BISMARCK. N.D. - On a day of big plays or bust, visiting Bemidji State University produced the last explosive play of the game to nudge the University of Mary 21-20 and spoil the Marauders homecoming game. 
 
The Marauders (2-3 overall/NSIC, 0-1 NSIC North) held the ball for nearly eight more minutes than the Beavers (1-4, 1-0), but it was the big play ability of Bemidji State in the passing game that pushed the visitor to the win.
 
A tight contest throughout that typifies the series between the two teams, the game was decided in the fourth quarter.
 
Elby Pope, who caught two scoring passes on the day, snapped a tie game on a 37-yard touchdown reception from Ben Jolliffe with 10:24 remaining in the game. The extra point attempt sailed wide right to leave the Marauders with a 20-14 lead at the end of a 12-play 82-yard drive.
 
Fueled by a 57 yard catch by Juwaan Richard, BSU immediately responded to the U-Mary touchdown. Christian Lunde scored from 8 yards out on a Ryan Shield pass with 9:16 remaining and the successful Kyle Fodness extra point kick provided the Beavers their first lead of the day at 21-20.
 
The Marauders gained two more possessions. The first ended with a punt and the second on a failed 4^th-down-and-13 attempt at the U-Mary 43 with 1:57 remaining in the game.
 
Pope, who produced four different plays to at least 17 yards in the game, provided the Marauders an early 7-0 lead less than five minutes into the game on a 10-yard pass from Jolliffe. BSU pulled even just before intermission when Jordan Hein scored on a 2-yard touchdown run.
 
The Marauders scored on the opening drive of the second half, keyed by a 54-yard catch-and-run by Jake East down to the BSU 20 yard line. Catching the ball at the line of scrimmage, East busted through at least two tackles on the play. Nick Jolliffe would catch an 18-yard scoring pass from his sibling Ben three plays later for a 14-7 lead.
 
Bemidji State pulled even two possessions later on a one-play drive. After stopping U-Mary deep in its own territory, the Beavers took over at their own 37-yard line. Ryan Shields immediately found Blake Holder for a 37-yard touchdown pass at 7:19 in the third quarter.
 
BSU produced eight plays of at least 16 yards and seven came in the passing game. Holder was responsible for three of the plays.
 
U-Mary had 10 explosive plays of 17 yards or more with Pope producing four. Four of the Marauders explosive plays came in the passing game, two on runs, two on interception returns and two on special teams.
 
The Marauders generated 281 yards of offense, running 42 times for 114 yards and passing for 167. The Beavers managed 383 yards, including 297 through the air.
 
Pope caught six passes for 73 yards and two scores. He added an 18-yard punt return to help set up the first U-Mary score and a 33-yard kickoff return. The senior also ran three times for 9 yards.
 
Nick Jolliffe added five grabs for 37 yards and a score. Vince Ferrante ran for 67 yards.
 
Ben Jolliffe was 13-of-26 for 167 yards. The redshirt freshman threw for three scores and an interception.
 
Defensively Grant Singer, the leading tackler in the Northern Sun, recorded 11 tackles for U-Mary, including 0.5 for loss. He also intercepted a pass that was returned 34 yards. The All-American linebacker has had double digit stops in all five games this season and has seven straight dating back to last year.
 
Seth Walton added nine stops. Preston Tescher had eight, including one for loss. Danielle Whitaker and Devon Turner both added interceptions.
 
Shields led the BSU offense by completing 17-of-38 passes for 276 yards and two scores. He also tossed two interceptions. Holder had six catches for 99 yards and a score.
 
Colton Blascyk recorded 12 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, for the Beavers. Trysten Ross also had 2.5 tackles for loss and Dan Kiebler had a game-high 3.0.
 
U-Mary now embarks on a two-game road trip, next heading to Minot State University on Oct. 11 for the Battle of the Big Lake trophy.
 
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