With Korver Field on the campus of Northwestern College (Iowa) filled to capacity, NAIA No. 1 University of Sioux Falls overcame a 11 point deficit to defeat the No. 23 Red Raiders 41-24 Saturday night.
USF Senior Chevon Walker (Fort Meyers, Fla.), a recent addition to the Cougars roster, scored two touchdowns and totaled 64 yards rushing in his debut. Walker also blocked a punt that led to a USF score.
Senior receiver Jon Ryan (Watertown, S.D.) had another impressive performance against rival-NWC, taking nine receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Ryan has four touchdown receptions in previous two games against NWC.
Neither team was able to score in the first quarter, but just four seconds into the second quarter the Red Raiders drew first blood with a Taylor Malm one yard rush for a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead.
After a 13 play, 80 yard drive that ended with a Braden Wieking (Sioux Falls, S.D.) field goal, USF received their first break of the game. Northwestern's Jayme Rozeboom fumbled on the one yard, which was recovered by Brandon Koolstra (Sr.; Sioux City, Iowa). Walker then scored his first of two touchdowns on the night, taking a handoff right up the middle for a one yard score, giving USF their first lead of the game at 10-7.
With 1:18 remaining the first half, USF regained control of the ball via a punt deep in their own territory, but an errant pass by Jon Eastman (Sr.; Midvale, Utah) was picked off by NWC safety Jon Gerber and returned 19 yards. NWC capitalized on the short field with a one yard rush by Brandon Smith. NWC took a 14-10 lead to the half.
NWC further built their momentum with the opening drive in the second half, marching down the field on a nine play, 67 yard drive, capped by a 12 yard pass from quarterback Brandon Smith to Tyler Walker. With only minutes expired from the clock in the second half, USF found itself in its largest deficit in years, down 21-10.
On the ensuing drive, USF answered the challenge with a steady 11 play, 73 yard drive of their own. Ryan made a five yard catch in the endzone from Eastman, marking Eastman's first career touchdown as a Cougar.
USF would once again force a turnover, as Nick Bonte (So., Garretson, S.D.) recovered a Adam Lopez (Jr.; Gillette, Wyo.) forced fumble.
Eastman led the Cougars back down the field, with Walker finishing the drive off with a two yard rushing touchdown to start the fourth quarter, giving USF back the lead at 24-21.
Walker would then block the NWC punt on the following drive, with Bo Bearsheild (Gregory, S.D.) recovering the ball on the NWC 8 yard line. Eastman would hit Ryan for his second touchdown of the night on a five yard out-pass.
NWC and USF would exchange field goals over the final minutes of the game. With just 40 seconds left on the clock, senior Antonio Turner (Orland, Fla.) made his second sack of the game that forced the ball lose. Lopez pounced on the ball in the endzone, to generate the final score of 41-24.
Eastman finished his debut with 207 yards passing on a 19 for 29 night that included two passing touchdowns, both to Ryan, and one interception. Eastman also had 33 rushing yards.
Senior linebacker Dominic Studzinski (Fort Atkinson, Wis.) led USF with eight tackles, including 1.5 tackles for a loss and a sack. Joining Turner with two sacks was sophomore Eric Anderson (Irene, S.D.).
USF increases the nation's longest active winning streak to 30 and will face Midland Lutheran College (1-0) on Saturday, Sept. 11 in Fremont, Neb. Northwestern will travel to face #13 Hastings (1-0) next Saturday in week two action.
(Story from Matt Stull, USF Sports Information)
GPAC Football - Week One Scoreboard
Concordia University 3, Nebraska Wesleyan University 0
#13 Hastings College 33, Briar Cliff University 0
Dakota Wesleyan University 42, Dordt College 7
#5 Morningside College 40, Doane College 7
#1 University of Sioux Falls 41, #23 Northwestern College 24
Midland Lutheran (Off)
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