MOORHEAD, MN – Freshmen receivers Luke Little and Anthony Shepherd both caught touchdowns and the University of Mary ground out 270 yards rushing but a first half scoring barrage by MSU Moorhead lifted the Dragons to a 51-19 win over the visiting Marauders in the Battle for the Paddle.
 
While the Marauders still lead the Paddle Trophy series 8-4, the Dragons have captured the last three meetings between the River City schools.
 
Behind a career-high 91 yards rushing on 22 carries by quarterback Garrett Weissinger, the Marauders ran for 270 yards on 56 carries. Weissinger scored UMary's first touchdown. Jordan Beaty added 45 yards and Deshawn Gay 40.
 
Making the first two catches of his career, Shepherd gained 30 yards receiving and scored on a 21 yard pass from Nick McCann. It was the first collegiate touchdown for the true freshman.
 
Little caught just one ball for ten yards but it was a scoring strike from Colton Farmer. It was the true freshman's third career catch and all three have been touchdowns.
 
Overall the Marauders posted 346 yards on offense and held the ball for 35:39.
 
The Dragons nearly matched the Marauders on the ground with 268 yards rushing. MSU tacked on 260 yards through the air for 528 total yards. Jakup Siani, the reigning Northern Sun offensive player of the week, ran for a game-high 94 yards and two scores and completed 12-of-19 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown.
 
MSUM scored first after marching the opening kickoff 75 yards in eight plays, capped by a 1 yard run by J. Kabami.
 
Immediately the Marauders responded. Keyed by runs of 25 yards from Weissinger and 28 by Gay and ended by a 5 yard touchdown run by Weissinger, UMary drove 72 yards in 14 plays. UMary fell just short of knotting the game when the point after attempt was blocked.
 
The rest of the half belonged to the Dragons, who scored on all six of their first half possessions and led 37-6 at half.
 
Following a pair of Dragons touchdowns in the third quarter, the Marauders found the end zone twice in the fourth quarter on the Shepherd and Little touchdown receptions.
 
Noah Krebs led the Marauders with eight tackles. Richard Bendish and Kendall Grier both had interceptions. Brock Pittsley and Casey Uhler had sacks for the Marauders. For Pittsley, second in the NSIC in sacks with six entering the game and now with seven, it was the fifth straight contest with a sack.
 
The Marauders have a short week, next visiting Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, on Thursday, Nov. 2, at 7 pm.
 
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