Athletics |
Released: 10/31/2009
WAHPETON, N.D. – (October 31, 2009) – The North Dakota State College of Science Wildcats rushed for over 400 yards and held Iowa Central Community College to just 69 yards rushing en route to a 27-0 victory on Saturday afternoon at Frank Vertin Field in Wahpeton. The victory earned the Wildcats a spot in the Graphic Edge Bowl for the first time since 2005.
Iowa Central’s 69 rushing yards were its lowest output of the season; the Tritons entered the game as the nation’s sixth best rushing offense. The Wildcats held the nation’s fifth leading rusher, Wilmont Wellington, to 51 yards on 16 carries.
NDSCS scored on the game’s first play from scrimmage when Mike Haderlie hit Cecil Doe on a short sideline route. However, the defender slipped trying to cover Doe and he ran it 60 yards for the score. NDSCS took a 7-0 lead on the extra point.
NDSCS scored again with 8:57 to go in the half when Brian Miller broke loose for a 78-yard run; the extra point made it 14-0. The final score of the half came when Haderlie ran it in from five yards out to give the Wildcats a 21-0 halftime lead.
The Triton offense managed only four first downs and 60 yards in the first half, despite holding a seven-minute advantage in time of possession. The Wildcats gained 14 first downs and 316 yards.
Neither team mustered much offense in the second half until Haderlie capped a 51-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown run. After a missed extra point, the score was 27-0, which became the final tally.
For the game, the Wildcats saw two players go over 100 yards rushing and another come close. Haderlie led the way with a career-high 167 yards on 24 carries and two scores. Keith King averaged 10.1 yards per run on 14 carries for 141 yards. Miller rushed for 96 yards on nine carries and a score. Haderlie threw three completions on only eight attempts for 80 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. Terrance Johnson passed for 107 yards on 10-21 passing for the Tritons.
Defensively, Aaron Christianson led the way with 11 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for a loss. Derek Earls had nine tackles with two for losses, as well as a sack. Overall, NDSCS outgained Iowa Central 489 to 74 yards, including a 409-69 advantage on the ground.
The victory improved the Wildcats' record to 6-4 on the year, good enough for a third-place finish in the MFC with a 4-4 conference record. NDSCS travels to Ellsworth Community College on November 7 for a 1 p.m. playoff game. The winner of the playoff game will play in the feature game at the Graphic Edge Bowl, while the losing team will play in the first game. The Graphic Edge Bowl will be played at the UNI-Dome on the University of Northern Iowa campus in Cedar Falls, Iowa on November 22.
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.
