MORRIS, Minn. – After tying the game with the longest play in Cougar football history, the fourth quarter was unkind to Minnesota Morris (0-5, 0-4 UMAC) who fell 28-14 to Westminster (3-2, 3-1 UMAC) on Homecoming Saturday. Caleb McLaren threw for 250 yards and two scores on the day.
 
Morris controlled the ball in the first quarter, holding possession for nearly ten minutes. They outgained the Blue Jays 74-25 in the quarter. The time of possession would lead to the Cougars taking a 6-0 lead on a 22 yard pass play from McLaren to Evan Guffey with 2:35 left in the quarter. The pass play capped off an eight play, 63 yard drive.
 
Westminster scored early in the second quarter and took a 7-6 lead after a one yard touchdown run. The score remained that way through the rest of the second quarter. Morris outgained the Blue Jays 148-128 in the first thirty minutes of play.
 
After punting on their first drive of the second half Westminster had a strip sack, giving them the ball back at the Cougars 45 yard line. They would take nine plays to go 45 yards and take a 14-6 lead. Minnesota Morris turned the ball over on downs on the next drive but did force a punt, getting the ball back at their own seven yard line. The first play from scrimmage was a two yard loss setting up the longest play from scrimmage in Cougar history. McLaren hit Tyler Peterson over the middle for a 95 yard pass play which brought the Cougars within two. McLaren then hit Kyle Petermeier on a two point conversion to tie the game. The play broke the previous record which was set back in 1974 by Craig Rassussen (QB) and Herb Bradley (Receiver).
 
The Cougars looked like they could take control of the game early in the fourth quarter but it all changed when Kyree Hart forced a fumble and returned it 29 yards for a Blue Jays touchdown, giving them a 21-14 lead. They would tack on another touchdown less than four minutes later to ice the game. Morris had the ball for just 7:37 in the second half.
 
Once again it was the Cougars defense that stood out, allowing just 4.8 yards per play on the day. Five different Cougars had at least ten tackles on the day, led by Cody Hickman who had 14. Third down conversions cost the offense in the second half. After converting five of nine third downs in the first half they were just one for seven in the second half.
 
Morris will be on the road the next two weeks, taking on Northwestern and Crown over the next two weeks.