MARSHALL, MN – The University of Mary scored the first two touchdowns of the game and held a lead until midway through the third quarter before homestanding Southwest Minnesota State University roared back for a 47-23 Mustangs win over the Marauders.
 
The Marauders (0-3 overall, Northern Sun) ran for a season-high 258 yards and posted 343 yards of offense. Additionally Mary held the ball for nearly 40 minutes of possession. Quarterback Ben Jolliffe led the offensive surge for the Marauders, rushing for 93 yards and two touchdowns and passing for 85 yards.
 
Though limited to just twenty minutes of possession, the Mustangs (2-1) posted 514 yards on 67 plays.
 
After struggling offensively in the opening two games of the season, the Marauders found their footing on their second possession. Taking the ball over at their own 38 yard line after an 11 yard interception return by Danielle Whitaker, the Marauders needed just five plays to find the end zone.
 
Facing a 3^rd-and-1, Jolliffe kept the ball and burst 41 yards for the Marauders first points of the season. A Cody Goetz extra point gave Mary a 7-0 lead with 4:33 left in the first quarter.
 
Another Mustangs mistake immediately gave the Marauders another scoring opportunity. On the ensuing kickoff, Noah Krebs forced a fumble that was recovered by Michael Buster at the SMSU 17 yard line. Colton Farmer, in the game at quarterback, carried the ball five straight times, the last a touchdown run of 1 yard. After another Goetz PAT the Marauders led 14-0 with 1:56 remaining in the opening period.
 
SMSU would cut the Mary lead in half on its next possession, and the Marauders nearly got the points back. Starting at their own 32, the Marauders faced a 4^th-and-3 at the Mustangs 25. After setting up for a field goal attempt, Jolliffe, the holder, instead sprinted to right side on a fake. Finding no open space, he completely reversed course, went left and managed to gain four yards and a first down.
 
The Marauders drove to the 12 yard line but couldn't convert on another fourth down play and turned the ball back to the Mustangs. With the ball back in their hands, the Mustangs marched 86 yards and tied the game at 14-14 with 48 seconds left in the half on a Blake Gimbal 14 yard touchdown pass.
 
Mary regained its lead on the opening drive of the second half, set up by a 68 yard kickoff return by Zack Graves. Taking over at the SMSU 28, the Marauders drove to the 2 yard line. Goetz then convert a 19 yard field goal for a 17-14 Mary lead.
 
The tide soon shifted against the Marauders. After another Gimbel touchdown pass, this time for 25 yards to give SMSU a 21-17 lead, the Marauders fumbled the resulting kickoff. Taking over at the visitor's 30 yard line, SMSU needed just five plays to score when Gimbel passed 12 yards to Ty Steffensen for the touchdown.
 
On their next possession and keyed by a 32 yard pass reception by Connor Graves, the Marauders advanced downfield before misfiring on a 44 yard field goal in an attempt to pull within one score.
 
SMSU then scored just 1:31 into the fourth quarter to extend the Mustangs lead to 35-17.
 
Refusing to fade away, the Marauders responded with a 66 yard scoring drive, capped when Jollliffe ran one yard for the touchdown. A mixed extra point left the Marauders down 35-23.
 
The Mustangs would put the game away with two long touchdowns, a 55 yard run by Max Simmons and a Connor Wilke pass to Quadri Busari for 58 yards.
 
In addition to 93 yards rushing by Jolliffe, Zach Podoll ran for a career-best 73 yards. Zack Graves ran for 46 yards and caught three passes for 20 yards. Overall the Marauders averaged 4.6 yards per carry.
 
Connor Graves added 48 yards receiving on two catches.
 
Defensively Austin Bolton had a team-high 11 tackles, the third straight game he has reached double figures this season. Daniel Hunter added six solo stops. Daniel Hudrlik had the Marauders lone tackle for loss.
 
Gimbel completed 15-of-19 passes for 175 yards and four scores for SMSU. Divonte Bell ran for 164 yards and Simmons added 101 plus two touchdowns.
 
The Marauders return home for homecoming, hosting Winona State University at 1 pm on Saturday, Sept. 24, at the MDU Resources Bowl. It is the first of two straight home games for Mary
 
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