Bulldog Defense Shines Through for a Win

Kicker Drew Henson scored all 9 points for the Bulldogs on Saturday.
Credit: UMD Athletics

Malosky Stadium was buzzing Saturday, September 19, with the Bulldogs hosting the Winona State Warriors for their annual Military Appreciation Day game. The Bulldogs honored those who have served our country with a flag ceremony before the game.

Saturday's game started offensively slow for both teams, each getting stopped at midfield on the opening drive. The Bulldogs were able to summon a field goal on the next possession, where Drew Henson kicked from 26 yards to put the first points on the board for the night. 

The second quarter saw the only touchdown of the night scored by Winona’s Nolan Ginskey off an 8-yard pass. This brought the score to 3-6 as the kick was blocked by UMD junior Mark Rendl. 

The Bulldogs offense still could not get off in the third quarter, but their defense shined through. The Bulldogs held the Warriors to 2 three and outs on consecutive possessions, which was able to amp up their offense briefly, settling for a field goal to tie up the score at 6-6.

The Bulldogs were almost able to secure a touchdown towards the end of the third quarter, with senior Alex Riley making it into the endzone, but that touchdown was taken away with a penalty and replaced with a field goal attempt, which was ultimately a miss, keeping the score tied. 

The Warriors attempted another touchdown towards the end of the 4th quarter, but couldn’t quite make it. They tried to take the lead with a field goal, but it ended up getting blocked, keeping a tied game late into the 4th quarter. 

 The Bulldogs, desperate to score before the clock ran out, made their way down the field able to make their way into field goal position again, where Drew Henson would come through, scoring his third field goal of the night and bringing the Bulldogs to a 9-6 victory. 

Drew Henson scored all of the points for the Bulldogs on Saturday and has since earned a nod to the NSIC special teams player for the week of 9/19.

The Bulldogs are on the road next week, taking on the Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons on September 26 at noon.