BISMARCK, ND – University of Mary All-American Danny Kittner accumulated nearly 250 total yards and Collin Gapen caught a pair of scoring passes but missed opportunities for the home team and a punishing running game by visiting Southwest Minnesota State University proved costly to the Marauders in a 31-28 loss to the Mustangs.
 
This was the third straight one possession defeat for the Marauders this season.
 
Kittner caught nine passes for 152 yards in the game, season highs in both categories for the senior. He also returned three kicks for 69 yards, had a 19 yard punt return and ran the ball once for 4 yards. Kittner led the nation last season in all purpose yards, catches and receiving yards.
 
Korvin Feagins gave the Marauders defense an early jolt when he picked off a Mustangs pass on their opening possession. Three plays later the Marauders turned the ball over on a fumble and the Mustangs were in business at the UMary 34. SMSU needed just three plays to reach the end zone as Adrian Tolbert caught a 21 yard pass from Justus McComb to claim the early 7-0 advantage.
 
Two possessions later, the Marauders knotted the game when Logan Nelson found Gapen in the back of the end zone for a 12 yard scoring strike with 3:42 left in the first quarter to punctuate a 47 yard drive.
 
Immediately the Mustangs responded, scoring with 1:08 left in the first on Jesse Sherwood's first of three touchdowns in the game, scoring from 3 yards out for a 14-7 lead.
 
With UMary unable to take advantage of a Ty'Rhae Gibson interception in the second and SMSU missing a field goal, neither team produced points in the second.
 
The Marauders came into the second half on fire. Jaxon Young tackled the SMSU kick returner at the 17 yard line. Three plays and three yards later, the Mustangs were forced to punt from their 20. Making the special teams play of the game, Gabe Levy sliced through and blocked the punt with Sonny Brown recovering at the 10. Dave Small Jr. burst for 7 yards on play one and appeared to reach the end zone on second down but was ruled down at the 1 yard line. A yard loss on the next play and an incomplete pass on 4^th down denied the Marauders a chance to even the game. The lost opportunity also became a major turning point.
 
Taking over at their own 2, the Mustangs drove the field in 12 plays to take an insurmountable two score lead at 21-7 with Sherwood scoring from the 3.
 
Refusing to fold, the Marauders needed just five plays to go 63 yards. A Kittner catch for 29 yards set up a 15 yard Nelson to Riley Potthast touchdown reception with 1:44 to play in the 3^rd and UMary down 21-14.
 
After forcing the Mustangs to punt, Nelson was intercepted two plays later. Taking advantage of the miscue, SMSU drove 64 yards with Sherwood scoring again, this time on a 20 yard run for a 28-14 lead early in the 4^th quarter.
 
Keyed by an incredible diving grab by Potthast at the 1 yard line for a 47 yard pickup on UMary's next possession, Small scored from 1 yard out to bring the Marauders within 28-14 and 7:40 to play.
 
An SMSU field goal from 40 yards out with 4:59 on the clock pushed the Mustangs advantage to 31-21.
 
Not yet done the Marauders again scored quickly. Using catches of 24 and 20 yards by Kittner to get into scoring position, Nelson connected with Gapen at the goal line with 2:47 showing on the clock and the lead down to 31-28.
 
The Mustangs then recovered an onside kick and converted one first down before punting with 26 seconds on the clock. Taking over at their own 20, UMary moved to the 42 before a desperation heave with the clock expiring was picked off.
 
Gapen finished with five catches for 63 yards and two scores. Potthast came up with four grabs for 76 yards.
 
Nelson finished with 307 yards passing and three TDs. He also ran for 28 yards.
 
Small added 60 yards on the ground.
 
Jamire Jackson led the Marauders defense with 10 tackles. Devyn Charles had nine stops and two pass breakups. Xzavier Wilkins added seven tackles (six solo) and Tre Gola-Callard added sis tackles (four solo) and added a pass breakup.
 
Sherwood ground out 205 yards and three TDs on 36 carries for SMSU. McComb added 51 yards rushing and threw for 175 yards, one TD and two interceptions.
 
The Marauders (0-3 overall) generated 392 yards of offense, including 307 through the air. The Mustangs (2-1 overall) ran for 301 yards and totaled 476 yards of offense and 27 first downs.
 
UMary next visits Minnesota State University on Saturday, Sept. 24, in Mankato, MN.
 
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