Box Score Bemidji, MN – The University of Mary dominated the third quarter as
Craig Bagnell further etched his name into the Marauders record books in a 26-17 U-Mary win at Bemidji State University in Northern Sun football. Bagnell threw for 311 yards to become the U-Mary career passing yardage leader and the Marauders posted 17 unanswered points in the third stanza. Â
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Trailing 10-3 at half, the Marauders dominated on both sides of the ball in the third quarter to take control of the game.
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Bagnell started the scoring outburst with a two-yard touchdown toss to
Nick Jolliffe, capping a 75-yard scoring drive on the opening possession of the second half. A 35-yard reception by Jolliffe, followed by a 24-yard run by
Dariouse Gravely, set up the game-tying score.
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After the Beavers failed to make a first down, the Marauders took over at their own 32 yard line. A more methodical drive than the previous one, Jolliffe again played a key role by hauling in a 28 yard pass. Following a holding penalty that put the Marauders in a 1
st-and 20 at the BSU 26, Bagnell ran for 15 yards and then four to fall just a yard shy of a first down. U-Mary would still take its first lead since the first quarter when
Tyler Ryan completed the 11-play drive with a 24-yard field goal for a 13-10 lead.
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For the second straight time in the third quarter, the Marauders defense held the Beavers without a first down. Starting its third drive of the third quarter 56 yards from the end zone, U-Mary needed just two plays to score. A 55-yard reception by
DJ Young set up a one yard scoring run by Bagnell on the next play. Despite failing to convert the extra point attempt, the Marauders led 19-10.
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In the third quarter, BSU had a -2 yards of offense and didn't register a single first down in four possessions. U-Mary posted 204 yards in addition to the 17 points.
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The Beavers finally showed offensive life early in the fourth quarter. Alex Haas connected with Vince Dinkel on a 58-yard touchdown pass at the 6:47 mark to bring BSU within 19-17.
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With Bagnell continuing to fire strikes, the Marauders answered immediately. Completions of 22 yards to Young and 25 to Jolliffe keyed a 60-yard drive that ended with Gravely scoring from two yards out with 3:31 showing on the clock, boosting U-Mary's advantage to 26-17.
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The rest of the game belonged to the Marauders defense. Following a sack by
Troy Guptill, Haas was picked off at the U-Mary 47 by freshman
Maceo Brown. BSU would get one more possession but a combined sack by Guptill and
Anthony Eggleston, a third down sack by
John Oyloe and a
CJ Dreakford pass breakup on fourth down sealed the Marauders win.
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Entering the game needing just 134 passing yards to surpass Chris Schwab as the Marauders career leader in passing yardage, Bagnell had his best all-around game of the season. The senior signal caller completed 21-of-30 passes for 311 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. He also ran seven times for 41 yards and a score and wasn't sacked a single time. The native of Polson, MT, now has 7,962 yards passing in his U-Mary career.
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The NSIC leader in touchdown receptions, Jolliffe set a career-high for receiving yards. He caught seven passes for 137 yards and his ninth touchdown of the season. Young caught three passes for a career-high 79 yards and
Elby Pope added five receptions for 66 yards. Pope also returned five punts for 48 yards, including one burst of 27 yards.
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Gravely added 42 yards rushing and his third touchdown in two weeks on 13 carries.
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U-Mary rolled up 404 yards of offense on 61 plays, its second best mark of the season. The Marauders ran for 93 yards and passed for 311.
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The Marauders defense limited the Beavers to 14 first downs, 173 yards rushing, 113 yards passing and 286 total yards. BSU was 5-for-14 passing. This was the second straight week U-Mary held an opponent to under 300 yards of offense.
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The nation's leader in turnover margin, U-Mary recovered a BSU fumble and intercepted a pass while the Marauders offense didn't commit a turnover.
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All-conference linebacker
Grant Singer spearheaded the Marauders defensive attack, making 14 tackles. The junior had 2.0 tackles for loss, including 1.5 sacks, and recovered a fumble. Guptill, now the NSIC leader in sacks, had nine tackles, including 1.5 sacks and 3.0 tackles behind the line. Oyloe added 1.5 sacks as the Marauders trapped the Beavers quarterback seven times.
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Avery Walker ran for a game-high 122 yards and BSU's first touchdown. Dinckel caught two balls for 80 yards.
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Greg Button and Colton Blascyk each had 10 tackles for BSU.
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The Marauders improve to 4-2 overall and in the NSIC and are 2-0 in the NSIC North Division. The Beavers slip to 2-4 and 0-2.
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U-Mary returns home to host St. Cloud State University on Oct. 19 at 2:30 PM.
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