MARSHALL, MN – A dominant day by Josh Obisui and the University of Mary defense led the Marauders to a 15-6 road win over Southwest Minnesota State University. Virtually unblockable on the day, Obisui sacked the SMSU quarterback for a safety, forced the fumble that was returned for the Marauders lone touchdown and posted four tackles behind the line in the victory.
 
The win is the first for the Marauders in Northern Sun play this season. UMary improved to 2-7 overall and 1-7 in the NSIC. SMSU is 0-9 overall and 0-8 in the NSIC.
 
The Marauders defense forced three turnovers in the game and held the Mustangs to 12 first downs and 224 yards of offense. It is the fewest yards and first downs UMary has allowed this season.
 
SMSU scored early in the second to take a 6-0 lead and looked to convert a 4^th-and-1 at the UMary 41 to continue the momentum against a Marauders defense 6^th in the nation in preventing 4^th down conversions. Obisui blew up the Mustangs efforts in the backfield, crushing SMSU quarterback Wyatt Oak behind the line and jarring the ball loose. Maleik Bradford scooped up the ball at the UMary 40 yard line and raced 60 yards for the touchdown. Kevin Powell added the extra point and UMary claimed a 7-6 at 5:14 of the second quarter.
 
The defensive touchdown is the fourth of the season for UMary, which ranked 7^th in NCAA Division II in defensive touchdowns entering the weekend.
 
On the next offensive play, Matty Horne intercepted a pass by Oak and the Marauders took aver at the SMSU 30 yard line. Five plays later Powell connected on a 39 yard field goal with 1:54 on the clock to send UMary into intermission with a 10-6 lead.
 
Obisui put the next points on the board for UMary himself. With the Mustangs facing a 3^rd-and-12 from the SMSU 2 yard line, the junior defensive lineman tracked down Kendon Krogman in the end zone for a sack and a safety and a 12-3 lead.
 
Keyed by a 31 yard run by Carl Henry, Powell struck from 23 yards out for his second field goal of the day to extend the Marauders lead to 15-6 with 6:32 left in the game. The 10-play scoring drive covered 78 yards and consumed 5:28 of time.
 
After forcing the Mustangs to go 3-and-out and punt the ball back to the Marauders, UMary turned the game over to Henry to close out the win. The sophomore running back ground out 52 yards on seven carries as the Marauders picked up a pair of first downs and ran 4:24 off the clock before eventually punting the ball back to the Mustangs.
 
With time running out on SMSU, Obisui eliminated any hopes for a Mustangs rally when he forced Krogman to fumble with Travis Biery recovering the ball at the SMSU 28 with under a minute left to play.
 
Obisui finished with four tackles for loss, a sack, a safety, two forced fumbles, and eight tackles (six solo).
 
Mason Phillips also had another big game for the Marauders. The UMary leader in tackles for loss, the junior linebacker added two more to his season total. Phillips posted a team-high 11 tackles (six solo).
 
Henry led a balanced Marauders offensive attack that accumulated 131 yards rushing and 132 passing for 263 total yards and 16 first downs. He rushed for a career-best 108 yards on 17 carries, including his run of 31 yards.
 
Karsyn Jablonski caught three passes for 68 yards, including a 37 yard catch from Joran Polo-Solomon on UMary's first offensive play of the day. Mujeeb Rufai added five catches for 37 yards.
 
Making his second straight start, Polo-Solomon completed 14-of-20 passes for 132 yards.
 
Ian Kopf blocked the SMSU extra point attempt in the second quarter, his second of the season and sixth of his career. Kopf is UMary's NCAA-era record holder for blocked kicks.   
 
Oak led the SMSU offense with 40 yards rushing and 42 passing. Josiah Hendersten posted 13 tackles with a sack for the Mustangs and Thomas Mergen added two tackles for loss.
 
The Marauders next visit Minnesota State University on Saturday, November 9, in Mankato, MN. Game time is 12 noon against the Mavericks, ranked 22^nd in the latest AFCA poll. It will be the sixth time this season UMary has faced a team either nationally ranked or that is receiving votes.
 
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