Box Score Bismarck, N.D. - A punishing ground attack chewed up the clock and big fourth quarter defensive plays carried the University of Mary to a 20-13 win over Concordia University, St. Paul in Northern Sun conference play. Undefeated at home after two contests, U-Mary held the ball for nearly nine more minutes than the Golden Bears.
 
The Marauders (2-1 overall/NSIC) defense held the Golden Bears in check much of the game, limiting Concordia – St. Paul to 61 yards rushing and 241 yards of offense. U-Mary also recovered two fumbles, including one late in the game, and recorded a safety.
 
U-Mary generated 167 of its 263 yards of offense on the ground, leading to a 34:28 to 25:32 edge in time of possession. The Marauders would also only commit one turnover.
 
After a quite first quarter the Golden Bears posted the first points of the game on a Tom Obarski 25 yard field goal early in the second.
 
The lead proved short-lived as U-Mary drove the ensuing kickoff down the field for a touchdown to start an 18-point run for the Marauders.
 
Ben Jolliffe capped a 75-yard scoring drive with a 33-yard touchdown strike over the top of the defense to Elby Pope. The senior wideout's third touchdown in two weeks came at 9:23 of the second quarter. Nick Jolliffe, the Marauders holder on kicks, then caught the CSP defense off-guard to run in a two-point conversion and push the U-Mary lead to 8-3.
 
On the next offensive play for Concordia, U-Mary sophomore linebacker Landon Smith forced a fumble recovered by Preston Tescher at the CSP 48. Using the legs of Dariouse Gravely, who was one of the team's captains for today, the Marauders drove to the visitor's 18 yard line. Brody Riggs capped the drive with a 35-yard field goal. Gravely ran nine times for 30 yards to set up the score.
 
The Marauders offense dominated the third quarter with a 17-play, 72-yard scoring march that lasted 8:29, highlighted by two Gravely runs for 20 total yards and a couple bruising runs by Adam Woroniecki. Woroniecki capped the drive by plowing in from two yards out to provide U-Mary an 18-3 lead with 1:54 remaining in the third. It was U-Mary's first rushing touchdown of the season.
 
Forced to move into a brutal wind blowing at over 30 miles per hour in the fourth quarter, the Marauders struggled to move the ball. U-Mary had a punt blocked in a final stanza but a Troy Guptill sack ended the subsequent Golden Bears drive.
 
The Guptill sack gave him the school career record for tackles for loss. The senior defensive end recorded 1.5 tackles for loss in the game to increase his career total to 41.5, eclipsing John Oyloe's mark of 41.
 
On U-Mary's next possession the Marauders punt went for zero yards as the wind battered the ball out of bounds on the team's 25 yard line. This time the Golden Bears took advantage of the special teams snafu when Jared Russo hit Tre Spears on a pass out of the backfield from 3 yards out with 6:04 left in the game, pulling CSP within 18-10.
 
Unable to again make any headway against a stiffening Golden Bears defense, Vince Ferrante forced Golden Bears punt returner Cordell Smith to fumble. Grant Singer recovered the ball at the CSP 37.
 
Forced to punt once again, Riggs this time dropped the ball at the 2 yard line. On the next play, the Marauders recorded a safety when the Golden Bears were called for holding in the end zone, increasing the U-Mary lead to 20-10.
 
The Golden Bears then pulled off an onside kick, which they recovered on their own 18 yard line with 2:35 left in the game. With a last gasp, Obarski converted a 22 yard field goal with four seconds remaining in the contest. The ensuing onside attempt went out of bounds to seal the Marauders win.
 
Sharing the load, three different Marauders went over 50 yards in the game. Woroniecki posted 56 yards and a score on 12 carries. Gravely totaled 52 yards on 13 attempts and Ferrante had 54 yards on 16 carries.
 
Ben Jolliffe completed 9-of-15 passes for 96 yards, one score and one interception. Pope was the main recipient, catching five passes for 55 yards and a touchdown. Pope also ran for 10 yards.
 
Defensively, Singer rang up 13 tackles (four solo), including .5 for loss, and recovered a fumble. The NSIC leader in tackles has reached double figures in all three games this season.
 
Shawn Fulwider added seven tackles. Maceo Brown and Jacob Parker both broke up two passed each
 
For the Golden Bears, Russo completed 24-of-41 passes for 180 yards and a score. Spears had six catches for 26 yards and ran 12 times for 42 yards.
 
Jordan Halverson paced CSP in tackles with 13. Nick Jauch posted three tackles for loss. Overall the Golden Bears made ten stops for loss.
 
The Marauders next visit Augustana on Sept. 27, the final game of the regular season against a team in the NSIC South division.
 
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