MOORHEAD, MN –
Traivon Dyson cracked the century mark in receiving yards for the second straight game and the University of Mary held the advantage in yards rushing, passing and total yards in their final game of the season. Despite the positives, the Marauders couldn't overcome turnovers and a blazing fast start by MSU Moorhead as the homestanding Dragons captured the 17
th Battle for the Paddle 35-7.
Dyson set a career-high with nine catches covering 137 yards with a long of 35 yards. This comes following his 150 yard and two touchdown performance as week earlier in a Battle of the Big Lake win over Minot State.
Major Kelley finished with a game-high two sacks in his final game with the Marauders. The linebacker – one of 11 seniors on the squad – created 14 yards of loss on the two sacks.
The Marauders held the edge in yards passing (297-290), yards rushing (90-54) and total yards (387-344). The Dragons held a 21-20 edge in first downs. MSUM also finished +4 in turnovers, intercepting four UMary passes.
The Dragons started fast, scoring on a 72 yard touchdown reception by Madden Thorson on the home team's first offensive play of the game. A blocked punt by MSUM at the end of the Marauders first possession was returned for a score. MSUM capped a 21 point first quarter by converting an interception into Jack Strand's second passing touchdown.
Amir Bankhead scored the Marauders lone touchdown late in the fourth quarter, scoring from 1 yard out to cap a 71 yard drive that consumed eight plays. Bankhead finished with a game-high 44 yards.
Sofian Massoud threw for 202 yards passing, completing 21-of-30 attempts.
Jaxon Young caught five passes for 66 yards.
Karsyn Jablonski added five grabs for 43 yards.
Mujeeb Rufai hauled in seven passes and
Andrew Trandahl caught five.
Reginal Morrow led UMary with eight tackles (five solo). Phillip Mason, one of the Northern Sun leads in sacks, finished the season with 6.5 after splitting a sack with
Christian Arteaga. Phillips had six stops in the game.
Madden had 10 catches for 146 yards and a score to lead MSUM. Jack Strand finished 29-of-45 for 290 yards and two touchdowns.
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