BISMARCK, ND – Back-to-back scoring drives in the fourth quarter for the University of Mary football team gave the Marauders their first lead of the game and opened the door to upsetting #17 University of Minnesota Duluth. But the open door quickly swung shut as the visiting Bulldogs rebounded to claim a 27-12 win over the Marauders.
Both teams had chances to take a lead in a scoreless first half. The Marauders reached the Bulldogs 15 yard line on their opening drive of the day before a fumble ended UMary's scoring hopes.
UMary ended a UMD drive at the Marauders 11 yard line on a 4
th-and-2 stop when Chritopher Federico made a tackle for no gain. The Bulldogs then reached the Marauders 13 yard line before
Travis Biery intercepted a pass tipped by
Cameron Brusven.
The first half ended when the Marauders were intercepted on a 4
th-and-goal from the 1 yard line.
UMD scored on back-to-back possessions early in the third quarter to claim an 11-0 lead. The Bulldogs looked to expand the lead on the second play of the fourth quarter but Biery rose up and blocked a 59 yard field goal attempt with the wind behind the kicker.
Taking over at the UMD 45, the Marauders took advantage of a holding call on a Bulldogs defender on a 4
th-and-2 to keep the drive alive. An 8-yard
Xavier Brackenridge run and a 13-yard catch by
Seb Harris got the Marauders to the 1 yard line. Brackenridge then powered into the end zone with 10:21 to play to close the gap to 11-6.
The Marauders regained possession of the ball immediately as
Jack Henninger's line drive kickoff ricocheted off a UMD player and was recovered by DJ Gabriel at midfield.
UMary moved quickly.
Ryan Blair connected with
Karsyn Jablonski for 22 yards before floating a 28-yard scoring pass into the hands of Harris with 7:19 to play. A native of London, England, the first touchdown for Harris at UMary game the Marauders a 12-11 lead.
The UMary lead lasted until the next snap when the Marauders 2-point conversion attempt was intercepted by Jace Walrath at the UMary 3 yard line and returned 97 yards for two points and a 13-12 Bulldogs lead.
The Bulldogs then took over, scoring on their next two possessions while holding the Marauders without a first down.
Brackenridge had another big game for UMary. After scoring twice at MSU Moorhead in the Marauders last game, the junior running back ran for 92 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. He busted out for a long of 38 yards on the first drive of the day. He also caught three passes for 17 yards.
Biery finished with seven tackles, including one for a loss. He had UMary's lone interception of the game and blocked a field goal.
Federico finished with 11 tackles, including nine solo stops and one for a loss.
Luke Dockter had the Marauders lone sack. Brusven broke up one pass, made a tackle for a loss and finished with six stops.
Jett Solomon broke up two passes.
Walrath led the Bulldogs with nine tackles. He had a sack and forced a fumble.
Derrick Johnson ran for 80 yards and a score for UMD.
The Marauders limited the Bulldogs to 140 yards passing as UMD completed just 11-of-20 throws. The Bulldogs finished with 385 total yards and just 18 first downs. The Marauders recorded 14 first downs and 240 yards of offense.
UMary now prepares for the annual Battle for the Big Lake against Highway 83 rival Minot State University. The Marauders and the Beavers face off at 2 pm Saturday, October 31, in Minot, ND.
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