Box Score Photos

CROOKSTON, Minn. – Upper Iowa University used 565 yards of offense guided by 127 yards on the ground from Chris Smith and 292 yards passing from 2012 All-NSIC Second Team pick Cole Jaeschke to spoil Mike Fritze's debut as interim head coach for the University of Minnesota Crookston 47-0. The Golden Eagles were unable to get things going offensively on the day, being held to 61 yards of total offense. Ricky Jacobs (Sr., LB, Junction City, Kan.) was all over the field for the Golden Eagles in the debut of his senior season with 11 tackles while Marcus Cheatham (Jr., WR, Stockton, Calif.) was the lone standout on offense with five catches for 61 yards. UMC falls to 0-1 on the young season while Upper Iowa improves to 1-0.

The Golden Eagles were poised to get the season under way under the lights in a rare Friday night college football tussle in the Northern Sun Intercollege at Ed Widseth Field in Crookston, Minn. UMC wore their brand new all gold uniforms with maroon helmets. The night started with an explosive play and would be filled with many more for Upper Iowa as Jordan Andera took the opening kickoff back 80 yards to give the Peacocks ideal field position starting at the UMC 10. The Golden Eagle defense would step up stopping Upper Iowa on three-consecutive plays to force a field goal attempt by Gustavo Rocha. Rocha faced a rocky night of placekicking and it opened that way as he missed wide right from 29 yards out to give the ball to the UMC offense despite the long kickoff return.

The Golden Eagle offense was unable to get anything going despite a 12-yard pass to Greg Lofquist (Jr., FB/DE, South St. Paul, Minn.) to open up the drive, giving the ball back to Upper Iowa. The Peacocks would drive the ball 68 yards to the UMC 12 using great running from Smith, however UMC would again force a field attempt by Rocha. This time Rocha's field goal was blocked by Matt Borowicz (Jr., OL, Stephen, Minn.). Freedom McCullough (Sr., DB, Los Angeles, Calif.) returned the ball 22 yards to the 25 to give the UMC offense the ball again.

The Golden Eagles would however quickly give the ball back to their counterparts as Justin Tago Su'e (Fr., WR, Ewa Beach, Hawai'i) fumbled the exchange on an end around. Alex Wahl recovered the ball for Upper Iowa, giving the Peacocks the ball at the UMC 24. This time Upper Iowa took advantage of their field position as Smith went in to pay dirt on a 14-yard rush to make it Upper Iowa 7, UMC 0.

The Peacocks would end the first quarter with a 76-yard drive culminated in a Jaeschke touchdown pass to Shay Gutman to extend their lead to 14-0.

After again stopping the Golden Eagles on their first drive in the second quarter, Upper Iowa used a 26-yard pass to Lucas Hefty to get downfield. Jaeschke would hit Hefty again for 32 yards and a touchdown to make it Upper Iowa 21, UMC 0.

The Golden Eagle defense stepped up with a big third down stop later in the third quarter to get the ball back in the UMC offense's hands. This time the Golden Eagles drove down the field aided by a kick catch interference call on Upper Iowa and a personal foul call to give UMC an extra 30 yards. The Golden Eagles got the ball down the field to the Upper Iowa 28 and went for a fourth down but Kyle Larson (Fr., QB, Clayton, Wis.), starting his first collegiate game for the Golden Eagles, was intercepted in the end zone by Jerrod Watkins.

Upper Iowa would again drive down the field, this time 80 yards aided by a Smith 43 yard rush. Jaeschke's touchdown pass to Gutman from six-yards out put the Peacocks up 27-0. Rocha's kicking struggles continued as his attempt was blocked by Jacobs.

The Golden Eagles looked to get back on track in the second half as they received the ball to open the new frame. An 18-yard pass from Larson to Cheatham moved the ball to the Upper Iowa 39 but the big gain was negated as a botched snap went over Larson's head as the Golden Eagles lost 24 yards on the play. UMC was able to move the ball back up to the 40 yard-line but another bad snap on the punt, sailed over Mike Maw's (Fr., K, White Bear Lake, Minn.) head and he fell on it at the 11-yard line.

Upper Iowa needed just one play, as Smith rushed in from 11 yards out to make it Upper Iowa 34, UMC 0.

The Peacocks would go in again after stopping the Golden Eagles offense as they struck on a big play with Jaeschke hitting Gutman again for a 52-yard strike, the third-time the teammates hooked up for a touchdown on the game.

The Golden Eagles looked for a spark on offense as they inserted Nathan Cole (Fr., QB, Aliso Viejo, Calif.) in the next drie but Cole was unable to get the offense kick-started.

Upper Iowa got the ball back but quickly gave it back to the Golden Eagles as Evan Dornink fumbled the ball and Andrew "Rock" Hall (Jr., LB, Detroit, Mich.) covered, giving the ball back to UMC. However,  the Peacock defense again thwarted UMC's efforts on offense.

Upper Iowa would extend their lead to 47-0 when Jaeschke hit Hefty for the second time on the game with a 70-yard strike.

The Golden Eagles would get something going on the next drive as Cole hooked up with Cheatham for a 22-yard pass and Upper Iowa had another major penalty on the game with an unsportsmanlike conduct to give UMC an extra 15 yards. The Golden Eagle effort would be stopped though at the Upper Iowa 40.

Upper Iowa would insert back-up quarterback Brandon Rogers on the next series and the rest of the game was a series of defensive stops for both sides.

UMC ended the night with just 61 yards of offense with 104 yards passing and -41 yards rushing. Larson, the starter for UMC, went 9-of-20 for 61 yards with one interception in his collegiate debut. Cole was 6-of-11 for 43 yards.

In addition to Jacobs, Tevin Kellum (Sr., DB, Detroit, Mich.) added seven tackles while Hall, Paul Webster (Sr., DB, Opa-Locka, Fla.) and McCullough each added six.

The Peacocks had 301 yards passing on the night and 264 yards rushing. Hefty had six receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns while Gutman had four catches for 90 yards and three touchdowns.  Dornink added 59 yards rushing on 11 carries. Upper Iowa's defense was led by Tate Thompson's seven tackles. Ethan Douglas, Brandon Owen and Wahl each had 1.5 sacks on the game.

One plus was that the Golden Eagle's limited their penalties to four for just 20 yards while Upper Iowa had eight penalties for 100 yards.

The Golden Eagles will return to action Sept. 14 as they head to Mankato, Minn., to take on No. 2 Minnesota State University, Mankato at 6 p.m.


Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

The University of Minnesota Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).
    
-30-