Football Falls On Thursday Night to Minnesota Duluth, 34-21

Thursday, September 28

Duluth, MN

7 p.m.

St. Cloud State

3-2

University of Minnesota Duluth

3-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

St. Cloud State

Minnesota Duluth

Justin Czech

Photo by: Paul Middlestaedt

Football Falls On Thursday Night to Minnesota Duluth, 34-21

9/28/2017 10:11:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Duluth, Minn. –The St. Cloud State football team (3-2, 0-1 NSIC North) saw the team's two-game winning streak snapped in the 34-21 loss to Minnesota Duluth (3-2, 1-0 NSIC North) at James S. Malosky in Duluth on Thursday, Sept. 28.

Freshman Justin Czech led the SCSU offense as he connected on 13 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore John Solberg caught five passes for 88 yards. Junior Sam Hartman had two catches for 38 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Curtwan Evans had a team-high 24 yards rushing. Senior Carvel Graham led the defense with 12 tackles and a forced fumble. Fellow senior Gary Koehring totaled nine tackles. Junior Jack Horter recorded six tackles and a sack.

UMD's Ben Everhart completed 10 passes for 183 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for 81 yards. Anthony Wood led the team with 17 rushes for 128 yards and a touchdown.

The Bulldogs held a 471 to 283 advantage in offensive yards gained including a 288-76 lead in yards gained on the ground. The Huskies did throw for 207 yards, while limiting UMD to 183 yards passing.

UMD scored first on the five-yard rush from Wood to complete their nine play, 70-yard opening drive. The Dan Branger extra point was true to put the Bulldogs up 7-0 with 10:06 remaining in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs scored their second touchdown of the game at the 2:33 mark of the first quarter on the 52-yard pass and catch from Everhart to James Connor. The Branger extra point was good to put UMD up by a pair of scores and complete the six play, 91-yard drive.

#NSICTNF Highlights @SCSUHUSKIES at @UMDBulldogs #BattlefortheBone @MidcoSN #NSICFB pic.twitter.com/WXK0nNkrF0
— NSIC (@NorthernSunConf) September 29, 2017

UMD scored on their first possession of the second quarter on the 52-yard pass from Everhart to Dominic Bonner. The two-point conversion attempt was stopped though to keep the margin at 20 with 14:52 remaining in the second stanza.

SCSU put together an 11 play, 71-yard scoring drive completed on the Joe Blando two-yard rushing touchdown with 10:03 remaining in the third quarter to begin the second half. The Adam Stage extra point was good to put the score at 20-7 Bulldogs.

UMD answered on the ensuing possession with a 10 play, 75-yard drive that culminated on the Bonner nine-yard touchdown reception from Everhart. The Branger extra point was good to again give UMD a three score lead at 27-7 with 5:18 remaining in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs' offense scored their fifth touchdown of the game as Everhart connected with Jason Balts on a two-yard score to finish off the nine play, 57-yard drive and put the score at 34-7 at the 14:08 mark of the fourth quarter after the made Branger extra point.

SCSU scored their second touchdown of the game as Czech connected with John Pass on an eight-yard pass to complete the two play, 37-yard drive and put the score at 34-14 after the Stage made extra point with 4:32 remaining in the contest.

The Huskies were able to draw a touchdown closer as Czech connected with Hartman on a 20-yard touchdown pass with 00:51 seconds remaining to finish off the five play, 60-yard drive and make the final score 34-21 after the Stage extra point.

St. Cloud State football now returns home to take on Minnesota Crookston on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 1 p.m.

Notes: Joe Blando ran for his third touchdown of the season in the game…the 207 yards passing by Justin Czech were a career-high…Sam Hartman has now hauled in a touchdown pass in three of the team's five games.