DULUTH – No. 6 ranked Minnesota Duluth used a strong ball-control offense and a big defensive score in the second half to pull away and earn a 42-13 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football at Malosky Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

UMD, which improves to 7-0 overall, has now won 53 of its last 59 home games since the 2008 season. UMD is now 17-1 all-time versus SMSU in games played in Duluth.

SMSU, which defeated UMD in the 2016 season opener in Marshall, saw its three-game winning streak end and drops to 3-4 overall.

The Bulldogs closed the game with 369 yards of offense, with 207 gained on the ground.

The SMSU defense had a solid day, putting pressure on the UMD quarterbacks throughout the game and finished with six sacks. It was the first time SMSU has six sacks in a game since Sept. 20, 2013, versus Minot State. UMD entered the game having allowed just five sacks all season long.

SMSU finished the game with 240 yards offensively, but had just 59on the ground on 24 attempts. The Mustangs closed with 16 first downs and finished 8 of 15 on third down conversions. UMD entered the game ranking first in the country in third down conversion defense.

SMSU quarterback Blake Gimbel finished the day completing 21 of 38 passes for 216 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Daniel Davis, who entered the game ranked 27th in Division II in receptions per game, finished with a game-high 11 receptions for 80 yards and one touchdown to lead the Mustang offense. Max Simmons finished with a team-high 33 yards rushing on 12 carries, while Hudson Walton added 32 yards on five attempts.

The Bulldogs entered the game ranking third in the country in scoring defense and fourth in pass defense.

The Mustang defense was led by a team-high nine tackles by Peyton Sanders. Alex Ney had eight tackles with one sack while Shane Ratkovich had six tackles, two sacks and blocked a field goal.

UMD opened the scoring on its first drive of the game, moving the ball 75 yards on 10 plays closed off by a 1-yard touchdown run by John Larson with 10 minutes and seven seconds left in the first quarter. The Bulldogs converted a pair of third-and-long plays to keep the drive alive.

UMD extended the lead to 14-0 midway through the second quarter as Wade Sullivan broke free for a 35-yard touchdown run.

SMSU countered on its ensuing drive with an impressive 75-yard drive. Gimbel completed a pair of big passes on the drive, one to Davis for 26 yards on third down and another to Gabe Galamue for 44 yards to the UMD 3-yard line. Three plays later, Gimbel found Davis wide open on third down in the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown with 3:51 remaining in the half. The PAT was missed to make the score 14-6.

The SMSU defense came through moments later as Onte Burns intercepted UMD back-up quarterback Mike Rybarczyk, setting up the Mustang offense at the UMD 39-yard line. However, two plays later Gimbel was intercepted at the 15-yard line to end the scoring threat.

UMD answered in a big way with a quick, seven-play, 65-yard drive, with Sullivan scoring on a 3-yard run with 46 seconds remaining to build a 21-6 halftime lead.

SMSU punted on its first drive of the second half and UMD quickly responded using a short field to extend the lead. Sullivan closed off a 39-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown to push the margin to 28-6 with 11:08 on the clock.

The Mustangs picked up three first downs on their next drive, but disaster struck moments later as Gimbel was stripped and UMD’s Mitch Johnson Martin picked up the fumble and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown.

SMSU rallied on its next drive as Gimbel fired a perfect 15-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Murphy to close off a six-play, 80-yard drive to cut the deficit to 35-13.

UMD would later add the game’s final touchdown on a 1-yard touchdown by Bryce Heim early in the fourth quarter for the final margin.

Southwest Minnesota State returns home next Saturday, Oct. 20, to face its final NSIC North Division team of the season versus Northern State (2-5) starting at 5 p.m.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications