BISMARCK, N.D. – A second half touchdown run off a fake punt and a rejuvenated passing attack briefly breathed life into the University of Mary but the Marauders couldn't overcome a big second quarter by Upper Iowa University in a 34-16 loss to the Peacocks.
A scoreless game late in the opening half, the Peacocks stunned the large Marauders home opening-day crowd by striking for three touchdowns in the final 4:29 before intermission. All three Peacock tallies were touchdown tosses from Dmitri Morales to Jarred Edmonds, covering 14, 2 and 31 yards. The last scored came with five seconds remaining before half and provided the Peacocks a 21-0 lead.
Upper Iowa continued its strong play right out of the locker room. After the Marauders misfired on an onside kick attempt, Morales hit Brandon Rogers for a 23 yard scoring strike on the opening drive of the second half. A Peacocks field goal later in the quarter increased the Marauders deficit to 31 points.
Needing a big play to get back in the game, an unlikely source provided a spark. In punt formation on 4
th-and-5 from their own 27, Marauders freshman punter
Coleman Olivas sprinted 73 yards untouched down the left sideline for the Marauders first points of the game at 2:49 of the 3
rd quarter.
Ben Jolliffe ran in a two point conversion and U-Mary trailed 31-8.
After forcing a punt, the Marauders took over at their own 21 yard line late in the 3
rd. U-Mary drove the field in 11 plays and scored when backup quarterback
Caleb Buck connected with Jolliffe on a 3 yard touchdown pass with 12:01 left in the game. Another successful two point conversion, this one on a Jolliffe pass to snapper
Tom Johnson, closed the Marauders within two scores at 31-16.
The Marauders defense quickly got the ball back for the offense, forcing the Peacocks off the field after three straight incomplete passes.
Trapped at their own five yard line but unfazed by the challenge, Buck dropped back to pass on 18 straight plays and moved the Marauders to the Peacocks 2 yard line. Twice he connected with receivers on fourth down to continue the drive, including a 13 yard connection to Jolliffe on a 4
th-and-10. Facing a 4
th-and-1 at the 2, U-Mary was whistled for a false start. On the next play Tate Thompson sealed the win for Upper Iowa with an interception in the end zone.
The Marauders would get the ball back with 2:14 remaining but couldn't convert a first down. The Peacocks closed the scoring with a 38 yard Brady Beuschel field goal with 29 seconds remaining in the game.
Seeing the first extended action of his career, Buck threw for 216 yards, all in the second half. The sophomore was 27-of-44 with a touchdown and two interceptions. Buck relieved true freshman
Nick McCann, who was making his first collegiate start in place of an injured
Zach Roberson.
Jolliffe caught seven pases for 51 yards and a score.
Brennan Doan added seven catches for 47 yards while
Nick Kottre chipped in five catches for 55 yards.
Adam Woroniecki recorded 23 yards rushing and 22 yards receiving. He also returned five kicks for 111 yards, including a long of 44.
In addition to his 73 yard scoring run, Olivas averaged 40.2 yards/punt with a long of 45 and dropped two of his four attempts inside the 20 yard line.
Defensively,
Shawn Fulwider posted 2.0 tackles for loss, including 1.5 tackles for loss, to lead the Marauders. He had eight tackles (six solo) and broke up a pass.
Preston Tescher posted eight tackles, five solo.
Danielle Whitaker led U-Mary with six solo tackles and three pass breakups.
Morales was a double threat, running for 52 yards and passing for 446 yards and four scores. He completed 36-of-59 passes without an interception. In the second quarter explosion Morales threw for 256 yards and three scores.
Trey MacTaggart caught nine passes for 158 yards. Edmonds finished with seven catches for 108 yards and three scores.
Thompson finished with two interceptions for Upper Iowa and broke up a pass. Nick Corley had a team-high 10 tackles (nine solo).
Next up for U-Mary is a trip to top ranked and 2014 national runner-up Minnesota State University on Saturday, Sept. 19. The Mavericks are the second top ten team the Marauders will face in the first three weeks of the season.
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