MARSHALL, Minn. – The University of Mary used a game-changing defensive touchdown late in the first half, while also adding a safety and two field goals to earn a 15-6 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football on Saturday afternoon at The Schwan Regional Event Center.
 
The win pushes UMary's record to 2-7 overall, 1-7 NSIC, while SMSU remains winless at 0-9 overall, 0-8 NSIC.
 
SMSU was in control of much of the first half, holding a 6-0 lead with just over five minutes left in the first half, before facing fourth-and-one from the UMary 41-yard line. The SMSU offense stayed on the field but the UMary defense forced a fumble in the backfield and the Marauders' Maleik Bradford scooped up the ball and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown to give UMary a 7-6 lead following the PAT. It's the 10^th defensive by an SMSU opponent this season.
 
On SMSU's next offensive play, Wyatt Oak was intercepted setting up UMary at the SMSU 34-yard line. The Mustang defense allowed just one first down and forcing UMary to settle for a 39-yard field goal with 1:54 left to push the lead to 10-6 heading into halftime.
 
Oak left the game with an injury following the interception and finished the game completing 5 of 10 passes for 42 yards, while rushing for a team-high 40 yards on eight attempts. Kendon Krogman closed the game completing 5 of 9 passes for 53 yards, while adding 29 yards rushing on eight attempts.
 
The SMSU offense closed with 224 yards and 12 first downs and finished 8 of 15 on third-down conversions.

UMary finished with 263 yards and 16 first downs with 110 of the yards coming in the fourth quarter. The Marauders were 2 of 9 on third-down conversions.
 
The SMSU defense helped set-up the game's first score as Josiah Hedensten forced a fumble and teammate Daniel Obwaya recovered the loose ball at the UMary 42-yard line. SMSU would move 42 yards on 12 plays with Jacob Honstetter plowing in with a 1-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter to give SMSU a 6-0 lead after the PAT was blocked.
 
Trailing 10-6 early in the third quarter Krogman was sacked in the end zone on SMSU's opening possession to push the lead to 12-6.
 
The score remained a six-point deficit for SMSU early in the fourth quarter before the UMary defense came through with the most impressive stop of the game. Starting at its own 9-yard line, the SMSU offense collected three first downs on three straight plays with Krogman connecting on a 14-yard pass to Nathan Stearns, a 23-yard pass to Jake Anderson and a 16-yard run by Krogman to set-up first down at the Marauders' 39-yard line. The drive however was stopped moments later as SMSU was stuffed on third-and-one and fourth-and-one to end the drive.
 
UMary would then put together its best drive of the game moving 78 yards in 10 plays with Kevin Powell ending the drive with a 23-yard field goal to extend the margin to 15-6.
 
Anderson led the Mustangs with a career-high five receptions for 55 yards, while Stearns caught a career-high three passes for 27 yards.
 
Hedensten led SMSU with 12 tackles including one sack and the forced fumble. Gideon Ervasti collected eight tackles, while Avery Johnson and Thomas Mergen each added four tackles.
 
SMSU will play its final home game of the season next Saturday, Nov. 9, with an 11 a.m. kickoff versus Winona State in the 'Battle for the Sledge' trophy game.