Minot, ND – Elby Pope exploded for 154 receiving yards and a touchdown and Zach Roberson threw for 328 yards in his first collegiate start, but the University of Mary was stunned in the fourth quarter of a 32-21 loss at Minot State University. The Beavers scored three touchdowns in the final stanza to pull out a victory.
 
A one-time rivalry shelved for seven seasons after U-Mary began playing in NCAA Division II and the Northern Sun, the series started up with an impressive finish by Minot State. The victory is the first NSIC win by the Beavers.
 
Down 10-0 early, the Marauders controlled the middle two quarters, going on a 21-0 run behind two touchdown passes and a touchdown run by Roberson.
 
A sack by John Oyloe forced a fumble and Troy Guptil recovered the ball to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Roberson early in the second. Roberson would later find Pope on a 32-yard catch and run touchdown to move the Marauders ahead 14-10 at intermission.
 
The Marauders moved in front 21-10 in the third when Roberson hit Jeremy Mayfield from 29 yards out.
 
The rest of the night belonged to the Beavers. Zac Cuhna hit Wayne Peters from nine yards out before connecting with Porter Sturm on a 20 yard score in the back of the end zone for the winning points with 1:52 remaining. Just 23 seconds later Randel Barber salted the game away on the 35 yard run.
 
Pope finished the game with seven catches for the 154 yards. Tyler Steffan added seven catches for 61 yards. Mayfield caught three balls for 61 yards.
 
Filling in for the injured Craig Bagnell, Roberson completed 26-of-49 passes for 328 yards, two scores and two touchdowns.
 
Defensively Grant Singer and Mikey Ingemansen each had two sacks as the Marauders piled up seven in the game.
 
Cunha threw for 228 yards for the Beavers and three scores, connecting on 16-of-33 passes with two interceptions. Glyn Borel had five grabs for 90 yards.
 
The Marauders slip to 3-2 overall and in the NSIC and 0-1 in the NSIC North. Minot State is 1-4 overall in the NSIC and 1-0 in the NSIC North.
 
U-Mary returns home to host Bemidji State University at 2:30 PM Saturday, October 6.
 
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