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The M State football team trailed 16-3 at the half on Sunday afternoon but played a nearly flawless second half to record a 19-16 victory over the previously unbeaten NDSCS Wildcats in Wahpeton. NDSCS was ranked second in the nation going into the game and boasted a 9-0 record. The win puts the Spartans at 6-4 as they prepare for the MCAC Championship game next Sunday at Concordia University in St. Paul.
Marselio Mendez hauled in a 25 yard scoring pass from Graedyn Buell with3:21 left in the first quarter to hand the home team a 6-0 lead. A 47 yard field goal by Carsen McKnight at the end of the first quarter cut the lead in half at 6-3.
In the second quarter Mendez caught a 5 yard TD pass from Buhl and Nikolas Hunchak added the extra point kick to increase the lead to 13-3. An interception by NDSCS led to a last second 24 yard field goal by Hunchak as the Wildcats took a 16-3 halftime advantage.
The Spartans started on the comeback trail with an 8 yard touchdown pass to Frederick Brown from Nate Hayden three-and-a-half minutes into the second half. The snap was mishandled the point after try so the Spartans trailed 16-9. Four minutes later Rondarius Gregory carried the ball over the goal line form the two yard line. McKnight tied the game with his PAT kick, 16-16.
A fourth quarter field goal from 29 yards out by McKnight gave M State their first lead of the day. NDSCS drove the ball inside the 5 yard line but the Wildcats field goal attempts sailed wide right, giving M State possession with under six minutes to go. The Spartans drove the ball deep into NDSCS territory before turning it over on downs. The Spartan defense forced a fumble on a sack with just over a minute to go and they were able to kill the clock, preserving the win and handing the Wildcats their first loss.
Hayden completed 20-of-35 passes for 238 yards. Brown had 7 receptions for 122 yards, Jonathan Griffin hauled in 7 passes for 76 yards and Gregory ran the football 16 times for 80 yards. AJ Conteh had an interception to spark the defense, which forced three turnovers in the game. M State had 334 total yards with 238 yards coming through the air and 96 on the ground.
NDSCS finished with 316 total yards (191 passing, 125 rushing). Buell completed 19-of-26 passes with two TD’s and led all rushers with 90 yards on 14 carries. Mendez had 9 receptions for 122 yards, including both touchdowns, and Demetrius Coleman caught 8 passes for 70 yards.