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Sophomore Paul Benesh looks for yards during Saturday's game

Northern State Pulls Out Another Close Victory over SMSU

Box Score

MARSHALL, MINN.: Northern State University moved its winning streak to 16 straight games over Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday afternoon earning a hard-fought 31-27 win in Marshall.

Northern State, which is now 2-2 overall, 2-0 NSIC, built a 31-14 second quarter lead before Southwest Minnesota State nearly rallied in the second half to pull out the victory.  The SMSU defense, after giving up 282 yards of offense in the first half, played strong in the final 30 minutes limited the Wolves to just 101 yards of offense including four punts and one  interception.

Trailing 31-14 with three seconds left in the first half, SMSU running back Zach Wysong scored on 4th and goal from the 3-yard line to pull SMSU to within 30-21.  Wysong then scored his second touchdown of the game with 7:30 left in the third quarter capping a 12-play, 75-yard drive that cut the NSU lead to 31-27.  

After the SMSU defense forced another NSU punt, SMSU picked up three first downs and moved from its own 37-yard line to the NSU 25-yard line but 1-yard loss and two incomplete passes forced SMSU to attempt a 43-yard field goal that was missed by SMSU's #Scott Talcott” to keep the deficit at four points.

On SMSU's next possession they moved the ball from its own 14-yard to the NSU 27-yard line but once again the NSU defense held strong and forced an incomplete pass on 4th and 9 to give the ball back to NSU.

SMSU would have two more chances in the final six minutes but an interception with just under three minutes left ended one drive and SMSU turned the ball over on down with 1:17 left in the game.

The Mustangs were the first to score in an explosive first half by both teams.  After Talcott missed a 22-yard field goal on SMSU's first drive, the Mustang defense forced a three and out and on the punt attempts, SMSU's William Sutton blocked Eric Schwan's punt and SMSU's Alex Mayorov picked up the ball and returned it 16 yards to the Wolves' 4-yard line.  Three plays later Josh Shudlick found Derek Townsend wide open in the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead with eight minutes left in the first quarter.

Northern State would respond with 17 straight points to build a 17-7 lead.  The final seven of the 17 points came after Shudlick was sacked and fumbled at the SMSU 12-yard line and one play later NSU took advantage as quarterback Eric Ellingson found Jared Mack open for a 12-yard touchdown reception.

SMSU answered right back though as Shudlick connected with freshman Bret Ballantine on a 10-yard touchdown pass with 12:17 left in the half to trim the NSU lead to 17-14.  The touchdown for Ballantine, who finished with a career-high six catches for 75 yards, was the first of his career.

Northern State would answer right back on its next possession driving 80 yards on 11 plays capped by a Ellingson 21-yard pass to Brian Jark to push the margin to 24-14.  After SMSU was forced to punt on its next possession, NSU put together the biggest play of the game as Jark took a small pass from Ellingson and broke down the sideline for an 87-yard touchdown reception and give NSU a 31-14 lead with 4:52 remaining in the first half.

After SMSU and NSU were both forced to punt on the next two drives, SMSU took over with 45 seconds left on the NSU 27-yard line.  SMSU converted two third downs on the drive and the critical fourth and goal from 3-yard line as Wysong crossed the goal line as the half expired to cut the NSU lead to 31-20 at halftime.

SMSU finished the day with 357 yards of offense and 24 first downs.  Shudlick completed 26 of 49 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns along with one interception.  Matt Fischer finished with five receptions for 62 yards while Derek Townsend and Paul Benesh each finished with four receptions.

Wysong led the SMSU rushing offense with 43 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries while Benesh ended with 40 yards on 10 attempts.

NSU ended the game with 384 yards including 316 through the air.  Jark led NSU with five receptions and two touchdowns for 132 yards.

The Mustang defense was paced by Tyler Fischer who recorded nine tackles including one sack.  Levi Bullerman had a career-high eight tackles while David Connors had five stops and one interception.

SMSU will now continue conference play next Saturday, Sept. 29 with a road game at the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D.

Game Notes: SMSU finished the game converting 10 of 20 third-down conversions while NSU was just 1 of 11 ... SMSU's Bret Ballantine caught a career-high six passes for 75 yards and also had his first career touchdown ... Bullerman had a career-high eight tackles ... Bryce Haessly recorded a career-high six tackles ... the interception for David Connors was his second career INT ... SMSU ended the game minus-1 in turnover margin, marking the 19 straight NSIC game that SMSU been either "even or minus" in turnover margin.
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