<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0KfPQx_0vOm9HkD00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0KfPQx_0vOm9HkD00" width="1200" height="675" >ST. PAUL, Minn. – After the 2023 season ended in heartbreak for the University of Northwestern Football team, an experienced Eagles group entered the 2024 campaign hungry to get back at it. Wearing all-black uniforms in front of a blackout crowd under the lights at Reynolds Field, Northwestern gave St. Olaf College everything it could handle for the first three quarters, but the Oles were able to pull away down the stretch to win, 39-21.If you blinked, it's entirely possible you missed the entire first quarter. St. Olaf put up eight points on its opening drive, going 72 yards in nine plays and adding a two-point conversion on a trick play. Northwestern got the ball for the first time in 2024 and put together a terrific opening drive, taking 10 minutes off the clock and driving 76 yards on 19 plays. UNW converted four third downs and a fourth down, but ultimately came up empty as the drive ended with a missed field goal.After a St. Olaf three-and-out was followed by a Northwestern interception, the Oles scored on their opening drive of the second quarter, extending the lead to 15-0. The teams then traded punts before UNW's offense started to splash. Facing a 3rd and 7, Caden Cantrell chucked a deep ball to sophomore receiver Jaylen Brown, who fought off a defender to make a 45-yard reception at St. Olaf's 17-yard line. The very next play, Sivert Klefsaas burst through the line and ran away from the defense for the Eagles' first touchdown of the season. A Dominic Borges extra point made the score 15-7.The Oles responded, though, bringing the ensuing kickoff back to midfield and scoring six plays later to push the lead back to 15 at 22-7. UNW wasted no time throwing a counter-punch, as Cantrell threw a pass to his superstar wide receiver, Beau Burk, in the flats, and the senior dashed 68 yards to paydirt. A blocked extra point kept the score at 22-13. St. Olaf looked like it was going to tack on more points before the half after another long kick return and moving the ball to the Northwestern 18-yard line, but Luke Malamisuro intercepted St. Olaf quarterback Theo Doran in the end zone to end the half and keep the deficit at nine.Early in the third quarter, the Eagles appeared to receive a gift from their opponents as a mishandled snap on a punt gave them the ball on the St. Olaf 16. UNW quickly moved the ball all the way down to the one-yard line, but a negative run and a penalty put them further away than anticipated. A fumble on third and long meant the home team would once again leave the red zone without points. The next time Matt Moore's ball club got the ball back, it made sure to not repeat that mistake. A long completion to Burk set up a nine-yard touchdown pass from Cantrell to Ashton Lofton, and a two-point run from Kelfsaas brought the Eagles within one point of the lead.The fourth quarter began with St. Olaf still clinging to that 22-21 lead and with the Reynolds Field crowd buzzing. The Oles were able to extend their lead to four with a short field goal, but that meant UNW was suddenly in position to take the lead with a touchdown. The Eagles had the ball midfield when an errant snap pushed them too far backward to have a shot at a first down, and when they punted it back to St. Olaf, the visitors took advantage and scored from 40 yards out through the air to extend the lead to 32-21. Northwestern wasn't able to grab the momentum back and the Oles scored once more to seal the 39-21 road win to begin their season.Despite the loss, there were plenty of impressive performances for the Eagles on Saturday night. Cantrell threw for 264 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Klefsaas finished with 93 rushing yards on 19 carries (4.9 yards per carry) and a touchdown. Burk and Brown were lethal on the outside, with the former hauling in seven passes for 127 yards and a touchdown, and the latter catching three balls for 78 yards. The defense was anchored by Malamisuro's interception and superb tackling efforts from Ian Ahrendt (11), Brady Harlan (9) and Jayden Goodwin (8). Elijah Simmons also tallied two quarterback hurries. UNW put up 359 yards of offense and held the time of possession advantage, but giveaways wound up dooming the Eagles, as they lost the turnover battle 3-1.Another night game awaits Northwestern next week, and it should be an electric one. The Eagles will play next-door neighbor Bethel University for the first time since 1991. Kickoff at Reynolds Field is scheduled for 6:00 PM on Saturday, September 14th.</div></body>

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Fourth Quarter Surge Lifts Oles Over Eagles

ST. PAUL, Minn. – After the 2023 season ended in heartbreak for the University of Northwestern Football team, an experienced Eagles group entered the 2024 campaign hungry to get back at it. Wearing all-black uniforms in front of a blackout crowd under the lights at Reynolds Field, Northwestern gave St. Olaf College everything it could handle for the first three quarters, but the Oles were able to pull away down the stretch to win, 39-21. If you blinked, it's entirely possible you missed the entire first quarter. St. Olaf put up eight points on its opening drive, going 72 yards in nine plays and adding a two-point conversion on a trick play. Northwestern got the ball for the first time in 2024 and put together a terrific opening drive, taking 10 minutes off the clock and driving 76 yards on 19 plays. UNW converted four third downs and a fourth down, but ultimately came up empty as the drive ended with a missed field goal.

Fourth Quarter Surge Lifts Oles Over Eagles

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