Athletics |
Released: 10/19/2009
WAHPETON, N.D. – (October 19, 2009) – Special teams and defense led the North Dakota State College of Science Wildcats to a 24-19 Homecoming win on Saturday afternoon over Iowa Western Community College. The Wildcats forced five Reiver turnovers on the day.
Quarterback Cole Lanham got things started early for the Wildcats, capping a four play, 34-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Cecil Doe. The Sergio Garcia extra point made it 7-0. Iowa Western came back later in the quarter when running back Matt Streeter took a handoff and bounced outside for a 79-yard touchdown run; with the extra point, the game was tied at seven.
NDSCS scored again when a fumble recovery set up the offense to start at the IWCC 26-yard-line. Two plays later, Lanham hit Montez Wilkerson with the touchdown pass and, with the extra point, gave the Wildcats a 14-7 lead.
The Reivers’ Austin McBeth led an 11-play, 60-yard drive later in the quarter, hitting Shane Prater with a seven-yard touchdown. The extra point failed, making it 14-13 Wildcats.
The Wildcats struck again with just 1:06 left in the half when Keith King took a handoff and galloped 39 yards for a 21-13 Wildcat halftime lead.
Iowa Western came out of the intermission with a one yard touchdown run by Dominique Corder. The two-point conversion attempt was completed, then waived off on a penalty for two forward passes, keeping the Wildcats in the lead at 21-19.
The final score of the day came when Garcia hit a 24-yard field goal with 8:55 to go in the game to give NDSCS a 24-19 lead. The Reivers attempted to drive on their last possession, but with 20 seconds to go and a fourth down, McBeth’s pass sailed over Streeter’s head, securing the Wildcats’ Homecoming victory.
For the game, the Reivers outgained the Wildcats 458-321, including 239-209 on the ground and 219-112 in the air. King led NDSCS with 119 yards rushing on 18 carries for a 6.6 average. Through the air, Lanham was 11-24 with 112 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. Wilkerson led all receivers with three catches for 48 yards and a score.
Defensively, Angelo Ruiz led the team with 14 tackles, while Derek Earls and Aaron Christianson had 12 each. Earls also had two fumble recoveries. Milhomme Jean-Charles added seven tackles, three for a loss, two fumble recoveries, and a sack.
The victory brought NDSCS to 5-3 on the year and 3-3 in MFC play. The Wildcats travel to Ellsworth Community College on Thursday, October 22 for a 7 p.m. matchup with the conference leaders.
NDSCS is a two-year, comprehensive, residential college with its main campus located in Wahpeton, N.D., and a second site, referred to as the Skills and Technology Training Center, located in Fargo, N.D. NDSCS offers degrees, certificates, and diplomas in over 80 academic options in traditional career and technical studies as well as the liberal arts. The college also offers a variety of Distance Education courses. Approximately 95% of graduates from its technical programs find jobs in their chosen fields.
Unlike most two-year colleges, NDSCS boasts a university atmosphere for its students, complete with residence halls, 35 affiliated clubs and organizations, music groups, theater productions, intercollegiate athletics, intramural athletics, and numerous social activities. For more information, visit www.ndscs.edu.
