BISMARCK, ND – The Battle for the Big Lake trophy is staying in Bismarck. Balance on both sides of the ball earned the University of Mary football team a second straight win over Highway 83 rival Minot State University as the Marauders defeated the visiting Beavers 36-21.
Four different Marauders reached the end zone.
Andrew Trandahl scored the first two touchdowns for UMary, offensive tackle
Shively Asoau Fua caught a lateral and ran 2 yards for a score,
Luke Bodine caught another touchdown and Minot native
Jaxon Feller also ran for a score.
Damini Wilks had another big day receiving. The senior wide receiver set career-highs with eight catches and 169 yards receiving. His long for the day was a 53 yard grab. This is the third time this season Wilks has posted 100 or more yards in a game.
Jordan Polo Solomon directed a Marauders attack that produced 23 first downs and 404 yards of offense. The senior signal caller completed 19-of-28 passes for 199 yards and no interceptions. He also ran for 30 yards.
Using their forceful rushing attack, the Beavers scored the opening touchdown of the game. Starting the opening drive of the game at its 21 yard line, Minot State went 79 yards on ten plays to take a 7-0 lead on a Carson Chrisman 35 yard run.
The rest of the game belonged to the Marauders. The Marauders tied the game on a 4 yard touchdown run by Trandahl before taking a 15-7 lead with 39 seconds left in the first half. Trandahl capped a 12 play 90 yard scoring drive with a 2 yard run.
Ramsey Morrell caught a 2-point conversion from Quin Haffner to send UMary into intermission with the lead.
The Marauders then scored on the opening possession of the second half. Set up by a 39 yard kick return by Feller, UMary marched 57 yards in ten plays to score on a 4 yard scoring pass from Hudson Sheldon to
Luke Bodine. It was the eighth touchdown catch of the season for Bodine, who entered the game second among NCAA Division II tight ends for receiving touchdowns.
After the Marauders defense held the Beavers to 18 yards, UMary took over at the home 33. Keyed by a 25 yard catch by Wilks, the Marauders drove to the MSU 2 yard line. Going deep into the playbook, Polo Solomon threw a lateral to Fua, the 6-5 320 pound left tackle. Making a clean catch, Fua raced untouched into the end zone for a 2 yard scoring run with 1:45 left in the third quarter.
Chrisman scored again for Minot State but UMary responded once again, this time driving 80 yards in nine plays for one final touchdown. Set up by a 40 yard pass from Sheldon to Wilks, Feller scored on an 8 yard run with 10:00 to play for a 36-14 UMary lead.
While Minot State ran for 310 yards and added 53 passing, the Marauders kept the Beavers off the board in the second and third quarters while the UMary offense kept scoring. UMary's defense also forced and recovered two fumbles to quelch two Minot State drives.
Abram Jopp led the Marauders with nine solo tackles.
Tuakoi Mahe had eight stops (seven solo).
Jack Stouffer made six stops (five solo) and forced a fumble.
Tofa Wilson also forced a fumble.
Christian Arteaga,
Ian Kopf and
Vegas George all had tackles for loss.
Kalani Washington broke up two passes.
Evan Lovett ran for 139 yards and a touchdown for Minot State. Chrisman ran for 127 yards and two scores and passed for 53 yards.
The Marauders improve to 4-5 overall, 3-5 in the NSIC and 2-3 in the NSIC North. UMary has four wins in a season for the first time since 2021. The Beavers slip to 2-7 overall, 2-6 in the NSIC and 2-2 in the NSIC North.
The Marauders wrap up their home schedule on Saturday, November 8. Game time on Senior Day is 12 noon at the MDU Resources Community Bowl.
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