Minnesota Duluth came out of Saturday's game victorious against Upper Iowa 28-6. The Bulldogs continue their winning streak on Military Appreciation night despite the challenge of a game filled with dense fog. UMD is now 2-1 in the NSIC and leave the Peacocks with a record of 0-3. 

"I thought our guys played four quarters of football tonight," said head coach Curt Wiese. "Definitely some things we need to work on and learn from but overall we came out and executed in all three phases and I'm proud of the way our upperclassmen continue to lead us."

The Bulldogs came in hot on the first drive of the night. The drive started at UMD's 35 yard line where Byron Bynum rushed 24 yards for a first down. The following play quarterback Logan Graetz got sacked and lost nine yards, but came back the next play and completed a 13 yard pass. The first drive was eight plays that finished with a nine yard rush by Daniel Mitchell into the end zone and a good field goal from Curtis Cox. The defense kept the Peacock's possession to just 4:55 minutes. Upper Iowa had only four rushing attempts for 12 yards and were kept off the board in the first quarter. 

The Peacocks followed the Bulldogs example and scored a touchdown on their first play in the second quarter but missed their field goal, keeping the Bulldogs at a lead. Immediately following UMD responded back with a scoring drive. Graetz completed a 15 yard deep left pass to Bynum for a first down. Two plays later Zach Ojile gained a crucial first down with a 29 yard rush to the six yard line. Scoring the touchdown on the drive was running back Wade Sullivan who rushed two yards into the end zone. He was followed with another good field goal from Cox. The defense continues to dominate their side of play. Upper Iowa gained no yardage on a six play drive and was then kept to three play drives the rest of the quarter. The Bulldogs finished the half off strong with another scoring drive. In just three plays the Bulldogs further expanded the lead with a 40 yard completed pass to Byron Bynum and a third field goal from Cox. UMD led 21-6 at the end of the half.  

The third quarter was held scoreless for both teams but was filled with excitement for the defense. Upper Iowa was just 12 yards from the end zone and was looking to put more points on the board. The Peacocks threw a short pass right but Marcus Glodowski forced a fumble and recovered to give the possession back to UMD. At the end of third Upper Iowa had lost five overall rushing yards on their seven attempts. 

The Bulldogs started the fourth quarter off in the middle of a 10 play drive. The first play in the fourth was a touchdown for the Bulldogs but was called off because of an offensive foul putting them back 10 yards. UMD did not let the flag stop them though. Mitchell finished the drive off two plays later with a 10 yard rush down the middle into the end zone for his second touchdown of the night. Giving the Bulldogs an extra point was Cox with his fourth field goal of the night. Defensively, the Bulldogs continued to dominate, keeping the Peacocks scoreless on their two drive. The defense held UIU at a three play drive and only four yards. The second drive for UIU in the fourth was also unsuccessful after Ethan Matzke forced a fumble and recovered the ball. The Bulldogs finished the game 28-6. 

Offensively the Bulldogs dominated the Peacocks. With dense fog for a majority of the game, it quickly became a rushing game for the offense. UMD notched 287 net rushing yards and led the total offensive yards 424 to 187, respectively. The Bulldogs were faced with 17 third-down conversions and found the first down on eight of them. The Bulldogs were led in rushing yards by Wade Sullivan with 68 and receiving yards by Byron Bynum with 105.  

On the defensive side of the game the Bulldogs were a wall the Peacocks could not break through.  The Bulldogs held UIU to just 25 total rushing yards. UMD only allowed the UIU three of their 15 third-down conversions. Craesean Slaton notched the solo sack of the night taking 13 yards from the Peacocks. The Bulldogs forced the Peacock's offense to give up 30 yards with eight tackles. UMD's defense also got possession back twice with two forced fumbles, both followed by fumble recoveries. Leading the 'Dogs in tackles was Tim Pokornowski with six. 

Up next
Minnesota Duluth will be on the road next Saturday Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. to take on Sioux Falls.