WINONA, MN – Facing their first road test of the year, the University of Mary football team started fast to claim an early lead with two touchdowns in the opening quarter. Homestanding Winona State University eventually found its footing and rebounded to hold the Marauders out of the end zone the remainder of the day as the Warriors rallied for a 25-17 win over UMary.
 
Defenses for both teams took center stage on a wet day. UMary held Winona State to 281 yards, including just 84 through the air. It was the fewest passing yards allowed by UMary since midway through the 2019 season.
 
Devyn Charles led the defensive charge for UMary. The senior linebacker led the Marauders with 2.5 tackles for loss and 10 tackles. A team captain, Charles had a sack on which he forced a fumble. Jamire Jackson added nine tackles (five solo) and a tackle for loss. UMary forced a pair of turnovers as Tre Gola-Callard made his first career interception and Devin Beck added a fumble recovery to his eight tackles.
 
A potent Marauders attack was also contained as UMary produced 188 yards of offense, including 150 yards passing. The Warriors generated four sacks and had seven tackles for loss.
 
The Marauders started the day with two impressive drives.
 
Keyed by a 37 yard pass from Logan Nelson to Danny Kittner while facing a 3^rd-and-7, UMary drove 74 yards on nine plays to score on the opening possession of the game. Kittner capped the drive with a 3 yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.
 
On their next possession UMary featured the running of Dave Small Jr. as the Marauders drove 70 yards on 15 plays for the score. 36 yards came on five carries by Small, who went 11 yards on consecutive plays with the second run reaching the end zone.
 
Winona State immediately responded to the second UMary touchdown, scoring on a 22 yard run by Ty Gavin with 37 seconds left in the opening quarter, cutting the Marauders lead to 14-7. Gavin finished the day with 148 yards rushing .
 
The only points of the second quarter came on a safety by the Warriors when the Marauders recovered their only fumble in the end zone.
 
The Marauders defense set up the next UMary score. Two plays into the second half, Beck recovered a fumble forced by Charles at the WSU 39 yard line. Kevin Powell connected on a field goal from 35 yards out for a 17-9 lead.
 
Winona State followed up with touchdowns on their next two possessions to take a 22-17 lead, scoring the second time with 22 seconds left in the third.
 
The Warriors turned the game over to their run game in the fourth, holding the ball for 11:37 and running 19 plays – 16 rushing - while UMary snapped the ball just eight times on three possessions.
 
Kittner, who caught six passes for 75 yards, broke another career record for the Marauders. On the first play of the day, the senior wide receiver caught a pass for six yards that pushed him past Elby Pope for career receiving yards. Already the UMary career leader in receptions, Kittner has 2,854 yards receiving in his four seasons with the Marauders.
 
Luke Bodine had five catches for 30 yards. Small ran for 43 yards and a score.
 
Nelson continued his hike up the career leader boards also. The senior quarterback became just the 4^th Marauders to surpass 5,000 yards passing and now has 5,146.   
 
The Marauders (0-2 overall/NSIC) next return home to host Southwest Minnesota State University on Saturday, Sept. 17. Kickoff is slated for 2 pm.
 
 
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