BISMARCK, ND – A pair of electrifying interception returns for touchdowns by
Justus Breston in a spectacular University of Mary debut for the junior defensive back led the Marauders to a 23-6 non-conference win over the University of Jamestown.
In the first meeting between the Marauders and the Jimmies since 2005, UMary's defense posted 16 points in the first half on the way to the Week 0 victory over their I-94 rival.
The Marauders opened the scoring when a center snap by the Jimmies sailed over the head of the Jamestown quarterback and out of the end zone for a 2-0 UMary lead with 1:47 left in the first quarter.
On the Jimmies next offensive play, Breston snared a Johnny Grann pass at the visitor's 25 yard line and sailed into the endzone untouched on the final snap of the opening quarter to give the Marauders a 9-0 edge.
Breston struck again midway through the second quarter. Hauling down an errant pass from Nick Martinez at the Jimmies 47 yard line, Breston weaved his way down the far sideline in front of the Jamestown bench to push the UMary lead to 16-0 with 7:17 showing on the clock.
Karsyn Jablonski put the game away on the first drive of the second half. With the Marauders facing a 3
rd-and-8 from their own 32, the sophomore wide receiver hauled in a pass at midfield and blazed down the field for a stunning 68 yard touchdown pass from
Sofian Massoud to increase UMary's lead to 23-0.
The Marauders defense then cranked up the pressure as
Grant Collins produced a sack to end the Jimmies next possession.
Mason Phillips erupted for a pair of sacks on the Jimmies subsequent possession, ending Jamestown's opening possession of the fourth quarter when the junior linebacker dropped Grann for a 5-yard loss on 4
th down deep in UMary territory.
Jakob Petry,
Abram Jopp and
Christopher Federico led the Marauders with five tackles. Jopp added an interception and a pass breakup.
In addition to his two interceptions, Breston, a junior defensive back who transferred to UMary from Chabot College, broke up a pass and made a tackle.
Massoud completed 21-of-25 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown to pace the Marauders attack.
Amir Bankhead picked up 34 yards rushing and 43 yards receiving.
Andrew Trandahl added 29 yards receiving and 27 on the ground.
UMary's
Kevin Powell pinned Jamestown deep all day, dropping four of his six punts inside the Jimmies 20 yard line.
Grann passed for 213 yards for the Jimmies but was sacked three times and threw two interceptions.
The Marauders next open Northern Sun action when UMary plays a second straight Thursday night game, hosting Augustana on September 5 at 6 pm.
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