Top Ranked Cougars Shutout NWU, 44-0

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October 3, 2010

Jon Eastman threw for 285 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 1 ranked Sioux Falls to a 44-0 victory over Nebraska Wesleyan on Saturday night (Oct. 2) in GPAC football action in Sioux Falls, S.D.

The two-time defending champion Cougars remain perfect at 5-0, while NWU falls to 1-4.

NWU held Sioux Falls out of the end zone in the first quarter as the score was 0-0 at the end of the first 15 minutes. USF then erupted for three touchdowns and a field goal in the second quarter to lead 24-0 at halftime. Eastman threw three TD passes in the second quarter, leading three scoring drives of five plays or less in 2:15 or less.

Sioux Falls added two more touchdowns in the third quarter as Eastman connected with Jon Ryan for his second TD reception, and Chevon Walker ran it in from 15 yards out. Walker capped off the scoring with a 28-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to make the final 44-0.

Nebraska Wesleyan had its only opportunity to score in the third quarter, but Steven Anderson missed a 40-yard field goal wide right. The NWU offense has now been held out of the end zone in 22 straight quarters against Sioux Falls.

The Prairie Wolves did manage 237 yards of total offense in the game. NWU had 33 carries for 103 rushing yards and Nate Hauptman threw for 134 yards. On the ground, Matt Sharkey led the team with 41 yards on nine carries and Jerry Lobeda added 32 yards on seven attempts.

Hauptman finished 15-34 for 134 yards with two interceptions. Mike Colgrove had four receptions for 43 yards and Matt Edwards added three catches for 32 yards.

For USF, Eastman had a terrific day going 19-26 for 285 yards with four TDs. Jon Ryan and Alex Anderson both had over 100 yards receiving and two TDs as Ryan caught seven balls for 134 yards with Anderson adding five grabs for 112 yards. The Cougars had 146 rushing yards led by Chavon Walker with 86 yards and two touchdowns.

Cole Meyer led the NWU defense with 10 total tackles and 2.5 tackles-for-loss with a quarterback sack.

Nebraska Wesleyan returns home next Saturday (Oct. 9) to host Dakota Wesleyan at 1 p.m.