Senior running back
Dawson Forgy scored on a 14-yard touchdown run with just 41 seconds remaining to give Wayne State a 35-28 victory at Minot State in Northern Sun Conference football played Thursday evening at Herb Parker Stadium in Minot, North Dakota. The Wildcats move to 2-0 and 1-0 in the league while the host Beavers drop to 0-2 and 0-1 in NSIC play.
The Wildcats started the game slowly, punting on their first four possessions that included a trio of three-and-outs while gaining just 22 yards in the opening quarter.
Trailing 7-0 after one quarter, the Wayne State offense came to life in the second stanza as the Wildcats scored on their final two possessions of the first half to grab a 14-10 lead at intermission.
The first Wildcat scoring drive was set up by a
Dawson Forgy 49-yard run with
Brennan Hayes punching the ball in from the one-yard line to tie the game at 7-7 with 8:36 to go in the half capping a 10-play, 72-yard drive.
Following a missed 38-yard field goal by Minot State, Wayne State took over from their own 26 and fueled by a
Brady McGill 59-yard run the Wildcats completed the scoring drive on a 14-yard pass from McGill to Wayne senior
Alex Phelps giving the 'Cats a 14-7 lead with 3:10 to play before halftime.
Minot State closed the first half scoring on a Jael Chavez 29-yard field goal with two seconds remaining to cut the Wildcat advantage to 14-10.
The third quarter was controlled by the host Beavers, who had the ball for all but 2:03. Minot State scored on the opening drive of the second half on a Brandon Hines Jr. six-yard run, giving the Beavers a 17-14 lead.
After forcing a three-and-out on WSC, Minot State got the ball back and drove to the WSC 12 before settling on a Jael Chavez field goal of 30 yards putting MSU in front 20-14.
WSC answered on the ensuing drive as the 'Cats marched 75 yards on 12 plays with McGill finding senior tight end
Dane Petersen on a seven-yard TD pass and the Wildcats regained the lead at 21-20.
Following a three-and-out, WSC got the ball at their own 28 and scored again as Forgy hit paydirt from one-yard out to culminate a 72-yard drive on eight plays and the 'Cats led 28-20 with 4:13 to play.
On the next drive, Minot State was driving for the potential game-tying score when WSC forced a Beaver fumble and recovered at the WSC 3. But on the next play, the Beavers returned the favor and stripped the ball from the Wildcats and got the ball back following a recovery at the WSC 2 where Minot State's Sam Buckhanan scored to make the score 28-26.
Minot State evened the score at 28-28 on a two-point pass conversion with 1:24 to play.
WSC started their potential game-winning series from their own 25. McGill connected with senior wide receiver
Keaten Bonderson on pass plays of 22 and 21 yards to get the Wildcats down to the Minot State 29. A pass interference call gave the 'Cats the ball at the Beaver 14 when Forgy found an opening on the right side and scored from 14 yards out with 41 seconds to play putting WSC ahead 35-28.
Minot State's attempt to drive down the field late was thwarted by Wildcat sophomore defensive back
Hayden Kelley, who intercepted a pass the WSC 25 to seal the win.
Minot State held a 419-380 advantage in total offense over the Wildcats. WSC rushed for 261 yards and had 119 passing while the Beavers ended with 334 yards on the ground and 85 passing.
Forgy gained 147 yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns to lead the 'Cats on the ground. It was his fourth straight 100-yard game dating back to last season and seventh in his last eight games. McGill added 78 yards.
Throwing the ball McGill completed 11 of 21 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns. Bonderson had three catches for 51 yards while Petersen hauled in three catches for 34 yards and one score.
Defensively, senior linebacker
Clyde Hinton accounted for a game-high 11 tackles with two tackles for loss for 13 yards followed by
Mitchell Andersen and
Dayne Mauk with nine stops each.
Hayden Kelley added eight tackles to go with a forced fumble and the game-ending interception.
Wayne State will be at home for the first time this season next Saturday (September 12) as the Wildcats host #19 (AFCA Coaches Poll) and #24 (D2football.com) Minnesota Duluth in a 1 p.m. contest at Bob Cunningham Field in Wayne.
