ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris football team led early on, but fell behind before halftime and couldn't make up the difference in a 31-24 loss at the University of Northwestern on Saturday evening. The loss halts a five-game winning streak for the Cougars, who drop to 5-4 (4-1 UMAC) on the season.

Entering off two straight shutouts, the Minnesota Morris defense came up big early on. The first Northwestern possession ended with a Hunter Infanger interception in the Cougar red zone. After the offense was able to move the ball downfield before being forced to punt, the second Eagle drive of the game ended after one play when Alex Emmrich forced a fumble and Infanger recovered it at the Northwestern 21-yard line.

Following that fumble recovery, Minnesota Morris needed three plays – all Keyton Johnson rushes – to find the end zone from eight yards out. An Alex Happ extra point made it 7-0.

Northwestern finished the first quarter on the move and drove inside the Minnesota Morris 5-yard line before Emmrich stuffed a run attempt on a third down. The Eagles appeared set to go for it on fourth down until a penalty pushed them back five yards. Cole Uplegger then knocked in a 26-yard field goal to make it 7-3 after one quarter of play.

Early on in the second quarter, Minnesota Morris took possession in the Northwestern red zone, but the Eagles were able to hold. Happ knocked in a 27-yard field goal to give the Cougars a 10-3 advantage with just under 11 minutes remaining in the half.

Before the half was up, the Minnesota Morris defense basically never saw the sideline. Northwestern tied the score on a 10-play, 72-yard drive that finished with a seven-yard run from Caden Cantrell to tie the score at 10-10. The Eagles then recovered an onside kick and drained four more minutes off the clock before Uplegger missed a field goal to leave the score level. Finally back on offense, the Cougars had the ball for just 27 seconds before Marcus Reeb was intercepted. The Eagles then took the lead with a four-yard touchdown pass from Cantrell to Damon Clapper to give Northwestern a 17-10 lead at the break.

Minnesota Morris took possession to start the second half but picked up only one first down before being forced to punt. Northwestern continued to roll offensively, taking its first drive of the half 69 yards for a score to take a 24-10 edge. 

The Cougars answered with a 15-play, 89-yard drive that took the remainder of the third quarter. Reeb started the drive with a pair of rushing first downs before connecting with Jacob Miranda to convert a fourth down near midfield. Reeb later threw to Ethan Tang to move the chains on another fourth down and followed that with a 20-yard completion up the middle of the field to Cole Mitchell to move into the red zone. Reeb finished the drive with a fade route to Tang for eight yards to cut the deficit to 24-17.

After the long break, the Northwestern offense was unfazed. The Eagles soon pushed the lead back to two scores on a 63-yard drive that ended with another Cantrell touchdown pass, this one to Bryson James from five yards out to extend out to a 31-17 lead. 

With under five minutes remaining, the clock was working against Minnesota Morris as the Cougars started a drive from their own 36-yard line. Reeb and Tang connected on another fourth-down conversion to get the ball to the 50-yard line and things moved quickly from there. The drive ended with a 15-yard rush from Reeb to score with just over two minutes to play. The Happ extra point brought the Cougars within seven, 31-24.

Following a squib kick, Minnesota Morris got a big stop by stuffing a pair of runs, followed by a Garrett Elison interception on third down to give the ball back to the Cougars at the Northwestern 38-yard line with 1:57 remaining. A pass from Reeb to Sean Diakite, an incompletion, and a five-yard run from Reeb made it 4th and 1 at the Eagle 29. On the game-deciding play, Reeb tried to rush up the middle to pick up the first down but was stopped for no gain to give the ball back to Northwestern to run out the clock.

Reeb finished the night with a passing line of 21-of-28 for 162 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also added 12 carries for 74 yards and a score. Keyton Johnson led the Cougars on the ground with 19 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown, while also hauling in six passes. Miranda had two catches for 35 yards and Tang had five catches for 33 yards and a touchdown.

Emmrich had a team-high 12 tackles (seven solo) and a forced fumble. Gavin Paulson added 10 tackles (six solo). Infanger finished the night with eight tackles (five solo), an interception, and a fumble recovery.

Following a bye week, Minnesota Morris finishes the regular season on Nov. 12 by hosting Greenville University at 12 p.m.