Wayne State 7 #1 Minnesota Duluth 0
Wayne State's Kevin Paulsen picked up a blocked punt and raced 36 yards for the game's only touchdown on the final play of the third quarter to give the Wildcats a 7-0 win over #1 ranked and defending NCAA Division II national champion Minnesota Duluth Saturday evening at Bob Cunningham Field in Wayne, Nebraska. It was the first-ever win by WSC over Minnesota Duluth in 11 all-time meetings and snaps a current 31-game win streak by the Bulldogs in Northern Sun Conference play since rejoining the league in 2008.
Wayne State had 118 yards of total offense in the first quarter to just 34 for UMD, but the game was scoreless. WSC took their first drive of the game from their own 27 to the UMD 14, but a Max Martin 31 yard field goal attempt was blocked by Minnesota Duluth's Jordan Bauman to thwart the scoring threat. The Bulldogs lone scoring chance of the game came on the final series of the second quarter as UMD drove from their own 28 yard line to the WSC 25, but a potential 43 yard field goal attempt by Minnesota Duluth's David Nadeau never got off thanks to a high snap to end the first half scoreless.
The second half turned into a defensive battle as neither team had success moving the ball on a cool night with light mist. UMD was attempting a punt from midfield late in the third quarter when Aaron Konicek broke loose and blocked the punt by Alex Brown. Wayne State's Kevin Paulsen scooped up the loose ball at the Bulldog 36 yard line and raced to the end zone for the score, putting the Wildcats in front 7-0 following Max Martins' extra point kick on the final play of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, UMD's deepest threat came on their second series of the quarter, moving to the WSC 43. But the 'Cats forced the Bulldogs into another punt and WSC came up with a second blocked punt of the night, this one by Jeff Pokorny, to hold back UMD again. The next three series resulted in three and outs, giving UMD the ball at their own 10 yard line with 2:09 to play. Following a 28 yard pass completion to Joe Reichert, UMD's Chase Vogler had a pass intercepted by Wayne State's Richard Daniel at the UMD 39 yard line to seal the win for the Wildcats.
Minnesota Duluth finished the game with 277 yards to Wayne State's 169. After gaining 118 yards in the first quarter, UMD held the Wildcats to just 51 yards the rest of the game with the Bulldogs outgaining WSC in the second half 143-49. Wayne State had nine penalties for 70 yards while UMD was penalized eight times for 75 yards. Wayne State's Randy Weich punted eight times for an average of 47.4 yards while UMD punted seven times, but had two blocked.
Nick Pulscher led WSC in rushing with 59 yards on 17 carries while quarterback Evan Johnson completed 13 of 22 passes for 107 yards with one interception. Kevin Paulsen had five catches to lead the Wildcats for 21 yards.
Austin Sikorski had 76 yards rushing on 15 carries to lead Minnesota Duluth. Quarterback Chase Vogler completed 15 of 32 passes for 189 yards with one interception. Joe Reichert had five catches for 69 yards.
Defensively for WSC, Austan Pomajzl had a game-high 13 tackles. Ben Radel added seven stops with two pass breakups while senior defensive end Richard Daniel accounted for six tackles, one interception and one pass breakup.
The Wildcats hit the road next weekend when Wayne State travels to Aberdeen, South Dakota for a 1:00 p.m. Northern Sun Conference contest at Northern State.
