BISMARCK, ND – Combining a pair of freshmen quarterbacks and a freshman running back with a gritty defense, the University of Mary football team stood poised to knock off the 11^th ranked team in the nation. The Marauders scored first and played from out front all day, never trailing and holding a lead until visiting Augustana University scored with 17 seconds left in the game to edge out UMary 21-20.
 
Behind the running of Xavier Brackenridge and Hudsen Sheldon and the passing of Sheldon and Quin Hafner, the Marauders (1-2 overall, 0-2 Northern Sun) created 408 yards of offense and 22 first downs against a Vikings (3-0, 2-0 NSIC) defense that was holding teams to under 300 yards per game.
 
Defensively the Marauders eliminated the Vikings running game, holding Augie to 23 yards on the ground and to 274 yards total. UMary's defensive line bottled up the Augie attack all day with the pass rush recording five sacks. Augie came into the game ranked 15^th nationally in total offense, averaging over 460 yards/game.
 
Taking a significant number of snaps out of the wildcat formation, Brackenridge ran for a career-high 133 yards. The redshirt freshman carried the ball 29 times in the game.
 
Making his first career start after taking his first snaps behind center the previous week at Wayne State College, Hafner hit Andrew Trandahl for a 10 yard touchdown pass with 2:00 left in the first quarter to give UMary a 7-0 lead. The scoring pass by the redshirt freshman quarterback capped a 7 play 87 yard drive.
 
UMary started its next possession on its own 27 yard line and this time it was Hudson who shined. Making his collegiate debut, the true freshman from Mandan, ND, hit Damani Wilks for a big 31 yard gain before completing the 8 play 73 yard drive with a 10 yard scoring run.
 
Jack Henninger soon added a 28 yard field goal to give the Marauders a 17-0 lead over the Vikings with 3:31 left in the half. It was the first college field goal attempt for the Marauders redshirt freshman kicker.
 
Augie took advantage of the UMary turnover to score a touchdown with 37 seconds before intermission, cutting the Marauders lead to 17-7.
 
The Marauders looked to tack on more points on the opening drive of the second half but fumbled at the Augustana 6 yard line. UMary's next possession did result in points as Henninger drilled a 26 yard field goal with 1:20 left in the 3^rd quarter for a 20-7 UMary lead.
 
With Mason Phillips leading an unrelenting pass rush, the Marauders quickly shut down the next two possessions by the Vikings.
 
Augustana would find its footing as a rain that started late in the first half subsided. Taking possession at their 33 yard line, the Vikings found the end zone for the first time when Ryan Kenny scored on a 1 yard touchdown run with 4:32 to play.
 
UMary was able to run the clock down to 55 seconds and pinned Augie at its own 16 yard line but the Vikings were able to overcome both hinderances. Moving quickly down the field, Gunnar Hensley found Cody Oswald for a 40 yard gain to the Marauders 19 yard line. Two plays later, Hensley found Oswald in the end zone for a 19 yard touchdown catch with 17 seconds to play to tie the game. The extra point kick provided the Vikings their first lead of the game at 21-20.
 
Sheldon ran for 108 yards and a touchdown for UMary. He also completed 7-of-11 passes for 100 yards. Hafner completed 5-of-8 passes for 55 yards and a touchdown.
 
Wilks caught five passes for 79 yards. Luke Bodine added five catches for 61 yards.
 
Phillips finished the game with 2.5 sacks. He also had two QB hurries. Christopher Federico and Vegas George also had sacks and Travis Biery combined forces with Phillips for a sack. Abram Jopp and Jaylen Martin both had six tackles for UMary (five solo) with Jopp also breaking up a pass.
 
Christian Jangula averaged 44.7 yards per punt with a long of 57.
 
Hensley passed for 251 yards and two touchdowns for Augie. Oswald caught four passes for 94 yards and one touchdown.
 
The Marauders return to the road with a visit to Southwest Minnesota State University on Saturday, September 20. Game time is 1 pm.
 
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