BISMARCK, ND – Facing a Northern Sun opponent receiving attention in national polls for the fifth time in seven weeks, the University of Mary remained within striking distance of #24 Wayne State College until the visitors tacked on a pair of fourth quarter scores in the Wildcats 30-0 win over the Marauders.
A rugged Marauders defensive effort limited the defending NSIC Offensive Player of the Week, Wildcats quarterback Nick Bohn, into completing just 6-of-13 passes for only 78 yards with an interception by
Jakob Petry, his second of the season.
Overall the Marauders (1-7 overall, 0-7 NSIC) held the Wildcats (6-1 overall, 5-1 NSIC) offense to just 296 yards and only 15 first downs. Both totals are season-bests for UMary. Nearly half of the Wayne State yardage came on the ground in the fourth quarter.
The Marauders held the advantage in total plays run (69-52) and in time of possession (34:39 to 25:21) but were unable to dent the endzone, making one trip into the red zone and twice moving inside the WSC 30 yard line.
Making his first start at UMary, Jordan Polo-Solomon threw for 186 yards while completing 25-of-38 passes.
Karsyn Jablonski caught six balls for 66 yards.
Luke Bodine also caught six passes covering 46 yards and
Mujeeb Rufai added five grabs for 38 yards.
Wayne State claimed a 3-0 lead on a field goal to cap the opening possession of the game. The Marauders defense slammed the door on the next two Wildcats possessions, forcing punts on back-to-back three-and-out possessions.
After UMary just missed converting on a 4
th-and-9 play at the WSC 28, the Wildcats drove 72 yards to take a 10-0 lead with 10:35 left in the first half, the last score before intermission.
UMary took possession to open the second half and drove to midfield before Wayne State intercepted a pass. The Wildcats marched 35 yards for a touchdown but
Mason Phillips blocked the extra point to keep the difference to two scores at 16-0.
The Marauders stopped the next two drives by the Wildcats, first on an interception by Petry and the next on a stop on 4
th-and-1 that
Grant Collins blew up in the backfield before
Tanner Nelson pushed the runner out of bounds for a 1-yard loss.
Looking to close the gap, the Marauders came up a yard short in a 4
th-and-2 conversion attempt at the WSC 36 yard line. This time the Wildcats took advantage and sealed the game with a 12 yard scoring run by Latravious Boyd, his second touchdown of the game, to build a 23-0 advantage with 12:42 to play.
Cameron Brusven led the Marauders in tackles with six, including five solo stops and one of two UMary sacks on the day.
Nelson was credited with two tackles for loss in the game.
Back in the lineup after missing three games with injury, Collins had a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Carter Sitzman led the Wildcats with 1.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss. Brennan Hayes ran for 137 yards and a touchdown with 127 yards coming in the fourth quarter. Boyd added 31 yards rushing.
The Marauders are off next weekend before visiting Southwest Minnesota State University on November 2. After playing at Minnesota State University on November 9, UMary closes out the 2024 season at home on November 16 in the Battle for the Paddle against MSU Moorhead.
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