BISMARCK, N.D. – An instate rivalry trophy game between two teams desperate for a win brought both the best and the worst between homestanding University of Mary and Minot State University. The Marauders scored with seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime but the Beavers posted the only points in the extra session to claim a 15-9 Northern Sun win and claim the Big Lake Trophy for the first time.
Neither team found a rhythm offensively in the first half. The two teams combined to punt six times, the Marauders (0-6 overall/NSIC, 0-2 NSIC North) twice turned the ball over on downs and the Beavers (1-5, 1-1) committed three turnovers – two interceptions and a fumble – and missed a field goal. U-Mary registered just 99 yards of offense while Minot State posted 144.
The second half started with the same feel as it took four attempts on the kickoff before the Marauders offense could take the field. Penalties were called on the first three attempts, two by MSU and one by U-Mary. There was also a penalty on the fourth try but a low block didn't result in a re-kick.
Halfway through the third quarter the game took a remarkable shift when
Danielle Whitaker intercepted a deep pass over the middle and into a stiff breeze at the U-Mary 23.
An 18-yard pass play from
Caleb Buck to
Zach Podoll to the home 43 on a 3-and-8 gave the Marauders life. After a short completion, two Buck runs for a total of 12 yards sandwiched around a 5 yard
Zach Graves run, the Marauders had a first down at the Beavers 36. Graves then put the Marauders on the board. The junior from Rocklin, Calif., took a handoff and weaved his way through the Minot State to the end zone for his first Marauders touchdown at 3:02 of the third quarter. The 2-point attempt failed but U-Mary was in front 6-0, the first lead of the season for the Marauders.
Minot State answered immediately, driving 78 yards on 13 plays and chewing up 6:38 of the clock. The Beavers gained a 7-6 lead on a 1-yard run by Charles Hall and a successful kick by JoseLuis Moreno at 11:26 of the fourth.
Working from behind and into an increasing wind, the Marauders moved to the MSU 32 before turning the ball over on downs. After forcing a Beavers punt and taking over at their own 8 yard line, three straight incompletions forced the Marauders to punt. Thinking strategically, U-Mary snapped the ball out of the end zone. While the decision pushed the Minot State lead to 9-6 with 3:07, it allowed U-Mary to kick off from the 20. The subsequent
Josh Weiler kick was taken and downed at the Minot State 26. An unsportsmanlike penalty call pushed the Beavers back further in the hole. Forced to eventually punt, the Marauders took possession at their own 19 yard line with 1:33 to play.
Four times the Marauders converted 4
th down plays to keep the drive alive, including a 9 yard pass from Buck to Podoll.
With time quickly escaping, Buck took a couple shots downfield. First the sophomore hit
Adam Woroniecki down the right sideline for a 14 yard gain to the MSU 27. Buck then connected with
Sam Mackedanz for 22 yards to the 5 yard line when the freshman skied over the Beavers defenders to haul in the pass with 0:08 left in regulation.
Deciding to opt for the field goal and force overtime, freshman
Cody Goetz knocked down the 27 yard attempt into the wind with four seconds remaining, capping a 17-play 76-yard drive that consumed just 89 seconds.
In overtime the Marauders took possession first. Unable to take advantage of another Minot State personal foul that advanced the ball to the 11, a missed field goal left U-Mary scoreless.
Pounding the ball on the ground, the Beavers used an 11 yard burst by Jarvis Mustipher to set up the winning score. With the ball at the two, Mustipher found the end zone in a rush up the middle for the Beavers first win of the year.
Graves led the Marauders in rushing with 67 yards on 14 carries. Woroniecki added 33 and U-Mary ground out 129 yards total.
Buck finished 27-of-50 for 214 yards and no interceptions.
Brennan Doan caught seven passed for 54 yards and Podoll had four for 44 yards.
Austin Bolton posted a game-high 16 tackles for U-Mary, including 1.5 for loss. He also broke up a pass.
Jacob Parker returned an interception 37 yards in the opening half and had ten tackles. Whitaker had ten tackles and an interception also.
Mustipher ran for 154 yards and one score to lead Minot State. Larry Overstreet added 87 yards and the Beavers totaled 254 yards on the ground.
U-Mary shut down the Minot State passing game, intercepting four passes and giving up just 73 yards.
The Marauders remain at home to host #25 University of Minnesota Duluth at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17.
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