ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Loras College football team concluded their nonconference schedule with a convincing 49-13 road win over the University of Northwestern (Minn.)
Loras wasted little time finding the end zone. The Duhawks marched 67 yards on their opening possession before
Joey Helminiak connected with
Brock Couch for a four-yard touchdown to give Loras a 7-0 lead.
The Duhawk defense helped keep Northwestern off the scoreboard throughout the opening quarter before the offense struck again late in the second. Helminiak found Couch again, this time for a 29-yard touchdown with 4:24 remaining in the half, extending the advantage to 14-0.
Northwestern answered with a 34-yard field goal in the closing minute, sending Loras into halftime with a 14-3 advantage.
The Duhawks broke the game open after the break, with the defense providing the first big play of the second half when
Charles Williams intercepted Northwestern quarterback Elijah Alexander and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown with 9:49 remaining in the third quarter.
After Northwestern cut the lead to 21-6 with another field goal, Loras responded with a 69-yard scoring drive.
Terren Green capped the possession with a three-yard touchdown run to push the advantage to 28-6 late in the third.
Williams struck again on Northwestern's next possession. The junior picked off Alexander for the second time and took the interception 40 yards to the end zone, giving him two defensive touchdowns on the afternoon and extending the Loras lead to 35-6 early in the fourth.
Northwestern scored its lone touchdown on an eight-yard Alexander run, but Loras answered with two more scores over the final six minutes. Helminiak connected with
Zy Haverland for a three-yard touchdown before
Mick Schultz closed the scoring with a three-yard rushing touchdown with 1:30 remaining.
Helminiak completed 25-of-36 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns, with Couch serving as his top target. Couch hauled in eight passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns, while
Isaiah Washington added four receptions for 62 yards. Haverland caught two passes for 30 yards and a score.
On the ground, Loras piled up 194 rushing yards on 43 attempts. Pittman led the Duhawks with 53 yards on 10 carries, while Green added 50 yards and a touchdown. Schultz finished with 33 yards and a score.
The Loras defense produced one of its strongest performances of the young season, holding Northwestern to 291 total yards and 70 rushing yards. The Duhawks recorded three sacks, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries while holding the Eagles to just 2-of-12 on third down.
Along with Williams' two interceptions,
Braxten Johnson added a pick for the Duhawks.
Jonah Clark recorded five tackles, a sack, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery, while
Mason Boothe totaled six tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a recovery.
Brandon Glover Jr. led Loras with seven tackles and four pass breakups.
Up Next: The Duhawks enter their bye week before traveling to Coe College during Week 5 to kickoff American Rivers Conference play.
