Box Score MANKATO, MN – Fresh off a homecoming victory, the University of Mary found itself on the road facing the nation's best scoring defense and one of the best overall teams in the country. Despite trading a touchdown apiece early and becoming only the second team this season to score multiple touchdowns in a game against 3
rd ranked Minnesota State University, the Marauders couldn't contain the dangerous Mavericks.
The Marauders strung together a pair of 75-yard touchdown drives in each half but it wasn't nearly enough against a Mavericks team that scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams on the way to setting a school scoring record in a 74-17 win over UMary.
After Minnesota State's defense scored on the second play of the game on a 26 yard interception return, UMary showed resiliency on its next possession. Taking over at their own 25 yard line, the Marauders quickly drove into scoring position after
Logan Nelson completed passes to
Danny Kittner for 20 yards and
Garrett Weissinger for 30. After a couple Mavericks penalties placed the ball at the MSU 3 yard line,
Bryan Lumsden drove the ball home to knot the game at 7-7.
The Mavericks immediately matched the Marauders scoring drive as Shane Zylstra caught a 32 yard scoring pass and MSU hit on a two-point conversion to lead 15-7 in what looked like it could be a shootout.
The tide turned against the Marauders on their next possession when Nelson was injured on a second down play and didn't return for the remainder of the game.
MSU scored the next six times the Mavericks touched the ball in the first half and led 50-7 at intermission.
Continuing to work, the Marauders put together a 75 yard drive on their first possession of the third quarter. Following first down pass completions from
Avery Gould to Kittner and
Luke Little, Gould finished the drive when he connected with Little for a 43 yard touchdown pass.
The Marauders wrapped up their scoring on a
Brody Riggs 26 yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Taking possession after
Cyrano Rayfield recovered a fumbled MSU punt, Gould set up the score with a 25 yard run.
Gould passed for a career-high 135 yards in the game with Nelson adding 51. Little caught four passes for 84 yards and a score. Kittner caught a team-high six passes for 53 yards. The NSIC leader in all purpose yardage, Kittner also added 24 yards on two kick returns.
Bailey Meyer averaged 42.1 yards on ten punts, including a pair of 50 yard boots.
Jarad Zittleman and
Richard Bendish tied for the team lead in tackles with nine.
Dylan Anthony added eight tackles and Rayfield seven.
Su'e Taugavau had five stops, including a tackle for loss.
Nate Gunn led Minnesota State with 118 yards on seven carries, including a 58 yard scoring run. Zylstra caught three passes for 91 yards and a score. Overall the Mavericks posted 673 yards off offense – including 472 on the ground – while holding the Marauders to 226 yards.
Four different players had sacks for Minnesota State, including Garrett Jansen, who finished with two tackles for loss. MSU entered the game allowing 8.8 points/game and hadn't allowed a team to reach double figures in points since the season opener.
The Marauders return home to host Wayne State College on Saturday, Oct. 26. The Marauders football Never Surrender Cancer Awareness Game kicks off at 2 pm at the MDU Resources Community Bowl.
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