College football: Northwest Missouri leads UMD at halftime of playoff game

By Jon Nowacki

November 30, 2013 at 12:44 PM

MARYVILLE, Mo. - Northwest Missouri State has been able to do what no team has been able to do this season in taking a 10-0 lead over Minnesota Duluth today in the NCAA Division II football playoffs at Bearcat Stadium.

UMD (11-1) was held scoreless in the first half for the first time this season. The Bulldogs haven't been able to get their vaunted rushing game going, with 27 carries for just 66 yards. Top-seeded Northwest (11-0) hasn't been much better but was able to piece together a quick-strike touchdown drive just before the half. The Bearcats get the ball to start the second half.

UMD intercepted the Bearcats twice and converted two fake punts in the first half, only to fumble the first one away. The Bulldogs also made some uncharacteristic plays that kept this score from being the other way around.

UMD missed a 32-yard field wide right, which may have been deflected. Later, the Bulldogs went for it on fourth and goal on the three only to get stuffed. Northwest then marched the other way to take a 3-0 lead 2:11 before the half and quickly got the ball back as UMD's offense continues to struggle.

UPDATE: Northwest Missouri has taken a 24-0 lead over UMD in the third quarter

By Jon Nowacki

Jon Nowacki joined the News Tribune in August 1998 as a sports reporter. He grew up in Stephen, Minnesota, in the northwest corner of the state, where he was actively involved in school and sports and was a proud member of the Tigers’ 1992 state championship nine-man football team.

After graduating in 1993, Nowacki majored in print journalism at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, serving as editor of the college paper, “The Aquin,” and graduating with honors in December 1997. He worked with the Associated Press during the “tobacco trial” of 1998, leading to the industry’s historic $206 billion settlement, before moving to Duluth.

Nowacki started as a prep reporter for the News Tribune before moving onto the college ranks, with an emphasis on Minnesota Duluth football, including coverage of the Bulldogs’ NCAA Division II championships in 2008 and 2010.

Nowacki continues to focus on college sports while filling in as a backup on preps, especially at tournament time. He covers the Duluth Huskies baseball team and auto racing in the summer. When time allows, he also writes an offbeat and lighthearted food column entitled “The Taco Stand,” a reference to the “Taco Jon” nickname given to him by his older brother when he was a teenager that stuck with him through college. He has a teenage daughter, Emma.

Nowacki can be reached at jnowacki@duluthnews.com or (218) 380-7027. Follow him on Twitter @TacoJon1.