Box Score Aberdeen, SD - For the second straight week the University of Mary suffered an excruciating loss in the final minute of the game. Northern State University converted a 35 yard field goal as time expired and the Wolves handed the Marauders a 39-36 loss in the season finale for both teams. This was the first time U-Mary had lost to NSU in six meetings.
A week ago, Winona State scored the winning touchdown with 51 seconds left in the game to defeat the Marauders 46-43. Three times this season U-Mary has lost a game by three points.
In another high-octane offensive show, the Marauders (5-6 overall, 4-6 NSIC, 3-3 NSIC North) generated 454 yards of offense, including 222 on the ground. U-Mary entered the game as the Northern Sun leader in total offense and passing and was second in scoring. The Wolves (5-6, 4-6, 3-3) pounded out 342 yards rushing and gained 478 yards total.
A back-and-forth game, there were ten lead changes and one tie in the game. Much of the scoring load for the Marauders came from Josh Murray, who posted three touchdowns. The senior running back dashed for 163 yards and two scores and caught three passes for 67 yards and another touchdown.
Murray's first touchdown, an 11 yard run, gave the Marauders a 7-3 lead. In the second quarter Murray dashed 48 yards on a screen pass for a 14-9 U-Mary lead. After Northern scored 10 straight points, Murray scored from three yards out for a 21-19 Marauders lead with 5:49 left in the first half. Jared Jacobson would throw a seven yard scoring pass to Jordan Piatz with 1:14 remaining before intermission and the Wolves would enter intermission up 26-21.
A 61 yard run by Murray early in the third quarter would set up a one-yard touchdown pass from Craig Bagnell to Jon Burke and the Marauders would be back on top 28-26. Unfortunately, Murray hurt himself on the long run and would miss the rest of the game.
After another Wolves touchdown late in the third, Dariouse Gravely scored on an 11 yard run seven seconds into the fourth quarter. A two-point conversion from Bagnell to Bryan Sandy bumped the U-Mary lead to 36-29, but it was the last time the Marauders would score in the game.
The rest of the quarter belonged to Northern State. Jacobson scored his third touchdown of the day to even the game at 36-36 with 11:47 remaining on a five yard run.
U-Mary had two more possessions but couldn't get to the end zone while driving against a strong wind.
Northern State would find a way to score. Starting at their own 22 yard line with 3:44 remaining, the Wolves made four first downs and drove to the U-Mary 14. After a loss of four to set up the field goal attempt, Felipe Alfaia knocked the ball home from 35 yards away as time expired on the game and the Marauders season. It was his fourth field goal of the day.
Bagnell threw for 232 yards and two scores, completing 21-of-32 passes. Brady Martin caught five balls for 46 yards and Nick Jolliffe had four for 49.
In a reserve role, Gravely ran for 69 yards and a score on 13 carries.
Murray finished the season with 1,095 yards rushing, becoming just the fifth U-Mary player to crack the 1,000 yard barrier in a season.
U-Mary also set a single-season record for passing yardage, rolling up 3,112 yards through the air to surpass the old mark of 3,051 set in 1995.
Justin English led the Marauders with 12 tackles. John Oyloe had 10 tackles, including a sack.
Marcus Broome led all players with 2.5 tackles for loss. He also had 10 tackles and finishes his career with 235 career stops, third all-time in U-Mary history.
Jacobson led the Wolves offense with 180 yards rushing and three scores. He also added 136 yards and one touchdown passing. Kristin James posted 139 yards rushing.
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