College football: Backups lead UMD rout of Crookston

Junior quarterback Ben Everhart was 13-for-22 passing for 232 yards and three touchdowns, all to junior wide receiver Obi Ibeneme, as fifth-ranked Minnesota Duluth scored early and often in a record-setting 63-7 rout of Minnesota-Crookston in NSIC football Saturday at Ed Widseth Field in Crookston, Minn.

UMD, which extended its regular-season winning streak to 17 games, erupted for a school-record 56 points in the first half, one more than the previous mark set against Minnesota State-Moorhead on Oct. 3, 2009. The Bulldogs (9-0) scored four touchdowns in each of the first two quarters. Crookston (1-8) scored a late touchdown after recovering a loose ball in the end zone following an errant snap to spoil the shutout.

UMD junior Mike Rybarczyk started the game at quarterback and had a touchdown passing and running before being relieved by Everhart late in the first quarter. Everhart came in and immediately found Ibeneme for an 80-yard touchdown strike on the first play of the second quarter.

Redshirt freshman Garrett Olson also got time under center, adding a TD pass. Ibeneme and redshirt freshman Dain Hudson each had six receptions to lead the Bulldogs, with Ibeneme finishing with 118 yards and Hudson 71.

Backup running back Tory Adams, who rejoined the team this fall after a one-year stint at St. Thomas in 2015, led the Bulldogs with 18 carries for 101 yards.

Sophomore free safety Braden Jorenby led the defense with seven tackles while redshirt freshman linebacker Bryce Harder added five stops and recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown.

Junior quarterback Jalin Scott led Crookston with 15 carries for 55 yards but was abysmal trying to throw the ball, completing 3 of 15 passes for 41 yards.

UMD had a 509-109 advantage in total yards while holding the Golden Eagles to three first downs, one rushing, one passing and one via penalty. The Bulldogs are 67-3 all-time in NSIC North Division play.

The Bulldogs close out the regular season with a pair of home games starting with Mary (0-9) next week at Malosky Stadium.

Minn. Duluth 28-28-0-7-63
Minn.-Crookston 0-0-0-7-7

First Quarter

UMD - Wade Sullivan 18 pass from Mike Rybarczyk (Dan Branger kick), 11:53
UMD - Alex Lasinski 9 run (Branger kick), 7:34
UMD - Rybarczyk 2 run (Branger kick), 6:24
UMD - Bryce Harder recovered punt block in end zone (Branger kick), 5:58

Second Quarter

UMD - Obi Ibeneme 80 pass from Ben Everhart (Branger kick), 14:50
UMD - Ibeneme 6 pass from Everhart (Branger kick), 10:15
UMD - Everhart 19 run (Branger kick), 7:04
UMD - Ibeneme 9 pass from Everhart (Branger kick), 5:23

Fourth Quarter

UMD - Kurtis Weigand 5 pass from Garrett Olson (Cameron Hausman kick), 9:15
UMC - Kyler Banks fumble recovery in end zone (Jared McLemore kick), 1:50

UMD WSU

First downs..................................28 3
Rushes-yards.......................43-173 31-68
Passing....................................336 41
Comp-Att-Int......................25-41-1 3-16-0
Kick returns-yards.................1-0 8-81
Punts-yards..........................3-37.7 12-29.9
Fumbles-lost..............................4-1 3-2
Penalties-yards........................4-30 9-74
Time of possession................34:01 25:59

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - UMD, Tory Adams 18-101, Wade Sullivan 2-28, Ben Everhart 2-19, Michael Kirkendoll 2-13, J.R. Linscheid 2-11, Garrett Olson 7-10, Mike Rybarczyk 4-10, Alex Lasinski 1-9, Bryce Heim 3-2,. UMC, Jalin Scott 15-55, Tristan Robbins 6-7, Kevin Evans 4-3, B. Harr 2-2, Andy Groebner 4-1.

PASSING - UMD, Rybarczyk 4-8-44-0, Everhart 13-22-232-0. UMC, Scott 3-15-41-0, Robbins 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING - UMD, Obi Ibeneme 6-118, Dain Hudson 6-71, Nick Eliason 3-63, J.R. Linscheid 3-25, Sullivan 1-18, Nate Ricci 1-17, Adams 2-11, Lasinski 1-5, Kurtis Weigand 1-5, Heim 1-3. UMC, Groebner 2-35, Mohamed Mahmoud 1-6.