BISMARCK, ND – After a September filled with heartache, the start of October brought celebration. Taking their first lead of the day on the final snap of the game, the University of Mary football team rallied past visiting Northern State University 27-26 in overtime for the Marauders first win of the season.
 
Down 14-0 to start the game, the Marauders fell behind in the first overtime on a 20 yard touchdown pass to Greg Lux from Will Madler. It was the Wolves first score since the first half. The Marauders then blocked the extra point – their second point after block of the game – to open the door to victory.
 
Facing 2^nd and 6 at the 21 yard line, UMary head coach Craig Bagnell pulled out all the stops. With quarterback Jesse Forknell split out wide left and running back Dave Small Jr. in shotgun, All-American wide receiver Danny Kittner took a hand off on an end around before flipping the ball to Forknell heading the opposite direction. Under pressure while rolling right, Forknell lofted a perfect ball to Collin Gapen in the back right corner of the end zone to pull even with the Wolves 26-26.
 
With a win in sight, a perfect snap by Josh Zakavec to the holder Kittner was followed by a flawless kick through the uprights by Kevin Powell, setting off a wild celebration for the Marauders.
 
For the Marauders, who had opened the season with four losses by one possession, including two decided in the final minute of play, the win was electric for the team and the UMary fans.
 
Facing the top defense in the Northern Sun with Forknell making his first collegiate start, the Wolves jumped out to a 14-0 lead with scores in both the first and second quarters.
 
UMary found its footing midway through the second quarter. Taking over at their own 9 yard line, the Marauders drove the field in five plays. Following a 55 yard catch and run from Traivon Dyson, Small ran 14 yards for a touchdown on the next play with 4:50 on the clock.
 
The Wolves responded with another score but the extra point was blocked, sending Northern State into intermission leading 20-6.
 
The second half belonged to the Marauders. On their second possession, Forknell leaned heavily on Luke Bodine and the tight end delivered. Bodine caught passes of 24 and 4 yards as the Marauders moved down the field. Facing a 3^rd and 6, Forknell looked Bodine's way once again at the goal line for a 12 yard scoring pass, pulling the Marauders to within 20-13 on an 11 play 67 yard drive.
 
The Marauders tied the game on an epic drive that included another big catch by Dyson and two major penalties on the Wolves. Starting at the UMary 15, Forknell hit Dyson for a 28 yard catch on 3^rd and 6 that ended at the UMary 44. Three plays later Northern State sacked Forknell for a 9 yard loss but an unsportsmanlike contact call on the Wolves resulted in a 15 yard penalty and automatic first down. Six plays later the Wolves were called for targeting as Forknell went into a slide after a short gain, resulting in another 15 yards and a 1^st down at the NSU 17. After a catch by Kittner and three runs for Small, Forknell delivered a strike to Gapen across the middle for a 19 yard touchdown, the 17 play of an 85 yard drive. Powell delivered the extra point and the Marauders pulled even with the Wolves at 20-20 with 3:42 left in the game.
 
The Marauders held the Wolves to 12 yards on their next possession to force overtime and victory.
 
Forknell completed 18-of-30 passes for 264 yards, throwing three TDs without an interception. Dyson caught three passes for 99 yards, Gapen had two for 40 yards and two TDs and Bodine three catches for 40 yards and a score. Kittner was held to five passes for 41 yards and added another 62 return yards.
 
Small ran for 34 yards and a TD and caught three passes for 28 yards.
 
Defensively Devin Beck had a team-leading nine tackles. Ty'Rhae Gibson had two of the Marauders five pass breakups. Mason Phillips posted a tackle for loss.
 
The Marauders (1-4 overall/NSIC / 1-0 NSIC North) generated 16 first downs and 291 total yards of offense, with 264 coming through the air. The Wolves came into the game allowing less than 240 yards and under 16 points per game.
 
Northern State (2-3, 0-1) generated 307 yards (192 rushing) and 20 first downs. Stanley Haskins had 98 yards rushing and Madler added 53. Madler also threw for 115 yards and a score.
 
The Marauders next visit the University of Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, Oct. 8. Kickoff is set for 12 noon.
 
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