BISMARCK, N.D. — A nine-yard TD run by senior running back Anthony Watkins, his second of the game, with 1:46 to go to give Wayne State a 33-28 season-opening Northern Sun Conference win Saturday night at the University of Mary.
Wayne State scored early, as Jaylan Scott picked off a pass on the second play of the game and ran 21 yards for a touchdown just 47 seconds into the game.
Wayne State’s offense followed later in the period, going 64 yards in 11 plays on their first drive of the season. Watkins scored from six-yards out to make it 14-0 with 7:53 to go in the first.
Mary would answer later on a 36-yard pass from Logan Nelson to Danny Kitner, and the score would stay at 14-7 entering the half.
The two teams lit things up in the third quarter, with Mary tying the game on a nine-yard run by Gabe Levy. Wayne State responded when quarterback Nick Bohn called his own number from 11 yards out to make it 21-14.
Mary would tie the game again at 21-21 on their next drive, thanks to a 25-yard run by Levy with 5:13 to go in the third quarter, but Wayne State responded quickly as Bohn hit Jadon Johnson with a 65-yard touchdown pass to make it 27-21.
A blocked extra point would come back to haunt midway through the fourth quarter as Mary took a 28-27 lead on a three-yard run by David Small Jr. with 7:01 to go, but the Wildcats answered on their next drive, marching 55 yards in five plays. Watkins scored from 10 yards out to make it 33-28, and the defense held on in the closing seconds to seal the win.
Mary outgained Wayne State in the contest 451-391.
Watkins led the ‘Cats on the ground with 73 yards on 17 carries and two scores followed by Bohn with 51 yards on 11 attempts and one TD.
Throwing the ball, Bohn completed 10-of-17 passes for 196 yards and one TD. Johnson had three catches for 78 yards and one score followed by senior Mason Lee, as the Wayne native had two catches for 64 yards.
Defensively, Alex Kowalczyk, J’Von France and Tanner Cooper each had eight tackles. Rex Becker added five tackles with Jaylan Scott recording four to go with a 21-yard interception return for a touchdown.
The Wildcats will be at home next Saturday, hosting Northern State in a 6 p.m. contest at Cunningham Field in Wayne.
