SIOUX FALLS – In a game that featured a little bit of everything, Northern State came up short down the stretch in a 42-28 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football setback to the University of Sioux Falls Saturday night.
The Cougars eventually pulled away with 21-fourth quarter points in the back-and-forth battle.
“First of all, a huge ‘thank you’ to all the NSU fans who came out to support us,” said NSU coach Mike Schmidt. “It felt like a home game at times for us. That was awesome to see.”
Each team matched the other score for score throughout the game before the Cougars tacked on a pair of touchdowns that Northern was unable match down the stretch.
“We played good enough to win that game,” Schmidt said. “I’m really proud of the fight this team has. They played hard enough and good enough at times to win that game.”
USF, which never trailed, scored on its first possession before the Wolves responded on a Daniel Britt 13-yard touchdown pass to Zach Kraft.
The Cougars scored in the final minute of the first half and appeared to have momentum before Cooper Eisenbeisz returned the opening kickoff of the second half 94 yards for a touchdown.
“I’m so happy for Cooper Eisenbeisz. … Really proud of him and the guys on that kickoff return unit,” Schmidt said.
Once again, USF surged ahead with Northern State responding on a Britt 75-yard TD pass to Kraft.
After another Cougars scoring drive, the Wolves answered on their first play from scrimmage when Britt sprinted 68 yards for a touchdown, in the opening minute of the final quarter. However, that was where the NSU scoring ended while Sioux Falls produced two more touchdowns.
“The game comes down to allowing 27 first downs and giving them TDs on all six trips to the red zone,” Schmidt said. “That’s on me. That’s not a good enough defensive game plan or adjustments. Those issues fall squarely on my shoulders. I’ll get better and get us to bounce back.”
The Wolves were led on defense by All-American Jake Adams who racked up 21 tackles.
“He was all over the field playing sideline to sideline,” Schmidt said. “What a super human performance by him.”
Britt led the NSU offense, throwing for 186 yards and rushing for 94 more. The Wolves also used Brock Bagozzi at quarterback and Schmidt said he plans to use both this season.
“I think you’ll continue to see Brock and Daniel both play, because they both have so much to offer,” Schmidt said. “We need them both to settle in and make the right reads for us. Neither one needs to live or die on one play and they both did that at times.”
The Wolves have their opener at 6 p.m. Saturday when they host Wayne State at Dacotah Bank Stadium.
To see a complete box score click on the following link:
https://nsuwolves.com/sports/football/stats/2025/sioux-falls/boxscore/13986
