack for a safety to make the score 7-2.

With three minutes left to go in the first half, the Eagles extended their lead to 14-2 with a 7-yard touchdown run. St. Scholastica moved the ball down to the Northwestern 35-yard-line at the end of the first half, but turned-it-over on downs.

Northwestern out-gained the Saints 183-77 in the first half with 170 of the 183 yards coming on the ground.

After a Saints punt on their first possession of the second half, the Eagles moved down into CSS territory and attempted a fake field goal, but the pass to the end zone was knocked away by #Adrian Greene# (Fr.-Hermantown, Minn./Duluth Central) to keep the score intact. Unfortunately, the Saints turned it over on its second play and the Eagles made the score 21-2 on a 1-yard touchdown plunge.

Northwestern scored on its next possession going 71 yards on 10 plays ending with a 12-yard touchdown run to make the score 28-2. The Saints followed by going 53 yards on seven plays with #Christopher Henagin# (Jr.-Cloquet, Minn.) running it in from a yard out to make it 28-8.

The Eagles scored on a 10-yard quarterback keeper to extend the lead to 35-8. St. Scholastica did not give up as Northwestern fumbled deep in its territory with six minutes left and #Shane Martin# (Fr.-Savage, Minn./Burnsville) recovered. Henagin scored again on the first play from three yards out to make the score 35-14. That is how the game ended as the Eagles improved to 6-1 on the season and 4-0 in the conference.

The Eagles out-gained the Saints 432-176. Northwestern racked up 27 first downs, while limiting the Saints to 10. The Eagles had 60 rushes for 341 yards. Northwestern did fumble the ball four times and lost all of them. The Saints fumbled the ball five times, but only lost three.

#Jake Olson# (Fr.-Esko, Minn.) was 11-of-25 for 83 yards on the night. #Mike VanMassenhove# (So.-Superior, Wis.) had five receptions for 83 yards. Christopher Henagin (Cloquet, Minn./Fond du Lac) had 44 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns. #Jeremiah Martell# (Fr.-Somerset, Wis.) added 11 tackles for the Saints defense.

The Saints will be at home again next Saturday when they host Trinity Bible College (N.D.). The game will take place at Public Schools Stadium with a noon kickoff.