Box Score Bismarck, ND – In a defensive struggle between two teams with old histories, the University of Mary scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to defeat the University of Sioux Falls 17-10. Vince Ferrante scored from one yard out with 4:41 left in the game to propel the Marauders to their second straight win.
 
The Marauders (2-1 overall, 2-1 NSIC) and Cougars (1-2, 1-2) last played each other in 2002 with Sioux Falls claiming a playoff victory in the second round of the NAIA playoffs. It was the fifth time U-Mary had played USF in the national tournament.
 
Now with both teams facing each other as Northern Sun foes and members of the NCAA for the first time, the Marauders snapped a four game losing streak against the Cougars.
 
On a night both teams struggled to score, Sioux Falls found the end zone first. After a short punt by the Marauders, the Cougars drove 39 yards on 10 plays. Luke Papillion crossed the goal line from five yards out at 7:27 of the first quarter.
 
Sparked by a 35 yard kick off return by Jeremy Mayfield, the Marauders immediately responded. Featuring completions of 15 yards to Peter Luton, 28 yards to Ferrante, and 17 yards to Elby Pope from Craig Bagnell, U-Mary quickly drove the field. Connecting for their sixth touchdown in three games, Bagnell found Nick Jolliffe in the right side of the end zone from nine yards out to pull even at 7-7.
 
With Sioux Falls poised to take a lead in the second quarter, Grant Singer eliminated the Cougar threat with one big hit. With USF on the U-Mary seven yard line, Singer blitzed from the blind side and separated Papillion from the ball. Tylar Kist recovered the ball for the Marauders to keep the game even.
 
Both teams exchanged field goals in the third. Tyler Ryan connected from 20 yards out for a brief 10-7 lead before Bradley Hatsfield spilt the uprights from 44 to pull USF even.
 
The Marauders defense took over the rest of the game, allowing only three first downs in the next five Cougars possessions. USF crossed midfield once the rest of the game, but only as far as the U-Mary 45.
U-Mary took control of the game early in the fourth. Starting at their own 21, the Marauders marched down the field in an epic drive that lasted 10 plays and 79 yards and consumed 4:53 of the game clock. On second down at the 20, Bagnell hit Jake East for a 33 yard pickup. After several bruising runs by Ferrante and a couple short passes, U-Mary moved the ball to the one yard line. Ferrante, a junior from Martinez, CA, in his first season with the Marauders, busted across the goal line with 4:41 left. After Ryan hit the point after, U-Mary led 17-10.
 
The Cougars had two more possessions but failed to move the ball as the Marauders defense preserved the win.
 
Bagnell exceeded 300 yards passing for the second straight week. The senior quarterback completed 26-of-49 pass attempts for 323 yards, one score and one interception.
 
Ten different Marauders had receptions in the game, led by Jolliffe with six for 72 yards and a score. Pope added four catches for 68 yards.
 
Ferrante pounded his way to 57 yards on 16 carries and a score. The Marauders ran for a season-high 95 yards.
 
Nephi Garcia ran for a game-high 111 yards to pace USF. Papillion added 83 yards.
 
While strong on the ground, Papillion struggled to pass the ball against the Marauders defense, completing just 10 of 29 passes for 95 yards and two interceptions.
 
Singer spearheaded a U-Mary defensive effort that limited USF to 313 yards and 16 first downs. The all-conference linebacker led the Marauders with nine tackles – six solo – with two tackles for loss and a sack. He forced one fumble. Seth Walton, Troy Guptill, Scott Maldonado and Preston Tescher all had eight tackles.
 
The Marauders next travel to Upper Iowa University to face the Peacocks on Sept. 28.
 
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