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| The UMM defense swarms a Martin Luther ballcarrier. (B.W. photos) |
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| Senior quarterback Derrick Foss from Hancock prepares to throw. |
This year's Cougars have shown they can play a crowd-pleasing style.
They own a 2-1 record. Even in the loss they showed a crowd-pleasing
flair as they put up 31 points. The loss was in the opener vs. Hamline
on 9/1. UMM was dealt a 37-31 loss by the Pipers (of St. Paul).
Our Cougars have picked up steam since. Their defense brought cheers from the Big Cat Stadium crowd on September 8 when the Cougars shut out Martin Luther 10-0. That game was the UMAC opener.
Most recently the Cougars got the offensive engines humming again in a 24-21 win. That success was in Jacksonville, IL on September 15 over MacMurray. Dan Garrigan threw two touchdown passes as UMM improved to 2-0 in league.
Garrigan found Danny Kernan open for a 53-yard hookup that brought a score in the fourth quarter, essentially wrapping up the win. MacMurray was no pushover as they outgained the UMM crew 316 yards to 256. The Cougars offset that edge in a most decisive way, forcing four turnovers including three fumbles which UMM recovered. Zeke Miller forced a fumble and executed eleven tackles.
MacMurray scored first when Cody Hussey threw a touchdown pass. The Cougars answered with a one-yard run that had Dustin Spohn with the football. Spohn was UMM's top ballcarrier on the day. Hussey threw another TD pass in the second quarter to put MacMurray back in front.
Garrigan completed a 22-yard scoring pass to Roumy Desir as halftime approached. Cameron Adel kicked the PAT so the score is now tied 14-14.
Adel was later tested on a fairly long field goal try and he succeeded, putting UMM up by three. It was a 41-yarder so congrats to this kicker, who is now three-for-three in field goals.
Garrigan completed that timely pass to Kernan with 3:55 left that put UMM in the driver's seat. That TD gave needed cushion as MacMurray had one touchdown left in them. It came on a three-yard run. MacMurray tried an onside kick that was no-go, and UMM was the 24-21 winner.
Our Cougars have picked up steam since. Their defense brought cheers from the Big Cat Stadium crowd on September 8 when the Cougars shut out Martin Luther 10-0. That game was the UMAC opener.
Most recently the Cougars got the offensive engines humming again in a 24-21 win. That success was in Jacksonville, IL on September 15 over MacMurray. Dan Garrigan threw two touchdown passes as UMM improved to 2-0 in league.
Garrigan found Danny Kernan open for a 53-yard hookup that brought a score in the fourth quarter, essentially wrapping up the win. MacMurray was no pushover as they outgained the UMM crew 316 yards to 256. The Cougars offset that edge in a most decisive way, forcing four turnovers including three fumbles which UMM recovered. Zeke Miller forced a fumble and executed eleven tackles.
MacMurray scored first when Cody Hussey threw a touchdown pass. The Cougars answered with a one-yard run that had Dustin Spohn with the football. Spohn was UMM's top ballcarrier on the day. Hussey threw another TD pass in the second quarter to put MacMurray back in front.
Garrigan completed a 22-yard scoring pass to Roumy Desir as halftime approached. Cameron Adel kicked the PAT so the score is now tied 14-14.
Adel was later tested on a fairly long field goal try and he succeeded, putting UMM up by three. It was a 41-yarder so congrats to this kicker, who is now three-for-three in field goals.
Garrigan completed that timely pass to Kernan with 3:55 left that put UMM in the driver's seat. That TD gave needed cushion as MacMurray had one touchdown left in them. It came on a three-yard run. MacMurray tried an onside kick that was no-go, and UMM was the 24-21 winner.
Cougars 10, Martin Luther 0 (on 9/8)
A glance at the score suggests "defensive battle." That's exactly
what it was. The Cougars won the battle in the trenches vs. the Knights.
The only touchdown of the afternoon came on the opening kickoff and with Dalton DeGraffenreid sprinting to daylight with the ball. He covered 88 yards as a crescendo of cheers grew from the Big Cat bleachers. DeGraffenreid is a freshman. The referees signaled "touchdown" just 13 seconds into the game.
Cam Adel put his capable toe to work for a 25-yard field goal that completed UMM's scoring work. The field goal came in the second quarter. So the score is 10-0 and the UMM defense rolled up its sleeves to preserve the advantage the rest of the way.
An interception by Luke Evans, sophomore cornerback, caused frustration to mount among the Knights in the second quarter. The pickoff was the fourth turnover caused by the UMM defense in the first half.
Martin Luther threatened late in the third quarter but had their bubble burst with another turnover: a fumble at the UMM five. Martin Luther had gone 80 yards in 14 plays, consuming six minutes and 16 seconds. It was all for naught.
Leandro Dower was UMM's top ballcarrier on the day with 21 carries for 76 yards. Zach Kroells forced a fumble and recovered it in the second half. Zeke Miller, senior linebacker, sacked the quarterback twice, forcing a fumble on one of these. Zeke had 16 tackles total. Cornerback Luke Evans had seven tackles, one and a half sacks and an interception.
The only touchdown of the afternoon came on the opening kickoff and with Dalton DeGraffenreid sprinting to daylight with the ball. He covered 88 yards as a crescendo of cheers grew from the Big Cat bleachers. DeGraffenreid is a freshman. The referees signaled "touchdown" just 13 seconds into the game.
Cam Adel put his capable toe to work for a 25-yard field goal that completed UMM's scoring work. The field goal came in the second quarter. So the score is 10-0 and the UMM defense rolled up its sleeves to preserve the advantage the rest of the way.
An interception by Luke Evans, sophomore cornerback, caused frustration to mount among the Knights in the second quarter. The pickoff was the fourth turnover caused by the UMM defense in the first half.
Martin Luther threatened late in the third quarter but had their bubble burst with another turnover: a fumble at the UMM five. Martin Luther had gone 80 yards in 14 plays, consuming six minutes and 16 seconds. It was all for naught.
Leandro Dower was UMM's top ballcarrier on the day with 21 carries for 76 yards. Zach Kroells forced a fumble and recovered it in the second half. Zeke Miller, senior linebacker, sacked the quarterback twice, forcing a fumble on one of these. Zeke had 16 tackles total. Cornerback Luke Evans had seven tackles, one and a half sacks and an interception.
Hamline 37, Cougars 31 (on 9/1)
The Cougars scored first in the season opener when Derrick Foss passed six yards to brother Brendon.
Hamline got going with a 73-yard scoring run.
Leandro Dower found the end zone on a run from the five to put UMM up by a touchdown. Hamline succeeded with a field goal from the 25. The Pipers looked smooth with their triple option offense in the third quarter, scoring two touchdowns. It was a balanced attack. Cameron Adel, a freshman, kicked a field goal for UMM early in the fourth quarter.
Hamline's Kevin Ackerly continued as a headache for UMM as he scored his third touchdown of the game with a 54-yard run.
A UMM fumble was exploited by Hamline who plunged into the end zone on the next play (from the one).
The Cougars continued to show resilience with scoring as Derrick Foss passed to Dalton DeGraffenreid for a score from the seven. The score is now 37-24 with UMM down. Hopes grew as UMM recovered an onside kick - no routine accomplishment. Hopes were quickly dashed as Garrigan had his pass picked off.
The Cougars did score with 12 seconds left when Derrick Foss passed to DeGraffenreid for 17 yards. Another onside kick was tried - no good.
Sophomore linebacker Cody Hickman had 13 tackles in the opener. Matt Zdrazil contributed eight. Offensively Dower covered 98 yards on 18 carries and scored a touchdown.
Derrick Foss completed 15 of 27 passes for 217 yards and three scores. Garrigan's throwing numbers were ten of 24 and 145 yards. DeGraffenreid had 85 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Viva University of Minnesota-Morris football for the 2012 fall. Good luck to the Cougars for Homecoming. And don't forget the Sunday afternoon band/choir concert!
Hamline got going with a 73-yard scoring run.
Leandro Dower found the end zone on a run from the five to put UMM up by a touchdown. Hamline succeeded with a field goal from the 25. The Pipers looked smooth with their triple option offense in the third quarter, scoring two touchdowns. It was a balanced attack. Cameron Adel, a freshman, kicked a field goal for UMM early in the fourth quarter.
Hamline's Kevin Ackerly continued as a headache for UMM as he scored his third touchdown of the game with a 54-yard run.
A UMM fumble was exploited by Hamline who plunged into the end zone on the next play (from the one).
The Cougars continued to show resilience with scoring as Derrick Foss passed to Dalton DeGraffenreid for a score from the seven. The score is now 37-24 with UMM down. Hopes grew as UMM recovered an onside kick - no routine accomplishment. Hopes were quickly dashed as Garrigan had his pass picked off.
The Cougars did score with 12 seconds left when Derrick Foss passed to DeGraffenreid for 17 yards. Another onside kick was tried - no good.
Sophomore linebacker Cody Hickman had 13 tackles in the opener. Matt Zdrazil contributed eight. Offensively Dower covered 98 yards on 18 carries and scored a touchdown.
Derrick Foss completed 15 of 27 passes for 217 yards and three scores. Garrigan's throwing numbers were ten of 24 and 145 yards. DeGraffenreid had 85 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Viva University of Minnesota-Morris football for the 2012 fall. Good luck to the Cougars for Homecoming. And don't forget the Sunday afternoon band/choir concert!
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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