The final numbers don’t begin to tell the entire story from Dacotah Bank Stadium Saturday night.

Northern State finished with more total yards and more first downs, but could not slow down the Minesota-Duluth offense in a 41-21 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football setback.

The Bulldogs scored 35 opening-half points and never trailed en route to the victory.

The visitors took the opening kickoff and drove down the field for a touchdown less than four minutes into the game. Northern State responded with a touchdown of its own when Colton Hackel scored on a quarterback keeper, but the Bulldogs were right back in the end zone with another score at the 5:34 mark of the opening quarter.

Duluth tacked on another TD in the finale minute of the first period before the Wolves struck again, as Hackel’s 8-yard run closed the gap to a seven-point game.

However, the Bulldogs struck again on their next possession and this time there would be no response from the Wolves. When Duluth scored with just 11 seconds remaining in the half, it gave the Bulldogs a 21-point advantage at the break.

The two teams traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter. As the Wolves were on the verge of slicing the deficit to start the period, the Bulldogs picked off a pass just outside the goal line and returned it 95 yards to set up their final score.

Northern produced the final touchdown of the game as Dakota Larson hauled in a short pass for a score to cap a memorable night for the senior. Earlier in the evening, Larson broke Brian Jark’s record for most receiving yards in NSU history.

Duluth quarterback Kyle Walljasper finished the game with 114 yards and three touchdowns.

It was Duluth’s seventh straight victory over Northern and 14th in their last 15 meetings.

Hackel had a big night for the Wolves with 134 yards rushing and two TDs, and 224 yards passing a TD.

Dewaylon Ingram topped Northern with five catches for 98 yards.

The Wolves, 0-2 to start the season, remain at home where they will host Mary at 6 p.m. Saturday at Dacotah Bank Stadium.

To see complete stats from the Northern-Duluth game, click on the following link:

https://nsuwolves.com/sports/football/stats/2023/minnesota-duluth/boxscore/13159