UMD Advances In Playoffs With 30-27 Overtime Win

Nov 19, 2011

Northland Sports Online

It was a battle of the rush versus the pass Saturday afternoon. And the rush won. University of Minnesota Duluth senior running back Zach Hulce and junior quarterback Chase Vogler each ran for a pair of touchdowns to lead the ground-happy Bulldogs to 30-27 overtime victory over Saginaw Valley State University in the opening round of the NCAA II playoffs at Malosky Stadium.

The defending NCAA II national champions used a punishing running attack which rolled up 260 yards on carries — and a couple of critical defensive stops to move on to next Saturday’s second round matchup at No. 1 ranked and undefeated Colorado State University-Pueblo. Saginaw Valley (7-4-0 overall), did almost all of its offensive damage through the air, amassing 344 yards compared to just 34 via the rush.

In the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, UMD (10-2) drew first blood on a nine-yard touchdown run by Vogler in the opening quarter. The Cardinals (6-4) answered with a 76-yard scoring strike from Jon Jennings to Jeff Jannis; the longest play from scrimmage by a Bulldog opponent this season to draw even.

Hulce, who grinded out 126 yards on 27 attempts on the day (his fourth 100-yard game of 2011), put the Bulldogs back on top with a 10-yard scoring run nine minutes into the second quarter. UMD stretched its lead to 17-7 with four seconds to go before halftime on a clutch 40-yard field goal by three-time All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference placekicker David Nadeau.

Saginaw Valley State, a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Super Region Three’s No. 5 seed, took its only lead of the game at 21-17 early in the fourth quarter on Jannis’ third receiving score of the day before Hulce responded with a 22-yard touchdown run. Down by three with just over a minute to play, the Cardinals strung together an impressive drive, but were ultimately forced to kick a game tying 42-yard field goal with two seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime.

After surrendering a quick first down, the Bulldog defense regrouped in overtime, holding the Cardinals to a field goal. That was enough for the UMD offense, which set itself up with first and goal from the one after a 23-yard completion from Vogler to freshman wideout Aaron Roth on the second play of overtime. Vogler punched it in on a quarterback sneak on the ensuing play, giving the Bulldogs the victory, their 14th straight at home and third in three lifetime NCAA II playoff games — in walk-off fashion.

“The offensive line got a good push all day,” said Vogler, who owns career record of 35-3 in his three-plus season as UMD’s starting quarterback, including a 6-1 mark in the playoffs. “From my point it’s easy, I just take the ball and go.”

Comments can be sent to sports@northlandsportsonline.com