ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris football team played very well at points in Saturday night's season opener at the University of Northwestern, but three late interceptions from the Eagle defense stopped a comeback attempt from the Cougars in a 27-23 loss.

The game started off as well as it could for Minnesota Morris. After a three-and-out from the defense and a big punt return from Dez Donalson, the Cougars found paydirt on their first drive of the season. Going for it all on fourth down, Marcus Reeb found Garrett Elison for a 38-yard strike and the point after from Alex Happ made it 7-0.

Northwestern would get on the board with a field goal before the end of the first quarter and then take the lead on a four-yard Jeremiah Staten touchdown run midway through the second quarter. Minnesota Morris was quick to answer back. Cody Stone found Elison for another 38-yard completion to move the ball inside the Northwestern 10-yard line. Though the drive stalled out, Happ connected on a 22-yard field goal to knot the score at 10-10 with less than four minutes left in the first half.

Disaster struck just before halftime for the Cougars. After Northwestern got the ball back after UMN Morris had tied it up, the Eagles scored on their first play from scrimmage, a 73-yard pass completion to KJ Downey to take a 17-10 lead. With seconds left in the second quarter, Damon Clapper ran it in from three yards out to make it 24-10 at the break.

Receiving the kickoff to start the third quarter, Minnesota Morris cut the deficit in half. Driving 56 yards downfield in five plays, the Cougars scored on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Reeb to Matt Laur to make it 24-17.

After the defense stood firm on its opening drive of the second half, Minnesota Morris scored again. Reeb found Dylan Naughton for a big 30-yard completion and Elison was able to run it in from two yards out a few plays later. In a play with big implications down the line, Happ's point after attempt was blocked, leaving Northwestern on top, 24-23.

In a frustrating fourth quarter, Minnesota Morris had six possessions but couldn't find any traction against a strong Northwestern defense. The offense went three-and-out on the first three drives of the quarter and the Eagles intercepted Reeb to end the final three drives. Despite their numerous chances on offense, Northwestern managed only a field goal the entire fourth quarter, extending the lead to 27-23. The last gasp for the Cougars came with less than two minutes to go when a Reeb pass deflected off the hands of his intended target and was picked off by Clapper to seal the game for the Eagles.

Reeb was solid throughout the game until running into trouble at the end. He finished the night 16-of-31 for 215 yards with a pair of passing touchdowns. Blake Johnson was the leading rusher for the Cougars with 35 yards on 15 carries. He also hauled in six passes for 43 yards, while Elison led UMN Morris in receiving yards with 76 on a pair of 38-yard catches. Hunter Infanger (13 tackles, seven solo) and Tayven Penninger (10 tackles, seven solo) led the charge defensively.

Minnesota Morris comes back to Big Cat Stadium on April 10 to host its home opener against Martin Luther College starting at 1 p.m.