Box Score Marshall, MN – An incredible fourth quarter performance by the University of Mary football team turned a close game into a runaway. Trailing by a touchdown after three quarters, the Marauders posted 26 straight points in the final period of a 43-24 win at Southwest Minnesota State University.
 
The victory is the third straight for the Marauders. This is the best start for U-Mary since the program opened with four consecutive wins in 2005. The Marauders are 3-0 overall and in the Northern Sun. The Mustangs drop to 1-2.
 
Trailing 24-17 after three quarters, the Marauders used a stiff wind to their back and a newly found running attack that featured a 150-yard performance from Dariouse Gravely.
 
Taking advantage of a short punt by SMSU that created great field position, Nick Jolliffe caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Craig Bagnell to pull the Marauders even at 24-24. The drive covered 32 yards.
 
The Marauders defense stepped up and forced the Mustangs into a 3-and-out with U-Mary starting at its own 41. Four plays later, Gravely found a seam on the left side and burst 44 yards for the go-ahead touchdown and 31-24 lead with 10:08 left in the game.
 
Once again, the Marauders defense stepped in and forced the Mustangs to punt after three plays. Beginning at the U-Mary 49, the Marauders drove down the field in nine plays to score with 4:19 remaining in the game. Unable to find anyone open initially, Bagnell kept the play alive by rolling to his right before finding Bryan Sandy alone in the back of the end zone from six yards out.
 
A fourth-down interception by Craig Jeffrey led to the Marauders final touchdown and sealed the win. Jeffery picked off a pass and returned the ball 23 yards to the SMSU 11 yard line. Two plays later, Evan Gross found the end zone from nine yards away to increase the U-Mary lead to 43-24 and 2:53 on the clock.
 
Playing in his first game of the season, Gravely led a Marauders ground game that totaled 229 yards in 46 attempts. Gross added 74 yards. U-Mary had run for a combined nine yards in its first two games of the season.
 
With the ability to find great success on the ground, the NSIC's top passing attack generated a season-low 199 yards through the air. Playing much of the game without All-American wide receiver Tyler Steffan, Bagnell completed 20-of-31 passes and threw three touchdown passes. He ran seven yards for a touchdown on the Marauders first drive of the game and was intercepted twice.
 
Six different receivers caught passes for U-Mary. Elby Pope led the way with seven grabs for 46 yards. DJ Young made four catches for a team-high 52 yards. Sandy, Jolliffe and Jeremy Mayfield all caught scoring strikes.
 
Grant Singer paced the Marauders defensive efforts. The sophomore outside linebacker registered 1.5 sacks and 11 tackles. Mikey Ingemansen added 1.5 tackles for loss. In addition to his interception, Jeffrey broke up two passes and had five tackles.
 
Warren Matthews was the big play performer for the Mustangs. He scored on a 70-yard touchdown pass on the Mustangs second drive of the game. For the night he ran for 78 yards and caught two passes for 87.
 
Under pressure all night, Tyler Peschong was sacked four times and completed just 13 of 29 passes for 225 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
 
Continuing its rapid week-to-week improvement, the U-Mary defense limited SMSU to 345 yards of offense and 20 first downs. In the fourth quarter, the Mustangs managed just 42 yards and completed 2-of-10 passes.
 
The Marauders offense totaled 28 first downs and 428 yards while holding the ball for a season-best 32:50.
 
The three straight wins is the longest mark for U-Mary since posting four straight that spanned the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
 
Next up for the Marauders is their homecoming game with Winona State University on Saturday, September 22. Kickoff is set for 2:30 PM.
 
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