MENOMONIE, Wis. – Looking to shake off a lopsided loss to Bethel the week prior, the University of Northwestern Football team looked like a different club to start Saturday's game at Don and Nona Williams Stadium. The Eagles held their own into the third quarter before the University of Wisconsin-Stout was able to pull away and earn a 56-19 win on its home turf. It was the final game against a non-conference opponent of the season for Northwestern.
After giving up an opening-drive touchdown, UNW gained possession with 9:48 left in the first quarter and didn't give it back until the second. The Eagles marched 79 yards and scored as the clock hit 0:00 on a three-yard pass from Caden Cantrell (Snowflake, Ariz./Snowflake) to Jaylen Brown (Cusseta, Ga./Chattahoochee County). Cantrell completed all seven of his passes on the drive for 77 yards, finding Brown and Beau Burk (Ogilvie, Minn./Ogilvie) three times each.
Stout was able to take a 21-6 lead, but Northwestern once again responded, leaning on Sivert Klefsaas (Motley, Minn./Staples-Motley) early in the drive (21 yards on two carries) before Cantrell connected with Brown again, this time for a 50-yard, deep shot touchdown despite a defensive pass interference penalty. UNW attempted to go for two and cut the lead to seven, but wasn't able to convert, resulting in a 21-12 score with 4:01 left in the first half. The Blue Devils once again were able to produce points, scoring a touchdown with 34 seconds left to take a 28-12 lead into the break.
Northwestern got the ball first to start the second half and once again had its way with the UW-Stout defense. Another steady dose of Burk (three catches, 33 yards) and Brown (15-yard reception) set up a five-yard touchdown scamper by Cantrell to pull the Eagles within nine at 28-19. UNW forced a fumble on Stout's next play from scrimmage and it appeared the momentum was firmly on the visitors' side, but Northwestern gave it right back to the Blue Devils on the very next play via an interception on a deep pass down the sideline. Unfortunately for Northwestern, its opponent did not make the mistake of giving the momentum back again, as UW-Stout went on to score the final 28 points of the game to win, 56-19. The Eagles were able to get the ball near midfield a few more times before the game ended, but the Blue Devils' defense stood firm.
Cantrell finished the night 16-25 for 196 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, in addition to 27 rushing yards and a score. Klefsaas ran for 47 yards on just 10 attempts and Ashton Lofton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado Springs Christian) added 26. Brown hauled in five passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns, while Burk caught seven balls for 72 yards. Austin Ahrendt (Nevis, Minn./Nevis Public) led UNW in tackles with 10 and Elijah Simmons (Kissimmee, Fla./Gateway) added six. Sam Schlabach (Keystone, S.D./Rapid City Christian) and Joshua Popp (Atwood, Kan./Rawlins County) each forced a fumble and Hunter Strand (Montevideo, Minn./Montevideo) and Naketa Ellington (Richland, Ga./Chattahoochee County) recovered them. Edward Dyer (Kissimmee, Fla./Gateway) hauled in Northwestern's lone interception and Jeffrey Markvicka II (Brooklyn Center, Minn./Fridley) logged the only sack of the night. On special teams, Will Schleicher (Victoria, Minn./Chanhassen) averaged a season-best 40.2 yards per punt and Dominic Borges (Tualatin, Ore./Tualatin) made his only PAT of the night.
UNW will have next weekend off before returning to action on October 5th versus Crown College. The 1:00 kickoff at Reynolds Field will be part of Northwestern's annual Homecoming festivities.