Northern State has played overtime games and double overtime games, but never a triple overtime game.
That all changed last Saturday night.
The NSU football team defeated Wayne State College 29-27 in a triple overtime thriller at Swisher Field. NSU is now 3-3 all-time in overtime games:
NSU defeated Southwest Minnesota State 27-20 in overtime in 1998.
NSU defeated Wisconsin-Stevens Point 28-21 in overtime in 2000.
NSU lost to Winona State 28-21 in overtime in 2000.
NSU lost to Bemidji State 47-46 in double overtime in 2001.
NSU lost to Upper Iowa 42-35 in overtime in 2009.
NSU defeated Wayne State College 29-27 in triple overtime on Saturday.
Northern State coach Tom Dosch said he has never before been involved in a triple overtime game.
"I don't remember ever being in one," Dosch said. "It was really something."
It really was. The Wolves did not score until three seconds into the fourth quarter. The game was knotted up at 14-14 after regulation. NSU true freshman kicker Nathan Shaw had a potential game-winning field goal blocked at the end of regulation.
There were four total blocked field goals, including three that would have won the game. The Wolves sealed the victory after a Jared Jacobson-to-Tanner White TD reception and a defensive stand in the third OT lifted the Wolves to the thrilling win.
"So many times those guys could have folded and they came through," Northern State Athletic Director Josh Moon said. "Hopefully, that exemplifies what we have as student-athletes here."
It was a perfect weekend for NSU athletics as the football, volleyball and soccer teams combined to go 7-0. The NSU volleyball team began its season 4-0 at the LaQuinta/Drury Kickoff Classic in Springfield, Mo. The Wolves only lost one set during the tournament. NSU defeated Arkansas Tech, Drury (Mo.) University, Union (Tenn.) College and Lindenwood (Mo.) University. The NSU soccer team won its first two games of the season versus Washburn (Kan.) and Northwest Missouri State.
"I think that is the neat thing, is that we are playing some of the best competition in the country," Moon said. "It is awesome. It is a great way to start."
It also was a perfect weekend for the Hub City football teams as NSU, Presentation College, Aberdeen Central and Aberdeen Roncalli all won their season openers at Swisher Field.
"Good weekend for football in Aberdeen," Dosch said after Saturday's win.
NSU lands Minnesota point guard
Ian Smith was already leaning toward committing to Northern State, but his visit to Aberdeen sealed the deal.
The Champlin Park, Minn., point guard verbally committed to the NSU men's basketball team on Sunday. He is the first known verbal commitment for the Wolves' 2014 recruiting class.
"I just felt comfortable with the team and the coaching staff," Smith said about choosing NSU. "Those were my main reasons."
Smith went on his official visit to NSU on Saturday. He attended the Northern football game, scrimmaged with the basketball team and met with some professors. He had breakfast with NSU coaches Paul Sather and Matt Sevareid on Sunday. He informed the two coaches at the breakfast that he wanted to join the Wolves.
"I was pretty sure I was going to go to Northern for awhile now," Smith said. "So, I figured I would just let it be known."
The 5-foot-10 Smith averaged 12.4 points, 3.5 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game last season. Smith scored in double figures in 15 games last season and had two games where he scored 20-plus points. He played his AAU basketball with Minnesota Select.
"I feel like I definitely bring some energy to the team," Smith said. "I definitely bring hard work and effort and passion for the game as well as some leadership."
Champlin Park plays in the Northwest Suburban Conference, which is the same league as incoming NSU freshmen Dan Becken (Centennial) and Malcolm Seals (Anoka).
Smith had official visits scheduled with Minot State, Minnesota-Crookston and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. NSU was Smith's first official visit.
"I'm really excited and happy with my decision," Smith said.
Verbal commitments are not binding until prospects sign their national letters of intent on Nov. 13.
Sports writer Ryan Deal
NSU cross country starts this on Friday
The Northern State cross country team will start its 2013 campaign this Friday.
The Wolves will compete at the Minnesota State-Moorhead Randy Smith Invitational in Glyndon, Minn., on Friday. The NSU men's team will be led by senior Jacob Arechigo and junior Hunter Kopff.
"They are both in similar shape as last year," NSU coach Kevin Bjerke said. "So, I fully expect them to be leading our team again."
Senior Mark Gilkerson should also be a main contributor for the Wolves. Bjerke expects freshmen Adam Leach and Clay Danielson to make an impact. There are 13 runners on the men's roster.
"I'm looking forward to really getting into the meat of the season and see what a lot of those young guys can do to contribute and really get our veterans rolling like they should be," Bjerke said.
The women's team will be led by junior Whitney Kuyper.
"Whitney Kuyper has been a solid leader for us," Bjerke said. "Both team leader and being up front in leading the team in races as well in her first two years here."
Mikayla Perryman is the lone senior on the women's roster. Sophomore Nicole Arnold will be a solid contributor, Bjerke said. Three freshmen: Kendra Woytassek, Sasha Hovind and Stacey McDonald should make an impact, Bjerke said.
Woytassek is an Aberdeen Roncalli graduate.
"She is really stepping in and making an impact immediately," Bjerke said. "That is pretty fun to have the local freshmen come in and be a factor right away."
|SCHEDULE|
SEPTEMBER-13, at Minnesota State-Moorhead; 28, at Roy Griak Invitational.
OCTOBER-5, Gypsy Days Steps for Shep; 11, at Jimmie Invitational; 26, at NSIC Championships in Sioux Falls.
NOVEMBER-9, at NCAA Central Region Championships; 23, at NCAA Division II National Championships in Spokane, Wash.
Sports writer Ryan Deal
It started at Faith
Former University of South Dakota men's basketball coach and athletic director Jack Doyle died Friday at age 80.
Doyle led the Coyotes to 106 basketball wins (fourth-most in program history) in nine seasons starting in 1973. Doyle resigned in 1982 to become USD's athletic director, a position he served in for 15 years before retiring in 1998. Under Doyle's leadership, USD won 21 North Central Conference championships in various sports.
In 1957, he took his first teaching and coaching job at Faith High School. Faith started school that year on Aug. 26, not only with a new teacher and coach, but a major renovated high school building to accommodate a growing enrollment.
Sports editor John Papendick
Zenner earns national honors
South Dakota State running back Zach Zenner has been honored by a pair of national organizations for his record-setting performance Sept. 7 against the University of North Dakota. A junior from Eagan, Minn., Zenner was selected as player of the week by the Sports Network, College Football Performance Awards and Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week on Sunday. Zenner tied his own single-game school record with 295 yards rushing in a 35-28 Jackrabbit win over North Dakota, scoring a career-high four touchdowns. The sixth-ranked Jacks will host Southeastern Louisiana in the 47th Annual Beef Bowl at 6 p.m. Saturday at Coughlin-Alumni Stadium in Brookings.
Sports editor John Papendick
Doland honoree Sept. 21
The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology will host a recognition ceremony at 10 a.m. Sept. 21 in the King Center to name the basketball court in honor of former coach Barb Felderman.
Former players and the public are invited to Rapid City to help dedicate the Barbara A. Felderman Floor. The Doland native and Northern State graduate coached at Mines for 32 years.
Sports editor John Papendick
Quickly
Freshman Thayer Trenhaile of Volga has been filling the role of long snapper for the South Dakota State football team. He is the nephew of Guy Trenhaile of Aberdeen.
Northern State senior safety Logan Dosch finished with five tackles in the Wolves' win over Wayne State. He is now the all-time tackles leader in program history.
Joey James, 36, will have a one-year job interview as the USD men's basketball assistant recently was promoted to interim head coach of the Coyotes. This fall will be his 11th season as a coach for the Coyotes. James also is a former USD player.
South Dakota State is looking for a new softball coach after Kim Aggabao left to take the top job at Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson, Calif. She led the Jackrabbits to a 29-57-1 record in her two seasons.
Area women played major roles in NSU's season-opening soccer 1-0 win against Washburn University Friday. Freshman Anna Bondy of Pierre scored the goal for the Wolves and sophomore goalie Brittany Tietz of Aberdeen saved seven shots.
SDSU junior Courtney Neubert of Aberdeen was the Jacks' top finisher in the Oz Memorial cross country meet in Minneapolis. Neubert was eighth (23:44.4), her second top-ten finish in as many meets.
Kickoff for the South Dakota State-Nebraska football game on the Big Ten Network is 2:30 p.m. Sept. 21 in Lincoln. The Cornhuskers have won both previous matchups: 17-3 in 2010 and 58-7 in 1963.
The Presentation College volleyball team (5-2) will play its first-ever North Star Athletic Association game at 7:30 p.m. (note time change) against Dakota State of Madison at the Strode Center in Aberdeen.
Sioux Falls Roosevelt graduate and Florida transfer Cody Larson has been cleared to play basketball for SDSU this fall. He will have two years of eligibility with the Jackrabbits.
College Plus is a weekly feature on Tuesdays in the American News during the college sports season. If you have news tips or suggestions, email jpapendick@aberdeennews.com or call 605-622-2323.