BISMARCK ND – Facing their toughest test of the year, the University of Mary threw everything it had against the 14
th ranked University of Sioux Falls.
Logan Nelson threw a season-high four scoring passes to four different players and
Dave Small Jr. scored a touchdown in a seventh straight game as the Marauders raced out to a two-touchdown lead. A punishing ground game by Sioux Falls denied UMary's hopes for a win as the Cougars rallied for a 41-27 victory over the Marauders.
Standing tall against a ferocious pass rush, Nelson completed 21-of-31 passes for 196 yards. He found four different players for scores as the Marauders played in front for much of the first three quarters.
UMary opened the game with an impressive drive into winds blowing over 25 miles per hour. Covering 75 yards in 12 plays, Nelson found a heavily covered
Traivon Dyson for a 12 yard touchdown pass on a 4
th down play to claim a 6-0 lead. It was the second straight game with a touchdown for the freshman Dyson.
After USF responded with a pair of field goals to tie the game, the Marauders exploded with a pair of touchdowns early in the second quarter.
Now moving with the wind, the Marauders regained their lead when Nelson found
Luke Bodine for a 22 yard touchdown pass at 12:56 of the second.
Following a big defensive effort on USF's subsequent possession,
Gabe Levy blocked the Cougars punt and a recovery by
Collin Gapen gave the Marauders the ball at the USF 3 yard line. On the first play, Nelson connected with Kittner in the back of the end zone for a 20-7 lead. After Sioux Falls scored on its next possession, UMary entered halftime leading 20-13.
Ty'Rhae Gibson set up the Marauders next score, intercepting a pass at the USF 47 on the opening possession of the second half for the Cougars. Dialing up a 37 yard pass deep over the middle from Nelson to Kittner, UMary built a 27-13 lead when Small caught an 11 yard pass down the right sidelines.
Turning to their run game on their next possession, the Cougars drove 67 yards – all on the ground – to pull within 27-20.
The Marauders looked to answer immediately, driving to the Cougars 8 yard line. An incomplete pass on 4
th down turned the ball and the momentum back to Sioux Falls. USF scored early in the 4
th quarter on a 9 yard run by Landon Freeman to pull even at 27-27. USF then cranked up their pass rush to produce sacks on UMary's next three possessions while taking the lead on a 38 yard touchdown pass to Ethan Wittenburg and Theo Reisdorfer's third rushing touchdown of the day.
Small ran for 45 yards and caught three passes for 18 yards. He becomes the first UMary player of the NCAA era to score touchdowns in seven consecutive games. All-time leading rusher Jamal Lomax scored in eight straight games in which he played, but he missed four games during his run in 2009-10.
Kittner finished the day with 11 catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. With 3,369 career receiving yards, he is now second all-time in the Northern Sun, trailing only Shayne Zylstra of Minnesota State (3,428). Kittner also has 259 career receptions, 2
nd in the NSIC all-time only to Nate Huot of Southwest Minnesota State (269).
Bodine finished with four catches for 42 yards and a TD.
Devin Beck led the Marauders defense with 10 tackles, including one for loss.
Devyn Charles had seven tackles and one for loss.
Reisdorfer finished with 219 yards rushing and three TDs for USF. Freeman ran for 95 yards and one score. Overall the Cougars ran for 327 yards and four touchdowns while passing for 95.
The Marauders generated 294 yards of offense and 19 first downs. The Cougars finished with 422 yards and 22 first downs.
Zach Durfee had 2.5 sacks for Sioux Falls.
The Marauders next host MSU Moorhead in the Battle for the Paddle for Homecoming 2022 on Saturday, October 22. Game time is 2 pm at the MDU Resources Community Bowl.
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