The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) Bulldogs rushed for 448 yards while limiting the University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Golden Eagle’s offense to just four first downs in a 63-0 win in an NSIC game played at Malosky Stadium in Duluth.
FIRST QUARTER –
Minnesota Duluth’s offense found success on the ground with their opening drive. Bulldogs running back Wade Sullivan (Soph., Lakeville) ran the ball seven straight plays for 61 yards crossing the goal line with a 9-yard carry giving UMD a 7-0 lead following the extra point with 11:30 to play in the first quarter.
After trading three-and-outs, Minnesota Duluth started their third drive of the first quarter at their 38-yard line. Sullivan opened the possession with an 8-yard carry to the Bulldogs 46. Cazz Martin (Jr., Rochester) carried the ball two straight plays for 9 yards before running back Zach Ojile (Soph., Blaine) crossed midfield with a 7-yard reception thrown by quarterback Keagan Calchera (Fr., Eau Claire, WI). An 11-yard Wade Sullivan carry set Minnesota Duluth up with first-and-goal from the UMC 4-yard line. Minnesota Crookston’s Austin Steele (R-Soph., La Crosse, WI) dropped Calchera for a sack and loss of 4 yards. Sullivan dragged the ball for 7-yards back to the 1-yard line before the Golden Eagles defense stuffed Sullivan on third-and-goal. The Bulldogs offense stayed on the field with fourth-and-1 from the 1-yard line as running back Zach Ojile punched the ball into the end zone for the touchdown giving Minnesota Duluth a 14-0 lead in the final seconds of the first quarter.
SECOND QUARTER –
The Bulldogs’ strong ground attack continued to gash the Golden Eagles defense in the second quarter. Minnesota Crookston opened the quarter with possession just shy of midfield but failed to convert on third down after quarterback Jalin Scott (Sr., Houston, TX) lost 3-yards forcing UMC to punt the ball back to Minnesota Duluth.
UMD needed just two plays to add to their lead. Cazz Martin rushed for 21-yards to the Minnesota Duluth 45 before breaking free on his next handoff and sprinting 55-yards for a touchdown increasing the Bulldogs’ lead to 21-0 with 12:17 to play in the first half.
Crookston’s next drive started at their 11-yard line, where UMC went three-and-out before a 26-yard punt set up the Minnesota Duluth offense at the UMC 44-yard line. Cazz Martin carried the ball down to the Minnesota Crookston 4-yard line. A pass interference penalty against the Golden Eagles in the end zone moved the ball to the UMC 2-yard line. With a fresh set of downs, running back, Bryce Heim carried the ball over the goal line pushing the hosts ahead 28-0 with 7:23 remaining in the second quarter.
Crookston’s offense struggled to extend drives throughout the first half as the Golden Eagles went three-and-out on six of their first seven drives while the Bulldogs continued to capitalize on good field position. Quarterback Keagan Calchera completed his lone touchdown pass in the first half with a 27-yard completion thrown to wide receiver Quincy Woods (Jr., Bolingbrook, IL) putting the Bulldogs in front 35-0. On the next drive, Cazz Martin scored his second touchdown of the second quarter with a 7-yard run as Minnesota Duluth took a 42-0 lead into halftime.
THIRD QUARTER –
Minnesota Crookston’s offense failed to pick up a first down on their opening drive of the third quarter, settling for their seventh three-and-out in nine drives. On the Bulldogs ensuing drive, which started at the UMD 39-yard line, Minnesota Duluth methodically picked apart the Minnesota Crookston defense. Running back, Wade Sullivan started the drive with a 23-yard run to the UMC 38-yard line. Facing third-and-2 at the Minnesota Crookston 30, Cazz Martin extended the ball to the 28-yard line extending the drive with a first down carry. Quarterback Keagan Calchera hit running back Zach Ojile for a 10-yard screen pass on the next play for another first down to the UMC 18-yard line. On third-and-goal from the 4-yard line, Calchera kept the ball and ran it into the endzone scoring the touchdown with a quarterback sneak as Minnesota Duluth’s lead grew to 49-0 with 7:31 to play in the third quarter.
Like clockwork, another UMC three-and-out set up another long touchdown run for the Bulldogs. On a drive starting at the UMC 37-yard line. A false start was the only thing that slowed the drive as Cazz Martin needed just two carries to cover 42-yards and complete his touchdown hat trick as Minnesota Duluth’s lead grew to 56-0.
Crookston’s third-quarter highlight came on a fumbled lateral by Minnesota Duluth recovered by Golden Eagles, but UMC returned the favor throwing an interception two plays later as the Bulldogs took their eight touchdown lead into the fourth quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER –
Minnesota Duluth added another touchdown in the fourth quarter when wide receiver Kurtis Weigand (Soph., Blaine) ran the ball for a 7-yard touchdown before the Bulldogs closed out their 63-0 victory.
UMC falls to 0-9 on the season and will host Northern State at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks. Kick-off is set for 7:00 P.M. with the Riverview Health Pregame Show beginning at 6:20 P.M. on KROX. Minnesota Duluth improves to 6-3.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| UM-Crookston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| UM-Duluth | 14 | 28 | 14 | 7 | 63 |
1st Quarter-
11:30 – UMD – Wade Sullivan 9-yard run (Dan Branger kick)
0:23 – UMD – Zach Ojile 1-yard run (Dan Branger kick)
2nd Quarter–
12:17 – UMD – Cazz Martin 55-yard run (Dan Branger kick)
7:23 – UMD – Bryce Heim 2-yard run (Dan Branger kick)
4:56 – UMD – Qunicy Woods 27-yard pass from Keagan Calchera (Dan Branger kick)
2:39 – UMD – Cazz Martin 7-yard run (Dan Branger kick)
3rd Quarter –
7:31 – UMD – Keagan Calchera 4-yard run (Dan Branger kick)
4:56 – UMD – Cazz Martin 39-yard run (Dan Branger kick)
4th Quarter –
11:32 – UMD – Kurtis Weigand 7-yard run (Dan Branger kick)
