Box Score Bismarck, ND - In an offensive explosion that featured six lead changes, one tie and nearly 1,000 yards of offense, time simply ran out for the University of Mary in a 46-43 loss to Winona State University in the Marauders final home game in 2011. The Warriors scored the winning touchdown with 51 seconds remaining and the Marauders were unable to find a way to score one more time.
Tyler Steffan caught three more touchdown passes in the contest and set the U-Mary single season record in the game. He broke the old Marauders record of 16, set by Jake Pfau in 2003. The junior wide receiver has caught at least three scoring passes in each of the past four games and finished the day with eight catches for 100 yards. It was his fourth straight game with 100 or more receiving yards.
Turnovers proved the downfall of the Marauders, contributing to 17 points for the Warriors. U-Mary threw an interception on the first possession of the game and fumbled away the ball on its second possession. Both turnovers resulted in one-yard scoring runs by Rayon Williams and the Warriors led 14-0 just six minutes into the game.
A Josh Murray one-yard scoring run for U-Mary would cut the deficit in half but a safety for WSU pushed the Warriors lead to 16-7.
Both teams traded scoring passes in the second quarter. Craig Bagnell connected with Steffan from 12 yards out before Sean Hertz pulled in a 10 yard touchdown pass from Alex Nelson with 28 seconds left in the first half for a 23-14 Warriors lead at intermission.
The Marauders mounted their comeback in the third. Murray scored from three yards out before Alby Pope made a spectacular 33 yard touchdown catch in the end zone for the Marauders first lead of the day at 28-23 halfway through the third quarter. WSU would retake the lead when Simmons burst 26 yards. A two-point conversion attempt failed and the Warriors led 29-28 at the end of the quarter.
Immediately the Marauders would regain the lead as Bagnell connected with Steffan from 13 yards away just 45 seconds into the fourth quarter. Simmons would even the game with his fourth touchdown run of the day, this time from 25 yards.
Another U-Mary turnover, a fumble when Bagnell was sacked, led to Winona State retaking the lead at 39-36 as Thomas Kinney nailed a 44 yard field goal.
Undaunted, the Marauders drove 79 yards down the field on nine plays to take a 43-39 lead on another Bagnell to Steffan touchdown pass, this time from five yards out with 2:28 showing on the clock.
The Warriors would start the winning touchdown drive on their own 20 yard line, taking six plays to move down the field. Facing a second and two from the U-Mary 14, Nelson again found Hertz in the end zone, this time for the winning score with 51 seconds left in the game.
U-Mary would have one more possession but a sack for a nine yard loss by the Warriors on second down proved too much for the Marauders to overcome.
Murray would finish the day with 132 yards rushing and two scores for U-Mary. It's the third straight game he has gone over the century mark.
Bagnell threw for 372 yards and four touchdowns, completing 27-of-35 pass attempts. Curtis Darrah caught five balls for 91 yards and Bryan Sandy had four catches for 64 yards.
DeShon Benton led all players with 16 tackles for the Marauders, including 2.5 for loss. Justin English had 12 tackles.
Simmons led the Warriors attack with 203 yards rushing and four scores. Nelson finished 19-of-31 for 214 yards and two scores. Hertz caught seven balls for 77 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Ryan Williams had 12 tackles, including two for loss. WSU sacked the Marauders six times while U-Mary never got to the Warriors quarterback. The Warriors also forced three turnovers and did not commit any of their own.
The Marauders piled up 471 yards and 25 first downs. Winona State finished with 500 yards, including 286 on the ground, and 28 first downs.
U-Mary closes out the regular season at Northern State University on November 12.
#marauders#
