BISMARCK, ND - The University of Mary dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and powered its way to a 30-6 homecoming victory over visiting University of Minnesota Crookston 30-6. The Marauders set NCAA-era school records for both rushing yardage and run defense.
 
UMary set a school record with 69 rushing attempts in the contest. The offensive line of Jared Taylor, Hunter Hanson, Tyson Lytle, Rory Olson and Nick Benshetler bulldozed the Golden Eagles defenders for 417 yards on the ground. The previous NCAA mark for the Marauders was 364 yards at MSU Moorhead in 2011. The school record is 445 yards against then-Jamestown College in 1989.
 


A total team effort, nine Marauders carried the ball with seven players ranging from 25 yards gained to 88. DeShawn Gay led the UMary effort with 88 yards on nine carries. He scored the Marauders opening touchdown from 1 yard out early in the second quarter. The freshman's longest run covered 25 yards. Paul Guptill added 86 yards on 13 carries. The sophomore fullback had the team's longest run from scrimmage at 28 yards. Garrett Weissinger added 65 yards rushing, Devin Hope 56, Jordan Beaty 46, Jaxon Ford 42 and Brennan Doan 25.
 
The passing attack totaled just three completions and 26 yards but two went for scores. Twice Weissinger found freshman Luke Little in the end zone for scoring strikes of 6 and 11 yards. It was the first collegiate game for Little, who was forced into action due to injuries at the Marauders receiving corps.
 
Defensively the Marauders held the Golden Eagles to -35 rushing yards, due in large part to an overwhelming pass rush by UMary. Quarterback Joseph Nava was dropped eight times for losses totaling 47 yards.
 
The -35 yards rushing is an NCAA-era school best for the Marauders, exceeding the previous low of 41 yards against Minot State in 2014. The school record is -51 and done twice, most recently against Azusa in the 2003 playoffs.
 

What better way than celebrating the victory with the school song! Good job @UMaryFB on defeating @UMNCrookstonFB pic.twitter.com/vSK3I4rdaL

— UMary Marauders (@umarysports) October 14, 2017

Following up on his career-best 2.5 sack day a week ago against Bemidji State, Brock Pittsley clobbered the UMC quarterback two times today. Jackson Grad added two sacks, a career-high. Also Casey Uhler, Luther Missoh and Devon Macias each had a sack and Chris Kraft and Daniel Hudrlik combined for a sack.  
 
Pittsley added a blocked kick while Kraft recovered a fumble and registered a team-leading eight tackles.
 
Overall the Marauders generated 443 yards of offense on 77 plays while limiting UMC to 227 on 51 plays.
 
The Marauders defense set an immediate tone, holding the Golden Eagles without a first down on the opening possession of the game. Taking over at its own 10 yard line, UMary drove 87 yards to the UMC one yard line but failed to punch the ball into the end zone.
 
Cody Goetz provided the only points of the first half when he converted a 26 yard field goal with 8:05 left to play before intermission. Looking to knot the game before break, the Golden Eagles drove to the Marauders 3-yard line and attempted a 20 yard field goal. Senior Brady Zittleman preserved the status quo for UMary when he sliced through the line and blocked the kick, providing the Marauders a 3-0 advantage at intermission.
 
UMary took control in the third quarter, scoring on the Marauders first two possessions after intermission. Beaty returned a short opening kick 30 yards to the UMC 39. Gay sprinted 24 yards on the first play and wrapped up the 5-play scoring drive with a 1 yard run. It was the third straight game Gay has reached the end zone.
 
After another 3-and-out for UMC, UMary took over at midfield. Ford broke the opening play 23 yards and Beaty followed with a 26 yard blast. Three plays later Weissinger found Little in the end zone for the freshman's first career catch and touchdown, building the Marauders lead to 17-0.
 
Featuring a Joseph Nava 24 yard pass to Adam Connette, Nava capped a 70 yard drive on a 10 yard run. Pittsley blocked the extra point and UMary held a 17-6 advantage.
 
UMary sealed the game early in the fourth quarter on Weissinger connecting with Little for 11 yards. Seemingly about to be intercepted, Little instead ripped the ball away from the UMC defender.
 
Devin Hope tacked on the game's final touchdown with a 4 yard run with 4:14 to play.
 
Nava led the UMC offense with 262 yards passing. He also was dropped for rushing losses of 43 yards on the eight UMary sacks. Connette caught seven passes for 116 yards. Rod Stewart snared three balls for 77 yards, including a 56 yard reception.
 
The Marauders held the ball for 40:09 minutes. In addition to converting 8-of-16 3^rd down attempts, UMary was 4-of-5 on fourth down attempts and scored 5-out-of-6 times in the red zone.
 
The victory was the first for the Marauders since a week 7 road victory against the Golden Eagles last year. UMary improved to 1-6 overall and the Northern Sun and 1-2 in the NSIC North. UMC is 0-7 and 0-3.
 
The Marauders next host St. Cloud State University at 3:30 pm on Saturday, Oct. 21.
 
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