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University of Sioux Falls running back Bubba Tann III tries to evade Northern State University defensive back Kyle Thomas as the Cougars picked up a 42-28 victory on Saturday, Sept. 6 in Sioux Falls. Photo courtesy of Jurgens Photography.
Scoring plays of 94, 75 and 68 yards were not enough to get Northern State into the win column in college football action on Saturday, Sept. 6.
Instead, the University of Sioux Falls wore down the Wolves defense en route to a 42-28 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory at Bob Young Field in Sioux Falls.
“I thought our team played hard enough and, for the most part, good enough to win the game,” said Northern head coach Mike Schmidt. “Obviously, you’re self-reflective, and I pin this loss on me because I didn’t have us quite ready defensively. Our guys played hard and never gave up. We’ve been in this spot before, and now we have to respond against a good Wayne State team next week.”
During a game in which the Wolves matched each Sioux Falls score for more than three quarters, a turnover made the difference.
With the Cougars up 35-28 and about five minutes left in the game, NSU quarterback Daniel Britt threw a pass that was picked off by Garrett Hoffman and returned to the Northern 30. That led to a seven-play drive capped by a Camden Dean 2-yard touchdown run to give Sioux Falls a 42-28 edge with 1:49 to play.
The Wolves then drove to the Cougar 6-yard-line before turning the ball over on downs with 10 seconds left.
Britt started the game and led Northern on an 11-play, 65-yard drive capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass to Zach Kraft to make it 7-7 with 4:06 to play in the opening quarter. He completed seven of 10 passes for 75 yards in the quarter, but after he fumbled on the Wolves first drive of the second quarter, he was replaced by Brock Bagozzi until the end of the half.
“That was by design, it was going to be Brock’s series. Actually, he was going to get at least two (series) before we went to halftime. He and Britt both had some good moments and, at times, both seemed a little unsettled. We need to clean some things up,” Schmidt said.
Sioux Falls took a 14-7 lead on a Bubba Tann III 3-yard touchdown run with 30 seconds left in the first half. But the Wolves responded on the first play of the third quarter when Aberdeen Central grad Cooper Eisenbeisz returned the kickoff 94 yards to tie the game.
Eisenbeisz had a total of 143 yards on three kick returns.
Schmidt
“That was pretty cool, right?” Schmidt said. “I was really happy for him to walk on and get an opportunity for a scholarship. We felt confident in our return game. Heck, he almost broke one in the second quarter. We saw it, made an adjustment at halftime on our return setup and it was a home run return.”
The seesaw battle continued until late in the game.
Dean completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Dahlton Wood to put the Cougars up 21-14. Dean completed 20 of 26 passes for 228 yards and three scores.
“Even when he was a redshirt freshman at Mankato, he just always played well against us. He’s easily one of the top quarterbacks in our league. Their offensive line did a good job and he hurt us,” Schmidt said.
On the first play of the ensuing drive, Britt hit Kraft for 75 yards to tie the game at 21 with 10:54 left in the third. It was a designed run fake, and Kraft got behind the defense.
“Again, you saw the moments (Britt) is able to have and how he’s getting more comfortable with Coach (Brayle) Brown’s offense,” Schmidt said. “We just need both our quarterbacks to be more efficient.”
Sioux Falls regained the lead when Camden hit Tann on a 13-yard score to make it 28-21 early in the fourth. That was followed by a 68-yard scamper to the end zone by Britt to tie the game.
Northern State defense struggles in red zone
Tann gave the Cougars a 35-28 cushion, running it from 2 yards out to make it 35-28 with 5:17 to play and setting up the game-sealing sequence. Sioux Falls scored all six times it reached the NSU 20-yard line.
“That’s on me. As the defensive coordinator, that’s on me,” Schmidt said. “It’s humiliating as a play-caller. We made some adjustments, but couldn’t get off the field. (Sioux Falls) didn’t do anything unexpected. They’re a good team who had a game under their belts, and we couldn’t make the stops when we needed.”
Adams
Northern’s All-America linebacker Jake Adams did his part with a game-high 21 tackles.
“Some people may take his ability for granted, but not me. He was just everywhere tonight. He’s going sideline to sideline running guys down. We’re not funneling the ball to him, right, he’s just going to get whoever’s carrying it,” Schmidt said.
The Wolves defense often gave up too many yards on first and second downs and struggled in the red zone, he said.
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Northern is now 0-1 on the season, while Sioux Falls improved to 2-0.
Tann rushed 25 times for 104 yards and two scores for the Cougars, who finished with 421 net yards on offense.
Britt led the way for Northern both on the ground and in the air. He finished 12 of 21 passing for 186 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He ran 10 times for 94 yards — 73 net yards after sacks and losses.
Next up, the Wolves host Wayne State in their home opener. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11 at Dacotah Banks Stadium.
