MINOT, North Dakota -- Minot State put together a five-play, 80-yard drive, culminating in a 28-yard touchdown reception from Matyas Bily with 44 seconds left in the ballgame to give the Beavers a 34-31 win over Mary on Saturday afternoon at Herb Parker Stadium.
The Beavers improved to 3-6 on the year and 3-5 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play, while the Marauders fell to 3-6 and 2-6.
Brandon Hines Jr. paced the Beavers rushing attack by accumulating 74 yards and two touchdowns over the course of the game, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. Jett Lundeen also added 61 yards and one touchdown on the ground, averaging 5.5 yards per carry, as well as 25 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown thanks to a pass thrown from Matt Shinn in a reverse trickplay. Jaden Fox chipped in with 60 yards as well, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Shinn pulled in four catches for 47 yards.
Kyce Matthews showed out for the Minot State defense, collecting seven tackles, 1.0 TFL, and one interception. Meshach Arthur added four tackles, 2.5 TFL, and 1.5 sacks and Conner Raetzman had nine tackles, 1.5 TFL, and one sack in the win.
Both Minot State and Mary forced one turnover in Saturday's contest, with Minot State turning that takeaway into seven points. The Minot State offense did a good job extending drives, converting on 57.1 percent of third-down attempts. The Beavers also went 1-for-1 on fourth down.
Minot State's defense was dominant against the run, limiting Mary to just 34 yards on the ground. Minot State out-rushed Mary by 160 yards. The Beavers defense disrupted Mary's backfield all game, collecting four sacks and nine total tackles for loss.
Minot State took care of business in the red zone, scoring three times on three trips inside Mary's 20-yard line.
How It Happened
Minot State responded to an early 10-0 Mary advantage with a second quarter touchdown to narrow the deficit to 10-7.The Beavers then took the lead on a seven-yard rushing touchdown from Hines Jr., making the score 14-10.
Mary then scored to make it a 14-13 game, but Minot State responded with 11:38 left in the third quarter to increase its lead to 20-13.Mary then took control of the lead, building a 24-20 advantage before the Beavers got on the scoreboard again with a one-yard touchdown run from to jump back in front 27-24.
After Mary took a 31-27 lead, Minot State responded with to a 28-yard touchdown pass from to Bily to jump back ahead 34-31 with :44 remaining in the fourth quarter. With under five seconds left in the game, UMary attempted a miracle 51 yard field goal and missed. Neither team scored again in the game, sending the Beavers home victorious.
Game Notes
» Minot State had two players reach the end zone multiple times, as Jett Lundeen scored two touchdowns and Hines Jr. added another two.
» Mary outgained Minot State 358-342 in the contest.
» Minot State had their highest scoring quarter in the fourth period, when they put up 14 points.
» Minot State converted 4 of 7 third downs while Mary was successful on 3 of 16.
» The Beavers had four players with more than eight tackles in the ballgame led by Austin Young, who had 12.
» Minot State went 1-for-1 on fourth down, converting on 100 percent of attempts.
» The Beavers did not have any negative plays from scrimmage in the contest.
» The Beavers totaled nine tackles for loss and added four sacks.
» Ryan Blair led the Marauders passing attack, completing 25 of his 36 attempts for 324 yards and one touchdown.
» Karsyn Jablonski was Mary's leading receiver with 127 yards.
