Cougars overcome mistakes and slow start in road win over Trinity
Pictured right-Matt Fragodt (three TD receptions)
For Immediate Release: September 25th, 2007 Morris, MN – The University of Minnesota, Morris overcame 12 penalties and a slow start to defeat Trinity Bible College 34-6 Saturday in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) football action in Ellendale, North Dakota.
Trinity scored the first points of the game at took a 6-0 lead with 8:23 left in the first quarter. But UMM scored twice in the final eight minutes of the quarter to take a 14-6 lead and added three touchdown’s in the fourth quarter for the win.
The Cougars tied the game at 6:36 of quarter number one when the combination of Jeff Karschnik (Sr. Windom, MN) and Matt Fragodt (Jr. Becker, MN) teamed up for the first of three scoring pass plays in the game.
The 30 yards scoring pass completed a five play, 43 yards drive that used just 1:47 off the clock. The extra point kick was no good and the game was tied at 6-6.
On their next possession, the Cougars used 1:49 to go 41 yards in just six plays, as Karschnik hit Fragodt on a 29 yards scoring strike and with the Matt Throngard (So. Grantsburg, WI) two point conversion run, UMM took the lead for good at 14-6.
The score remained that way through quarter’s number two and three before Minnesota, Morris would score three times in the fourth period.
The first TD came on a 52 yard pass play from Karschnik to Fragodt and the Rick Arterberry (Sr. Alex, OK) extra point kick made it 21-6 in favor of the Cougars with just 27 seconds expired in the fourth.
A Matt Throngard one yard plunge at 6:45 made it 28-6 after the extra point kick and then Throngard scored his second touchdown of the game and of the quarter, this time from 10 yards out to make the final 34-6.
That was the longest scoring drive of the day for UMM as the Cougars took 4:29 off the clock and went 66 yards in 10 plays.
The Cougars had 389 yards in total offense, 180 on the ground and 209 through the air.
On defense, Blair Elliott (Jr. Forest lake, MN) had a team high 12 tackles, one tackle for loss and a forced fumble. Michael Burrows (Jr. Oakdale, MN) had 10 total tackles in the game.
Taylor Johnson (So. Lakeville, MN) had 22 carries for 94 yards for UMM, Matt Throngard had 79 yards rushing on 11 carries. Brady Rose (So. Morgan, MN) caught three passes for 43 yards. He also punted the ball four times and averaged 41 yards per kick with a long of 74 yards and one punt inside the 20.
The three touchdown passes by Jeff Karschnik now gives him six for the season and 47 in his career as he has become the all-time leader in career touchdown passes with 47 heading into Saturday’s game with Northwestern College. Karschnik has also thrown at least one touchdown pass in 10 of his last 11 games dating back to last season.
He has surpassed Mike Peterson who had 42 in his career from 1986-88.
Minnesota-Morris (2-1, 2-0 UMAC) will host Northwestern College in Homecoming 2007 this Saturday, September 29th at 1:00 at Big Cat Stadium. The Eagles were the pre-season number one pick in the North Division.
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| Minnesota - Morris | 14 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 34 |
| Trinity Bible | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
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Box Score
