CROOKSTON, Minn. – Second-half penalties and a fourth-quarter interception thrown by Nathan Cole (Sr., QB, Aliso Viejo, Calif.) proved costly as the University of Minnesota Crookston football team fell 26-13 to University of Mary. The Golden Eagles were knotted up 13-13 with the Marauders at the end of the third quarter but two U-Mary scores would prove to be the difference as the Golden Eagles fell on Homecoming at Ed Widseth Field in Crookston, Minn., in front of a great crowd for Minnesota Crookston.

The Golden Eagles fall to 0-7 (0-3 NSIC North), as the Marauders improve to 1-6 (1-2 NSIC North) after Saturday's result.

Minnesota Crookston's day was highlighted by Adam Connette (Jr., WR, Corona, Calif.) becoming the all-time leading receiver in school history. 

Connette's 154 career surpasses Mark Olsonawski's mark, which has been the standard for the last 18 seasons. He also surpass Carl Aho's 17-year mark for receiving yards, which he now holds with 1,843 career yards. Connette still has over a year remaining in his UMC career, which is an exciting prospect for Golden Eagle faithful.

Offensively, the Golden Eagles would finish the day with 280 yards of offense led by 219 yards through the air. Cole would finish the game 18-of-34 for 219 yards with one touchdown and one interception. His top target was Connette. Rod Stewart (So., WR, Fort Worth, Texas) added four catches for 76 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown pass.

On the ground, Andre Person (Sr., RB, Detroit, Mich.) added 13 carries for 65 yards with one touchdown run. Person averaged 5.0 yards per carry.

The Marauders would finish with 400 yards as their option offense would wear down the Golden Eagles late in the game. Zack Graves would lead U-Mary on the ground with 13 carries for 96 yards with one touchdown. Zach Podoll would add 20 carries for 66 yards. Quarterback Colton Farmer, the team's back-up quarterback, who has started the last two contests due to injury, finished 11-of-16 for 154 yards with two touchdown passes and two interceptions. His top target through the air was Connor Graves, who had four catches for 60 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, UMC came away with their first two interceptions of the season as Aeric Berner (So., DB, Antigo, Wis.) and Jake Newman (Jr., DB, White Bear Lake, Minn.) both made big plays. Will Cross (R-Fr., LB, Turtle Lake, Wis.) had the best game of his young career with 18 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss. Cross' 18 tackles is good for fifth all-time, surpassing the previous mark of 17 set by Cecil Brown, Jr., Justin Reed and Tevin Kellum. William Cole (So., DB, Compton, Calif.) added 10 tackles on the game.

The Marauders would look to Brady Zittleman, who had seven tackles and a key interception>

After a slow start to the first quarter, U-Mary would finally break the scoreless streak late in the frame. After a bobbled snap by him, Stephen Day (So., K/P, Eveleth, Minn.) would fall on the ball on the one-yard line, giving the Marauders prime field position. U-Mary would go in on the next play as Farmer rushed it in from one-yard out. A missed extra point would keep it at 6-0.

UMC would respond mid-way through the second quarter as Cole connected on a beautiful pass and catch with Stewart for the 58-yard touchdown to make it 6-0. A blocked extra point by the Marauders.

The Golden Eagles would get the momentum late in the half as Newman intercepted a Farmer pass and returned it 44 yards. However, Minnesota Crookston would decide to kneel the ball and go in tied 6-6 with the score knotted up 6-6. The interception was the second of the year and game for UMC as Berner had a nice catch on an interception earlier in the second quarter to stall a U-Mary drive.

The Golden Eagles would look to have a good U-Mary drive stopped in UMC territory early in the third quarter after a great tackle in the backfield by Berner. However, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty called after the play on Ali Alkhatib (R-So., LB, Rosemount, Minn.) would result in a Marauder first down. U-Mary would go in for the score as Farmer found Connor Graves for the 15-yard strike to make it 13-6 Marauders.

The Golden Eagles would answer as they sustained a great 12-play 65-yard drive that took 5:12 off the clock. It would culminate with a 15-yard touchdown run by Person. Earlier in the drive, Connette's 16-yard grab would be the one to break Olsonawski's all-time receptions record. He would break Aho's mark in the first half.

The Marauders would strike early in the fourth quarter as Farmer found Sam Mackedanz for the 27-yard touchdown strike to make it 20-13.

UMC would struggle to move the football on their next two drives. The Marauders would then respond on their following drive as they took the ball 77 yards on seven plays culminating with a 16-yard touchdown run for Zack Graves. Bubba Cook (So., DL, Surprise, Ariz.) would come away with a blocked extra point to keep the game at 26-13.

UMC would be able to move the ball into U-Mary territory led by a Cole connection with Connette for 33 yards. However, an interception by Zittleman at the Marauder 12 would stall the drive and give U-Mary the momentum. The Marauders would run out the final 4:54 as they came away with the 26-13 victory.

The Golden Eagles will look to get in the win column Sat., Oct. 22 as they take on Minot State University at 1 p.m. on the road. Minnesota Crookston has just one home game remaining as they take on University of Minnesota Duluth Sat., Oct. 29 at 1 p.m. for Senior Day at Ed Widseth Field.