The Wildcats held on for the win in the NDSCS Homecoming game against Iowa Western Community College, from Council Bluffs.
"It was a great win for us, because now we're guaranteed a winning season," Parsons said. "It seemed like when we needed a play, we got it from the offense, the defense and even the special teams."
 North Dakota State College of Science linebacker Derek Earls holds up the ball after his second fumble recovery Saturday during the Wildcats’ Homecoming game against Iowa Western CC. The Wildcats won 24-19. photo by Scott Sorum Advertisement |
After each team turned the ball over early, the Wildcats scored with five minutes left in the first quarter.
Wildcats quarterback Cole Lanham engineered the scoring drive after linebacker Derek Earls forced a Iowa Western fumble.
Lanham hit Cecil Doe on a 12 yard touchdown pass.
Sergio Garcia kicked the extra point and the Wildcats led 7-0.
The Reivers evened the score when the Wildcats turned the ball over on downs.
On their first play from scrimmage, runningback Kevis Streeter went around the right side of the Wildcats defense and scored from 79 yards away.
The first quarter ended with the game tied 7-7.
In the second quarter, Earls recovered his second fumble of the afternoon and set up the Wildcats deep in Reivers' territory.
Lanham threw his second touchdown pass of the game. This time an 18-yard reception by Montez Wilkerson put NDSCS ahead 14-7.
But Iowa Western came right back and scored after a long drive, with a 7-yard touchdown pass. But they missed the extra point kick and NDSCS still led 14-13.
The Wildcats scored again to extend their lead near the end of the first half.
Lanham and Keith King combined to move the ball on the ground. And Lanham found Doe for a gain through the air.
With 1:07 left in the half, King sprang free and scored from 39 yards out and the Wildcats led 21-13 at half time.
The only score in the third quarter was a Reivers' touchdown with 9:34 left in the period.
In the fourth quarter, the Wildcats drove into Iowa Western territory.
Garcia extended the Wildcats lead to 24-19 when he came in to kick a 35 yard field goal with 8:53 remaining in the game.
But Iowa Western mounted one final drive near the end of the game.
They converted on a third down deep in their own territory.
And converted on a fourth down play that netted them more than 15 yards.
A Wildcat penalty for face masking gave Iowa Western a first-and-goal from the Wildcats' nine yard line.
But the Wildcats defense did not allow the Reivers to gain a yard and got the ball back on downs with :08 left on the clock.
The Wildcats (5-3) travel to Ellsworth, Iowa Saturday for their next game.
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