BISMARCK, N.D. – Future dentist
Adam Woroniecki rattled some teeth while posting a career-high 103 yards rushing but the University of Mary was unable to maintain momentum in a 24-10 homecoming loss to visiting Wayne State College.
A team captain who delayed his entrance into dental school one year to play his senior season for the Marauders, Woroniecki broke his previous career-high set a week ago with 71 yards against Minnesota State. This week the Hebron, N.D., native cracked the century mark for the first time while toting the ball 14 times.
Despite a solid performance by Woroniecki, it was the power running game of the Wildcats that proved the difference. Wayne State (3-1 overall/Northern Sun) held the ball for over 10 minutes longer than U-Mary (0-4) by boasting 273 yards on the ground on 52 carries. Ryan Ludlow was the Wildcats' workhorse, gaining 165 yards on 29 carries. WSC added 143 yards passing for a 416-281 edge in total offense. The Wildcats also had a 22-13 advantage in first downs.
The Wildcats scored on the opening possession of the game and never trailed, driving 75 yards in nine plays. Alex Kline broke 17 yards for the score and a 7-0 lead.
A Woroniecki 67 yard run to the Wildcats 18 provided the Marauders an opportunity to tie the game but U-Mary couldn't convert a 4
th-and-1 at the WSC 9.
Following another defensive stop by the Marauders, U-Mary found itself once again in the red zone when
Caleb Buck connected with
Sam Mackedanz for a 44 yard reception to the Wayne State 8. Able to gain just one yard,
Cody Goetz put the Marauders on the board with a 25 yard field goal three plays into the second quarter.
After a third straight failed drive, the Wildcats found their groove again and ground out a 10-play 59-yard scoring drive capped by a Lane Yates 1 yard run to build a 14-3 lead with 6:44 left in the half.
The final Wayne State touchdown came early in the second half when Tyler Reedy connected with Keaton Slaughter for a 12 yard touchdown pass at 9:36 of the third quarter, pushing the Wildcats advantage to 21-3.
Except for a brief visit to the Wayne State 47 before being knocked backwards, the Marauders spent the rest of the third quarter and most of the fourth on its own side of the field. Following a Wildcats field goal late in the game, the Marauders put together their lone touchdown drive of the game. Featuring completions of 16 yards to
Ben Jolliffe, 12 yards to
Joey Vrooman and 15 yards to
Brennan Doan, Buck capped the 65 yard drive with a one yard scoring plunge with 81 second remaining in the game.
Buck finished 20-of-36 for 162 yards, hitting Doan 10 times for 52 yards.
Austin Bolton led the Marauders defense with 12 tackles, including two for loss.
Preston Tescher had 11 stops and
Danielle Whitaker 10.
Landon Smith picked up eight tackles, including U-Mary's lone sack.
The Marauders begin Northern Sun North Division play next week with a visit to Bemidji State University on Oct. 3.
#marauders#
