MOORHEAD, MN – A pair of bruising touchdown runs by
Xavier Brackenridge led the University of Mary in the 20
th Battle for the Paddle but his efforts couldn't overcome a potent MSU Moorhead passing attack in a 42-22 homecoming win for the Dragons.
Running through attempted tackles and heavy contact, Brackenridge scored on a 31-yard run in the 1
st quarter and from 16 yards out in the 3
rd quarter for the first two UMary touchdowns of the game. The junior running back finished the day with 66 yards rushing on eight carries.
The Marauders (3-4 overall, 2-4 NSIC) gained 144 yards on the ground and 236 total yards.
The Dragons (5-2, 5-1 NSIC) passed for 332 yards and totaled 476 yards.
The Marauders scored on their second possession of the game. Taking over at its own 38 yard line, UMary needed just six plays to score. The last 31 yards came on the ground as Brackenridge raced through the left side for the score. In addition to avoiding potential tacklers, the Billings, MT, native also fought through an incidental collision with a game official to tie the game 7-7 with 4:22 remaining in the first quarter.
Down two scores to start the second half, the Marauders forced the Dragons to punt after losing yards on each of their first two plays after intermission. Both tackles for loss featured
Christopher Federico with
Sean Cotten helping on the second.
Taking advantage of a shanked punt by MSUM and a short field, UMary took over the Dragons 40-yard line. Keyed by a 14-yard run by
Carl Henry, the Marauders faced a 3
rd-and-6 at the MSUM 16. Bullying his way through the line and into the end zone, Brackenridge's second touchdown and a
Ryan Blair to
Ramsey Morrell 2-point conversion pulled UMary within 21-15 with 8:52 left in the third quarter.
The Dragons responded with three straight touchdown drives in the third quarter to create significant separation before the Marauders scored again.
Taking over late in the third, the Marauders drove 75 yards in 15 plays and scored when
Desmond Duffy hauled in a 7-yard scoring pass from Blair to pull UMary within 42-22 with 9:00 left to play.
It was the last possession of the game for UMary as MSUM made five first downs and ran out the clock.
Blair finished with 92 yards passing and 26 yards rushing.
Karsyn Jablonski posted five catches for 31 yards.
Federico finished with 2.5 tackles for loss and had seven tackles. Cotton had UMary's lone sack and totaled 1.5 tackles for loss.
Abram Jopp and
Isaac Emmel added seven tackles each.
MSUM quarterback Drew Heubner tied a school record with six touchdown passes for the Dragons as he threw for 332 yards. Kalen Lucas caught 15 balls for 124 yards and two scores.
After a week off, the Marauders next return home to host the University of Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, October 24. Kickoff on Youth Football Day is 1 pm at the MDU Resources Community Bowl. Tickets are available online at
www.UMaryTickets.com
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