The No. 11 ranked Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs dropped a 31-28 decision to the Wayne State Wildcats on Saturday evening in Duluth. The loss gives the Bulldogs a 3-1 overall record on the season.
On defense, UMD linebacker
Brad Dati recorded a career-high 14 tackles, while also notching seven tackles for loss and two sacks.
Dayvia Gbor,
Nate Pearson, and
Paxton Woods all secured six total tackles with Pearson and Woods both noted multiple tackles for loss. 5th-year senior linebacker
Joe Kordus chipped in two tackles and an interception during Saturday's loss.
Leading the way for the UMD offense was running back
Cazz Martin. On the day, the senior posted a total of 163 rushing yards and three touchdowns, including a monster 75-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. For Martin, the three touchdowns tie his career-high. Wide receiver
Armani Carmickle turned in 69 receiving yards and one touchdown on four receptions. UMD quarterback
John Larson went 11 for 28 for 115 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in the loss.
The first half was a back-and-forth shootout between the two teams. Neither side would find the endzone until just over five minutes remaining in the first quarter. Faced with a first down and 15 from their own 24-yard line, the Wildcats would make the first blunder of the game.
Joe Kordus intercepted a pass from WSC quarterback Nick Bohn at Wayne State's own 30-yard line, giving UMD excellent starting field position. On the very next play, Martin broke free for a 30-yard rushing touchdown, giving the Bulldogs a 7-0 advantage. UMD would take the lead into the second quarter.
Driving early in the second quarter, the Wildcats used a 34-yard pass completion to set themselves up with a first and goal at the UMD one-yard line. WSC scored on a quarterback keeper from one yard out to tie the game at seven. A few minutes later, a Bulldogs fumble on fourth down, gave the Wildcats excellent field position inside UMD territory. Wayne State would take advantage of the turnover and used a 23-yard touchdown pass to take a 14-7 lead, early in the second quarter. Following another failed drive by the UMD offense, the Wildcats scored on a 12-yard touchdown reception to make it 21-7.
On the next play for UMD, Martin turned in a spectacular 75-yard rushing touchdown to get the Bulldogs right back into the game. However, just three minutes later, a seven-play WSC drive would end in a 48-yard touchdown run, giving Wayne State a 28-14 lead with just over six minutes remaining in the first half. Needing a response before the half, a 5-yard Larson touchdown pass to Carmickle got the Bulldogs right back in the game. The teams would head to the halftime break with Wayne State ahead 28-21.
The second half would prove to be a defensive stalemate. Neither team would add a point in the third quarter and the score remained 28-21 heading to the final frame. In the fourth quarter, a massive 34-yard pass from Larson to Carmickle set the Bulldogs up with a first down inside the Wildcat RedZone. On the ensuing play, Martin would walk into the endzone untouched for his third touchdown of the evening, making the score 28-28 with 13:55 left to play.
With 8:40 remaining in the fourth quarter, Wayne State took over at their own 27-yard line. A series of successful rushing plays for WSC moved them into UMD territory. Faced with a third and 20 from the Bulldogs 37-yard line, the Wildcats completed a 19-yard pass to move into field goal range. A 35-yard field goal would give the Wildcats a 31-28 advantage.
While driving on their final possession, UMD would fumble inside Wayne State territory with just 58 seconds remaining on the clock. The Wildcats ran out the clock and came away with a 31-28 win in Duluth.
Up Next
UMD will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 2 as they head to Moorhead, Minn. for a matchup with the Dragons. Kickoff in Moorhead is set for 12:00 PM.
