Behind a four-touchdown performance from UMD quarterback
Logan Graetz, the No. 19 Bulldogs defeated UMary by a score of 31-27 on Saturday afternoon. The win moves Minnesota Duluth to 5-1 on the season and 2-0 in NSIC North play.
On the day, Graetz went 13 for 24 while throwing for a total of 150 yards and four touchdowns. On the receiving end,
Dane Lew notched a touchdown reception while
Byron Bynum caught two touchdown passes.
Armani Carmickle kept up his impressive play as he led UMD in receiving yards with 60-yards. Running back
Cazz Martin posted another 100-yard day as he notched a total of 141 rushing yards on Saturday. On the defensive side of the ball, UMD was led by cornerback
Michael Kirkendoll who posted eight total tackles and one forced fumble on the day.
Marcus Glodowski poured in seven total tackles, while
Brad Dati noted six of his own.
UMary got the ball to start. On the first play of the game, Kordus and Pearson broke through and sacked UMary quarterback Logan Nelson. A few plays later,
Cole Refsnider made a quick move to force a quarterback hurry and force UMary to punt. Following a muffed punt, UMD took over at the 35-yard line of the Marauders. On their first offensive play of the game, Graetz let it fly and found Bynum streaking down the field for a 35-yard touchdown. Just two minutes into the game, the Bulldogs had the 7-0 lead.
Another failed drive by the Marauders gave UMD possession at their own 23-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Martin punched the ball outside for a solid nine-yard gain. A few plays later, Bynum took a handoff on a sweep and gained 12 yards. On fourth and three from the Mary 36-yard line, UMD was called for a false start, making it fourth and eight. The Bulldogs would elect to punt. UMD punter
Logan Kobus notched a beautiful 35-yard punt to pin the Marauders at their own 5-yard line with 5:44 remaining in the first quarter. Neither team would add to the scoreboard in the first quarter. UMD took a 7-0 lead to the second quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Mary was faced was a third and six from their own 42-yard line. On the play,
Dan Monson broke free and sacked Nelson for a massive 8-yard loss, forcing the Marauders to punt. On the ensuing possession, UMD turned the ball over on fourth down. While lined up in punt formation, Bulldogs punter Kobus attempted to run for the first down but would be stopped short. With 11:13 left in the first half, Mary took over at the UMD 37-yard line. On second down, Nelson found a Mary receiver down the sideline for a 20-yard gain. On the very next play, the Marauders converted on a 13-yard touchdown pass to the right corner of the endzone to tie the game at seven.
On the next drive, UMD started at their own 28-yard line. Big running plays from Martin and
Chamere Thomas moved the Bulldogs all the way down into UMary's RedZone. On a third and ten from the Marauders 12-yard line, Graetz notched his second touchdown pass of the game as he hit Lew in the back of the endzone. The score was a 13-yard touchdown pass and is Lew's first touchdown of the season. UMary took over with 5:34 remaining in the second quarter.
After a three-and-out, UMD got the ball back at midfield. Martin got the call on the first play of the drive and tallied a 28-yard run down to the UMary 26-yard line. A few plays later, Graetz connected with Bynum for a 5-yard touchdown pass, giving the Bulldogs a 21-7 lead with just over three minutes left to play in the first half. For both Graetz and Bynum, the touchdown gave them their first multi-touchdown game of their careers. UMD had a 21-7 advantage with 3:14 remaining in the second quarter. The ensuing drive saw the Marauders find the endzone with just 0:51 left in the first half, making the score 21-14 in favor of the Bulldogs.
With under a minute remaining in the first half, UMD used 35-yard pass completion from Graetz to
Armani Carmickle to get down to the UMary 22-yard line. On third down, Graetz attempted to find Carmickle in the corner of the endzone, but the pass fell incomplete.
Curtis Cox would hit a 39-yard field goal to give UMD a 24-14 advantage heading into halftime.
UMD began the second half with possession and couldn't get anything going. In the third quarter, the Marauders would use a 22-yard touchdown pass to get back into the game and cut the UMD lead to 24-20. The Bulldogs offense stalled and wouldn't tally a point in the third quart. In the fourth quarter, UMary took the lead. With 11:39 remaining in the fourth, a one-yard run put UMary ahead 27-24. Trailing in the fourth, the Bulldogs put together an eight play, 63-yard drive to take the lead. On second and two from the UMary 2-yard line, Graetz found Same Pitz for a two-yard touchdown reception. The Marauders would fail to tie the game in the remaining 7:30 let to play. UMD walked out of North Dakota with a 31-27 road victory.
Up Next
UMD will return to James S. Malosky Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 16 for a 12:05 PM matchup with Concordia University, St. Paul.
