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Minot State avenges a loss last season in dominant fashion

By MICHAEL LINNELL, Sports Editor mlinnell@minotdailynews.com

It took Minot State University just 14 seconds to start to erase any thoughts for another Mayville State University upset.

The Beavers senior wideout Gilbert Martinez returned the game's opening kickoff 90 yards and MiSU's defense dominated the Comets in a 41-0 rout in Dakota Athletic Conference football Saturday at Herb Parker Stadium.

“It looked just like it does in practice — wide open,” Martinez said of the hole that opened up in front of him on the return. “I made a little stutter step move on the kicker. It was something we needed to do.”

A year after the Beavers were upset at home by the Comets 15-12, MiSU left little to chance this time around. The Beavers led 27-0 at half and cruised through the second half.

In fact, there were very few tense moments after the kickoff return for the Beavers. The best chance the Comets had to score was negated by a penalty. MaSU held the Beavers on their first offense series in the first quarter and appeared to score after Jeffery King snatched a blocked punt and raced 16 yards for a score. But the Comets were offside on the play and Minot was able to take a second kick.

“There were quite a few penalties called and some were called on them,” MSU head coach Mike Sivertson said. “That happens. Would that have changed the game? I would think that our team would have been able overcome that.”

The play probably wouldn't have held as the Beavers' swarming defense shut down the Comets' offense for much of the day. Mayville was able to garner big yards on two fake punts — the Comets' quarterback Dustin Hagens doubles as the team's punter — but could not get the running game going. Minot held the Comets to just 2 yards rushing on 27 carries.

“We have a solid bunch up front,” MSU senior defensive tackle Tommy Molio'o said. “It is easier to play this year because we all get along so well. The line has done a lot of slanting and it makes it tough on the offensive line. We all play at a high rate and our goal is to play 2-yards into the other team's backfield.”

Molio'o as well as D-line starters Blaine King, Chase Spencer and Matt Weidler, along with Chris Bowden and Jason Harvey plagued the Comets' offense all day. Molio'o also got into the scoring column as he intercepted a Hagens' pass and rambled 16 yards untouched to paydirt.

“I was in containment and Chris Bowden hit the quarterback and the ball just came to me,” Molio'o said. “I made sure I caught it and it was a pretty easy 15-yard run from there. Last year I had a 60-yard return, so this one was a little easier.”

“They've been warriors all season for us,” Sivertson said of his defensive front. “We played a few more guys there (Saturday), and they all did a good job all game.”

The Molio'o score came just 2:10 after Minot's Donald Morris rumbled in from 6-yards out to give MiSU a 13-0 lead. Morris finished with two scores and 35 yards rushing as the Beavers used four different backs to gain 207 yards on the ground.

“We used four guys and each bring something different to the table,” Sivertson said. “That might be our theme this year. We want to keep a fresh player on the field.”

The Beavers' rushing attack only got better as the game wore on. In the fourth quarter, MiSU put on a rushing display as they scored twice on long drives. The first covered 80 yards on 13 plays and featured nine runs, culminating in Morris' second score. The second went 76 yards on 13 plays — all on the ground. MiSU sophomore Andre James, who finished with 99 yards on 15 carries, scored from 1-yard out to cap the drive and the game's scoring.

“We used a lot of backup offensive linemen on (the two fourth-quarter) drives,” Sivertson said. “It was nice to see the younger guys get in there and do the job against their first team. We kinda took the game over.”

The Comets (0-3 DAC, 0-6 overall) were held to just 175 yards of total offense, 173 coming through the air. Hagen was 11-of-27 passing with the interception. Hagen threw for 50 yards on perfectly executed fake punts, finding Michael Letourneau on 25-yard gains on both.

MiSU's quarterback Jon Meier finished with just 66 yards on 5-of-8 passing, but did throw a 17-yard fade route to Josh Kringen in the second quarter. The Beavers (2-1 DAC, 2-4 overall) rolled up 273 yards of total offense.

The Beavers next travel to Valley City State University Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. clash with the Vikings at Lokken Field.

Minot State University's Josh Kringen (20) catches a pass for a touchdown in the second quarter of play as Minot State University took on Mayville State Unioversity, Saturday at Herb Parker Stadium. Robert Petry/MDN