ABERDEEN, S.D. – The University of Minnesota Duluth football program closed out the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) regular season against Northern State with a 48-10 in a North Division clash at Swisher Field on Saturday afternoon.

UMD (8-3, 7-0 NSIC North) claimed a share of the NSIC's North Division Championship for the 12th-consecutive season with its week ten victory, having won the division each season since returning to the league in 2008, and claimed the title outright with this week's victory and a fourth-straight unbeaten divisional campaign.

The Bulldogs scored on each of their first six drives, opening up the offensive playbook against Northern State (6-5, 4-3 NSIC North) while holding the Wolves to just 94 yards in the first half. Quarterback John Larson spread the ball around, connecting with Wade Sullivan (twice), Armani Carmickle, Zach Ojile, and Byron Bynum each for a first-half touchdown pass while running one in himself, and catching a touchdown reception for the second-straight week, this time from wide receiver Nick Eliason.

Northern State broke through on the scoreboard courtesy of a 50-yard pass from Hunter Trautman to Dakota Larson, but the Wolves could not get enough going offensively to keep up with UMD. Sullivan's second touchdown grab of the day put a cap on the Bulldogs' first-half scoring, with UMD totalling 430 yards, including 317 through the air. The Wolves kicked a 48-yard field goal to trim the lead to 48-10 at the break.

The offense would ease off the gas in the second half while the Bulldog defense pitched a shutout after halftime. Bryce Harder led all Bulldogs with eight tackles. Joe Kordus had three tackles for loss, including one of the team's six sacks on the day. Justic'e King and Barry Moreland each grabbed an interception in the victory.

NOTABLE
Larson finished his day 20-for-33 (60.6 percent) with five touchdowns and 388 yards through the air, 23 yards rushing, and one touchdown reception for two yards … Eliason would add a second pass on the day, 2-for-2 for 12 yards … Cazz Martin led the Bulldogs with 59 rushing yards on the day, while Sullivan added 56. 

FAREWELL, SENIORS
UMD says goodbye to its 14-member senior class following today's regular season finale. The Bulldogs ran up a 38-9 overall record in their careers, including an unbeaten 28-0 mark in the NSIC's North Division. That group includes, in numerical order, defensive back Bill Atkins, wide receiver Nick Eliason, defensive back Tyrik Carmickle, running back Kyle Webb, kicker Dan Branger, running back Bryce Heim, punter Cameron Hausman, linebacker Isaac Erdmann, linebacker John Birkholz, linebacker Aaron Gorres, offensive lineman Dan Bartels, offensive lineman Zach Oruruo, wide receiver Obi Ibeneme, and defensive lineman Tom Johnson.

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