Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Northern State University Wolves came within inches of clinching a dramatic win Thursday night in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football action, but instead, watched the visiting University of Mary Marauders escape with a 34-31 overtime win in a rare mid-week night game at Swisher Field.

The Wolves, who held leads of 14-3 and 21-13 in the first half and 28-21 in the fourth quarter, fell to 1-7 overall and 1-6 in NSIC play, while the Marauders moved to an even 4-4 on the year and 4-3 in the league.

NSU scored three touchdowns in the first half in a burst of offensive production, highlighted by a broken-play, left-handed pass from sophomore quarterback Eric Ellingson (Riverside, Calif.) that slipped through the hands of one NSU receiver and a pair of UM defenders before landing in the hands of senior wide-out Mike Stamps (Fresno, Calif.), who found the endzone to give the Wolves a 14-3 lead with 9:50 to go in the second quarter.

The Marauders countered with a field goal and a touchdown before the NSU's Tavis Ve'e (Alameda, Calif.) caught a 5-yard TD pass with 42 second left in the half to give the Wolves the 21-13 edge going into the break.

After a back-and-forth third quarter in which neither team could generate much offense, UM put together a 5-play, 62-yard drive late in the period, capped by Roman Penirian's second TD reception from senior quarterback Jesse Kozak with 2:08 left on the clock.  Down by two, the Marauders elected to go for two on the PAT, but Kozak's pass to Erik Kruse was knocked away.

However, an illegal substitution penalty against the Wolves gave UM a second chance at the PAT, and the Marauders took advantage as the Kozak-to-Kruse conversion play made it a 21-21 game heading into the final stanza.

The start of the fourth quarter looked much the same as the start of the third, as neither team could find a way to score.  NSU finally caught a break when senior linebacker Nate McGruder (Lead, S.D.) blocked a Christ Vokos punt attempt deep in UM territory.  Junior David Alvarez (Soquel, Calif.) recovered the block, returning it for his first touchdown of the year and giving the Wolves the one TD edge.

The blocked kick was the fourth in as many games for the Wolves.  McGruder has been credited with three of those four blocks.

The Marauders were not done, however, as they caught a huge break of their own on the ensuing kickoff.  Sophomore defensive end Matt McNabb (Riverview, Fla.), a converted tight end and a regular on special teams plays for the Wolves, forced his first fumble of the year, stripping UM return man Tim Brown of the ball near the sideline.  NSU appeared to recover the fumble, but game officials ruled that the ball was recovered out of bounds.  By rule, the Marauders retained possession, starting what would prove to be a 16-play, 70-yard scoring drive at their own 30-yardline.

The Marauders converted two fourth-down plays on that drive, including a fourth-and-goal TD pass from Kozak to Allen Merril from six yards out with just 23 seconds showing on the clock.  The ensuing Rett Thibodeaux PAT made it a tie score heading into overtime.

The Wolves had first crack at the endzone in the overtime period, narrowly missing a pair of Ellingson passes to the endzone.  Sophomore kicker Thomas Parrott (Tampa, Fla.) then converted on a 38-yard field goal attempt to give the Wolves the lead once again at 31-28.

Again, however, UM found a way to answer, this time in the form of a 13-yard Jamal Lomax run, giving the Marauders the dramatic OT victory.

Ellingson had a strong day offensively, completing 19 of 32 passes for 222 yards and the three first-half touchdowns.  Ve'e lead the way on the ground, carrying the ball 13 times for 48 yards.  The senior running back also had five catches for 36 yards and a score. 

Stamps also had a good day at the receiver position, catching two passes for 61 yards, including the 49-yard TD reception in the first quarter.

Defensively, junior linebacker Anthony Ponzo (Santa Rosa, Calif.) had a game-high 15 tackles.  Senior Chris McClellan (Hartsville, Tenn.) added eleven, while McNabb finished with nine tackles, including seven solo stops and the forced fumble.

UM's Lomax led all players with 114 yards on the ground for the Marauders.  Kruse also had 109 receiving yards, while Penirian had five catches for 76 yards and a pair of touchdowns.