Notables
-35-game conference win streak was second-longest in NCAA Division III
-Loss also snaps 18-game home win streak, fifth-longest in NCAA Division III
-CSS' Homecoming win streak ends at seven
-Saints are now 2-19 all-time when they fail to reach 20 points.
-CSS fails to go over 200 yards passing vs. UNW for the seventh time in nine meetings
DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – It was déjà vu for the St. Scholastica football team as it saw its 35-game Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) win streak come to an end by the hands of the University of Northwestern Saturday evening, falling 14-7 at Public Schools Stadium.
Like 2012
The Saints had a 17-game conference winning streak during the 2012 season, until the Eagles visited Duluth and handed the Saints a 14-13 loss at Ordean Stadium. CSS had not lost a conference game or home game since that setback until tonight.
Dodging Bullets Early
Northwestern took its opening possession and drove it 58 yards to the St. Scholastica 11-yard-line until it had to settle for a 28-yard field goal attempt. That attempt would be blocked by August Marleau keeping the game scoreless.
After a Saints punt, Northwestern got into St. Scholastica territory again mixing up short passes and runs. On a third down play, quarterback Corban Halbur scrambled and had the first down, but would be stripped by Joe Matthews and the ball picked up and returned by Jack Peru.
Points off Turnovers
On CSS' ensuing possession, the Saints got to Northwestern's 20-yard-line where they faced a fourth-and-one. On the pass attempt, Northwestern's Gideon Burnham leaped up to knock the ball down, but he did one better by nabbing the ball out of air and returning 12 yards to give the Eagles the ball.
Northwestern proceeded to take the ball down the field and punch it in on a BJ Foster 4-yard run for the first points of the game with 11:26 remaining in the second quarter.
On the second play of St. Scholastica's next possession, Daniel Stratton stepped in front of a Kyle Stepka pass and recorded the interception. Northwestern scored four plays later when Halbur found Cody Carlson for a 13-yard score to make it 14-0.
Northwestern would have another opportunity for a short field goal at the end of the first half and to extend the lead to 17-0, but once again Marleau came through to block the kick to keep the score 14-0 at halftime. Marleau has blocked four kicks this season.
Halftime Stats
Northwestern racked up 310 yards of offense in the first half on 47 plays, while the Saints were held to 87 yards on 23 plays. The Eagles had possession for over 20 of the 30 minutes in the half. Northwestern had 220 passing yards, while the Saints were held to only 56 yards thru the air.
Second Half Rally?
The third quarter consisted of both teams exchanging punts and failing to convert a fourth down play. The best drive of the game for the Saints came at the end of the third quarter when they converted three third-down plays, including a third-and-16 pass to Aaron Olson. Later in the drive, Olson went up and hauled in 13-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Stepka on the first play of the fourth quarter to put the Saints on the board. A Donovan Blatz point-after made the score 14-7.
After the CSS defense forced a three-and-out, all the momentum was on the side of the Saints. St. Scholastica moved the ball to the 31-yard-line where pass to the end zone would be intercepted on the deflection to stop said momentum.
The Eagles methodically moved the ball and ate up seven minutes of time before punting it back to the Saints with 3:48 to go.
St. Scholastica started its possession at its own 27-yard-line. The Saints moved the ball to around midfield where Stepka scrambled for a first down on a fourth down play. Later in the drive, Stepka scrambled again for a first down to get the ball to Northwestern 34-yard-line.
CSS was forced to another fourth down play and once again kept hope alive when Stepka found Olson for a 9-yard reception to move the ball to the Eagle 23-yard-line. After three straight incompletions, the Saints had one last gasp and this time it wasn't meant to be as the Eagles recorded the interception with under a minute remaining to seal the 14-7 victory.
Key Team Stats
Passing Yards: UNW 262, CSS 199
Time of Possession: UNW 35:50, CSS 24:10
Third Down Conversions: UNW 8-17, CSS 6-15
Top Performances for CSS
Olson had eight receptions for 121 yards and a score. Stepka threw for 199 yards, but also led the team in rushing with 45 yards. Jonathan Senger had a game-high 13 tackles, while Kenneth Jinkins added 11 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss and three pass break-ups.
Top Performances for the Opponents
Halbur was 19-of-33 for 262 yards and a touchdown. Cody Carlson had seven receptions for 122 yards and a score. BJ Foster had 52 yards on the ground and a score. Beau Walter, Ben Greener and Aaron Regnier each had nine tackles to lead the defense. Gideon Burnham had two interceptions.
Up Next
The Saints (6-1, 5-1 UMAC) will be at the University of Minnesota Morris next Saturday. The action is slated to begin at 2 p.m.