Finlandia’s Hunter Miles looks to avoid a tackle by the Northwestern’s Josh Aikens during a game at McAfee Field in Hancock Saturday. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK — The Finlandia University Lions football team once again struggled to put together an offensive front on the gridiron Saturday in a 30-0 loss to the Northwestern Eagles at McAfee Field. With the loss, the Lions remain winless this season (0-5 overall, 0-1 UMAC).

For the Eagles (1-4 overall, 1-0 UMAC), the win was their first of the season.

The difference in first downs tells the story of the game. The Eagles posted 21 first downs while the Lions could only grab five.

Total yardage numbers only solidified Saturday’s narrative. The Eagles had 387 total yards with 265 of them coming on the ground. Meanwhile the Lions only tallied 117 total yards – 43 was the best they could muster on the rush.

At the 6:26 mark in the first, the Eagles got on the scoreboard first when their quarterback Collin Currier tagged Damon Clapper for a 50-yard touchdown pass.

With less than two minutes left in the first, UNWSP kicker Cole Uplegger booted a 23-yard field goal to push their advantage to 9-0.

Twice in the second quarter, the Lions moved the ball within the Eagles’ 40-yard line, but both drives stalled, forcing punts.

A quarterback sneak by the Eagles’ Currier added another six points to the scoreboard in the second, and giving the Eagles a 16-0 lead at half.

The third quarter looked much like the first as the Lions could not stop the Eagles’ rush. First it was Siver Klefsaas with a 10-yard touchdown run at the midway point through the third. Less than two minutes later

Jeremia Staten sealed the deal with a 13-yard run in to the end zone. Uplegger’s extra point finalized the 30-0 victory for the Eagles.

Through five games this fall, the Lions have been outscored 225-27. Saturday’s loss was Finlandia’s second time in being shutout this season.

Defensively, not all was lost as the Lions held the Eagles to 122 yards in the air. Sophomore Montez Archer had 10 tackles with an interception. Sophomore Charlie Garbowski also had 10 tackles and sophomore Cole Stuber had nine tackles.

Up next

Finlandia hits the road, Saturday, Oct. 8, playing  Minnesota-Morris.  The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.