The University of Minnesota Duluth football team's comeback effort was cut short Saturday in a 24-21 loss to Northern State University at James S. Malosky Stadium.
The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference offensive leaders in points all season, the Bulldogs were held to just seven points throughout the opening three quarters before mounting a 14-point resurgence in the fourth. A last second field goal by the Wolves moved them ahead as time expired, and dropped the Bulldogs to 3-3 overall and 2-3 conference play.
UMD's opening eight minute drive ended with a missed field goal, and neither team landed a hit on the scoreboard in the first quarter.
The Wolves scored 14 straight points in the second, including an 80 yard drive that ended in a 33 yard passing touchdown. Down two scores with just over one minute in the half, the Bulldogs drove 73 yards down field and found themselves on the board with a 17-yard passing touchdown from Kyle Walljasper to DaShaun Ames, their seventh connection of the season to cut NSU's lead down the middle before half.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Wolves took a 21-7 lead on a 12-yard rushing touchdown. Another pair of drives ended in a punt before the offense of the Bulldogs rallied high gear. A 73-yard drive from UMD was capped off by a one-yard rushing touchdown from Walljasper, moving UMD back within one touchdown. The Bulldogs were quick to regain possession after UMD's defense collected a huge stop on fourth down. This time, Derrick Johnson closed out a 44-yard drive with a one yard rush up the middle.
With the game tied at 21-21 with just two and a half minutes left to go, the Bulldogs were unable to touch the ball again as the Wolves drove down field for the game-ending field goal.
The Bulldog offense was led by Walljasper, who went 9-14 with 115 yards and a touchdown through the air. The quarterback also led all Bulldog rushers with 145 yards and one touchdown on the ground. Daniel Mitchell added 24 yards on the ground, averaging 6-yards per carry, and Ames pulled in four catches for 39 yards and one score.
Jonathan Shrum led the Bulldogs' defensive effort with a 0.5 TFL and one interception. Jarrett Bennett led the Bulldogs with 10 tackles and Drew Hennessey tallied one pass breakup.
The Bulldogs (3-3, 2-3 NSIC) head to South Dakota next weekend to take on the University of Sioux Falls at Bob Young Field. Kickoff against the Cougars is currently scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 19, at 1:00 PM.
BULLDOG NOTES: The setback marks the first time in four seasons the Bulldogs have lost back-to-back games since losing consecutive games to the University of Sioux Falls and to Upper Iowa University over the 2019 season … it also marks the first time since their matchup with Sioux Falls in the 2019 season where the Bulldogs were held to seven points or less through the first three quarters of the game.
