Comets snap streak

Copy of Minot Daily News Article (link)

By MICHAEL LINNELL, Sports Editor mlinnell@ndweb.com

Mayville State University kept bending Minot State University's defense. Late in the fourth quarter, the Beavers' defense finally broke.

The Comets' Greg Godfrey scored on a 19-yard touchdown with 4:33 to play in the fourth quarter lifting Mayville to a 15-12 Dakota Athletic Conference win Saturday at Herb Parker Stadium.

The win snapped the Comets 22-game DAC losing streak, dating back to the 2002 season. The Comets also snapped a 13-game road conference losing streak, also dating back to the 2002 season.

"I was just trying to soak it all in," Mayville head coach Kelly Jeffrey said as he spent nearly 20 minutes on the field after the win. "I was thinking about staying out there until midnight."

The Comets controlled the fourth quarter - partly due to their offense and partly due to a steady east wind.

"The wind had some affect on the game," Beavers head coach Mike Sivertson said. "But you still have to make plays."

Mayville pushed the Minot defense to the brink three times in the second half, but only could muster the one touchdown. The Comets moved the ball to the MiSU 14 midway though the third quarter, the 6 early in the fourth and the 17 midway though the fourth. The first drive ended as the Beaver defense stopped Godfrey on a reverse on fourth-and-1 at the 14. MSU forced a fumble at the 1 on the next Comet venture into the red zone as Dennis Denzl fumbled and MiSU's Matt Spoonmore recovered. After a safety and the Minot free kick, the Comets again moved it into scoring position, but Kenny Mack forced an arrant throw by Comets' Jared WIlliamson on fourth down to end that drive.

"I was frustrated on those drives," Jeffery said. "I kept calling the wrong play in the wrong situation. Give Minot's defense credit, though, they kept us guessing."

But the Comets last drive netted the game-winner. Williamson found Godfrey underneath and the shifty freshman did the rest, bouncing outside and in for his second score of the game.

"Greg is so quick that once he get the corner he is tough to catch," Williamson, a fifth-year senior, said. "It feel great ... tears of joy, man. This is what you stick around for."

Williamson wasn't spectacular, but made solid decisions most of the game. He finished with 264 yards on 20-of-37 passing and two touchdowns, both to Godfrey. The first TD score to Godfrey was on a 64-yard screen pass. His only interception was a throw away that MSU's Riley Price was able to track down.

"I think (Williamson) is one of the best quarterbacks in the conference," Jeffery said. "We just don't always have the personnel around him."

Minot's offense was on-again, off-again all game. The Beavers marched down the field on their first possession of the game, but Matt Hagen's 33-yard field goal was blocked. The Beavers next possession ended in a Jamar Culver interception at the Mayville 3. After a MiSU safety and an Andre James 5-yard touchdown, Culver was again intercepted deep in Mayville's territory, this time at the 1.

"We didn't get it done," Sivertson said. "We had the wind in the second half and only got three points. The offense didn't respond in the second half."

The three points were on a Hagen 20-yard field goal on the opening second-half possession. That drive was MiSU only solid drive of the half. The Beavers had the ball for 4 minutes, 28 seconds on the drive but only 8:38 the rest of the half.

The Beavers offense found some success running the ball in the first half, but did not in the second. MiSU's Manny Gutierrez finished with 104 yards rushing, but only five came in the second. James finished with 51 yards and the score.

"We didn't have any success (on offense) in the second half," Sivertson said.

The Beavers fell to 2-2 in the DAC and 3-4 overall. The Beavers travel to Rapid City, S.D. to face S.D. Tech Saturday at 1 p.m. (MDT). MaSU (1-4 DAC, 2-6 overall) plays host to Dakota State University.