Spartans Fall to Wildcats

M State fell to North Dakota State College of Science 28-34 on Saturday afternoon in Fergus Falls. The loss was the first in 3 games for the Spartans.

The Wildcats opened the scoring with a nine play, 70 yard scoring drive that was capped by a 2 yard TD run by quarterback TJ Owens.  The extra point kick by Nikolas Hunchak gave the visitors a 7-0 lead with 8:30 to play in the first quarter.  The Spartans tied the game with just four seconds remaining in the quarter on a 5 yard pass from Nate Hayden to Jallah Zeze and an extra point kick by Carsen McKnight.

The second quarter was scoreless until the last five seconds when each team produced a touchdown.  Quarterback Graedyn Buell scampered into the end zone from 14 yards out and Hunchak added the PAT kick with 5 seconds on the clock.  A squib kick following the TD was picked up on a high hop by AJ Conteh who proceeded to outrace the Wildcats for a 70 yard touchdown as time ran out.  The PAT kick by McKnight put the score at 14-14 at the half.

On the first possession of the third quarter NDSCS scored when the Spartans put pressure on Hunchak in punt formation, forcing him to move to his right and try to get a first down on a pass to Jaderian Johnson who ended up going 81 yards to give the Wildcats a 20-14 advantage.  M State responded with a 60 yard TD pass to Zeze from Hayden on the third play of the ensuing possession to tie the game at 20-20.  With a chance to gain their first lead of the day the snap on the extra point try was high and the attempt failed.

Forty-one seconds into the fourth quarter Kenmar Graham caught a 5 yard pass from Buell on fourth down and after a Hunchak extra point the Wildcats led 27-20.  With 8:32 remaining, M State scored on a 30 yard pass to Jonathan Griffin from Hayden.  The Spartans decided to try for the two-point conversion and Hayden was sacked, leaving M State behind by one point at 27-26.  NDSCS then went 60 yards in six plays with Marselio Mendez hauling in a 39 yard touchdown pass from Buell and Hunchak adding the PAT for a 34-26 lead.

After the Spartans were stopped on downs, NDSCS was forced into a punting situation.  The snap sailed over the head of Hunchak who alertly booted the ball through the end zone for a safety, avoiding a potential recovery for a touchdown or excellent field position for an opportunity to score a TD.  M State got the football back and moved into NDSCS territory but failed to get the ball into the end zone.

The Spartans return to action this Saturday at Vermilion CC with kick off scheduled for 3:00 PM.