Jennings, NDSCS too much for Harper
WAHPETON, N.D. - Deunta Jennings, a 6-foot-1 sophomore from Athens, Ga., scored 4 touchdowns and accumulated 263 yards combined on returns (128) and receiving (135) to propel the North Dakota State College Of Science Wildcats to a 49-21 win over visiting Harper at Frank Vertin Field on Saturday.
NDSCS (2-1 overall and in Midwest Football Conference play) got off to a 14-0 lead about halfway through the second quarter. The first TD came on a 6-yard pass from Cody Davies (24 for 39 passing, 347 yards, 4 TDs, 1 interception) to Marcell Tyler in the first quarter. A 3-yard run by D.J. Fuller in the second gave NDSCS its second score.
Then Jennings started to make his imprint on the game. His first catch, a 74-yard TD, was made through a combination of Wildcat QB Cody Davies escaping the Harper rush, as well as Jennings' ability to get past the Harper secondary. NDSCS led 21-0 with 4:08 to play in the first half.
Jennings' second TD catch from Davies went for 10 yards and made the score 28-0 with 1:23 left in the half. It capped a 5-play, 45-yard drive that was set up by a fumble recovery that came as Harper sophomore receiver Robert Dickey tried for extra yards after completed pass from quarterback Stuart Augustine.
Harper (1-2, 0-2) got on the scoreboard for the first time when Augustine (20-for-31, 190 yards) connected with Javier Safford on a 24-yard pass with 10:40 left in the third quarter.
Jennings quickly wiped out any Harper momentum by taking the ensuing kickoff 82 yards for his third score of the day.
The Hawks climbed back into the contest with a pair of touchdowns late in the quarter. First came a 9-play, 60-yard drive finished by a 3 yard run from sophomore Roderick Alton (95 yards combined rushing and receiving). That was succeeded by a Ronald Zollicoffer recovery of a punt muffed by Jennings at 1:54 in the period.
Jennings made up for his miscue with a fourth TD 1:43 later. This time it was an 8-yard toss from Davies with 11 seconds left in the third quarter.
A 1-yard keeper by Davies with 3:26 to play closed out the scoring.