Bulldogs Move To 2-0 Defeat Winona State 38-16

Sept 8, 2012

Northland Sports Online

When the University of Minnesota Duluth needed a jumpstart Saturday night, Aaron Roth delivered.

Immediately after Winona State University took a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter and had, to that point, controlled both sides of line of scrimmage, Roth took the ensuing the kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown and UMD never trailed after that, en route to a 38-16 victory in its 2012 home opener.

An overflow crowd of 5,055 at James S. Malosky Stadium saw the No. 2 ranked Bulldogs move to 2-0 on the year and extend their NSIC home winning streak to 35 games — a run which dates back to the 2000 season. It was also UMD’s fifth straight triumph over their long-time intrastate rivals, who are now 1-1 overall.

Besides registering his first collegiate kick return touchdown, Roth also finished with a game-high five receptions for 67 yards and another score while sophomore running back Austin Sikorski paced the Bulldogs’ ground attack with 113 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. The Bulldogs held a 282-72 advantage in rushing yards and limited 2012 NSIC South Division Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Rayon Simmons to just 87 yards overall (on 21 rushes), including a mere 20 in the second half.

“We got on track with our running game in the second quarter ,” said Roth. “That really opened things up for us and we took advantage of those opportunities.”

UMD senior quarterback Chase Vogler made good on 12 of 16 passes, two of which went for touchdowns (a 15-yarder to Roth just before halftime and a five-yarder to senior tight end Ben Helmer five minutes into the third quarter which put UMD comfortably on top at 28-10). Sophomore inside linebacker Gavin Grady came off the bench to rack up a team-leading and career-high 12 total tackles, while senior inside linebacker Colby Ring was credited with 10 stops for the Bulldogs, who ceded 447 total yards to Winona State on the night, but only 120 in the final 30 minutes of play.

The Bulldogs will continue on their quest for a fifth straight NSIC championship next Saturday when they pay a visit to Concordia University-St. Paul. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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