New Ulm Sports Central - Preserving and Sharing New Ulm Area Sports History

Game report provided by Michael Gibbons, MLC Sports Information Director, Phone: 507.233.9128, E-Mail: gibbonme@mlc-wels.edu
NEW ULM, Minn. – The MLC football team pulled off a 9-7 upset over Northwestern with a tremendous
defensive effort that, fittingly, scored the game-winning points with a safety by Stephen Gurgel with seven minutes
remaining Saturday afternoon.
On a field that was blanketed in snow early in the morning, the Knights pushed the Eagles around in the first half,
holding them without a first down until the two minute mark in the half, and keeping Northwestern to just 40 yards
of total first half offense.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Knights jumped out early with a score on their first possession on a
touchdown run by Aaron Voss from one yard out. The drive was helped by three pass interference penalties on the
Eagles on attempted passes to Ryan Kolander, and took more than six minutes off the clock.
Offensively, the Knights continued to move the ball throughout the first half, but they were unable to avoid the
costly mistakes. Quarterback Greg Holzhueter completed six of his 12 attempts in the half, but also threw four
interceptions, three of which came in the second quarter, but the Knights still took a 7-0 lead into the half.
The Eagles were able to knot things up early in the third quarter when Ryan Long converted a two-yard run for a
score with nearly eight minutes remaining.
Perhaps the biggest play of the game happened with just over one minute to play in the third quarter. The Eagles
had driven the ball inside the Knights’ one-yard-line, but on second and goal, Matt Rothe stripped quarterback Zack
Tarter of the ball and recovered it just outside the MLC end zone, keeping the score tied heading into the fourth
quarter.
After a several MLC drives were stopped, Justin Eternick made a huge play on special teams, punting the ball inside
the five-yard-line to give the Eagles tough field position. After a three-yard run to the seven, Gurgel sacked Tarter
in the end zone to give the Knights the winning two points.
While the Knights held the lead, there remained some tense moments in the final drive for the Eagles, but MLC
defensive tackle Chuqee Fletcher hurried Tarter on consecutive plays, one of which caused an intentional grounding
penalty that ruined the Eagles’ chances of a comeback.
The ground game was in full force for the Knights all day, as they out-rushed the Eagles 257-87. Voss led the way
with 92 yards on 21 tough carries and the lone score, while Holzhueter added 84 on 17 carries. While those two
logged the heaviest workload, Andrew Becker and Alexander Hunt each had important runs in the second half on
the outside to keep Northwestern honest, finishing with 39 and 27 yards respectively. Holzhueter also added 80
yards passing on the day, while Kolander led the receivers with five catches for 53 yards.
Defensively, the Knights held Northwestern to 287 yards of total offense. Joe Lindloff led the tacklers with nine
total tackles, while Fletcher added eight tackles, two of which went for losses, one sack and numerous other
pressures on the day, two of which forced intentional grounding penalties. Ben Reichel, Luke Beilke and Gurgel
each had seven tackles, with Reichel also adding two pass break-ups.
With the win, the Knights improved to 4-2 on the season and 2-0 in the UMAC, while Northwestern dropped to 3-
3 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
The Knights will return to the field for a 1 p.m. contest at Crown next Saturday, October 17.

Score by Quarters .... 1 2 3 4
Northwestern ........... 0 0 7 0 --- 7
Martin Luther ........... 7 0 0 2 --- 9

SCORING SUMMARY
1st 08:45 MLC Aaron Voss 1 yd run (Shawn Scherer kick) 11 plays, 73 yards, TOP 6:15 0 - 7
3rd 07:45 NWC Ryan Long 2 yd run (Cody Crum kick) 6 plays, 62 yards, TOP 2:24 7 - 7
4th 06:57 MLC Stephen Gurgel safety 7 - 9