FULTON, Mo. – The University of Minnesota Morris football team pulled away in the second half to defeat Westminster College, 28-8, in the UMAC opener for both teams on Saturday. The victory improves the Cougars to 2-3 (1-0 UMAC).

Westminster received to start the game and chewed up most of the first quarter with a 19-play drive that took nearly 12 minutes off the clock before the Minnesota Morris defense held on fourth down in the red zone. 

The Cougars were on the march as the first quarter ended and the second quarter began with a couple big runs from Keyton Johnson, eventually setting up Marcus Reeb for a one-yard touchdown run. Alex Happ's extra point capped the 14-play, 89-yard drive to make it 7-0.

The Blue Jays went backwards on their second drive and Minnesota Morris needed just three plays on its second possession to take a 14-0 lead. Reeb connected with Dylan Naughton for a 70-yard touchdown catch to double the UMN Morris lead midway through the second quarter.

Late in the first half, a Westminster interception and a big return set the Blue Jays up inside the Minnesota Morris 20 to start their drive. Dante Billups ran it in from one yard out and Westminster then converted a two-point conversion to make it a 14-8 contest at the half.

Garrett Elison began the second half with a nice kickoff return that started Minnesota Morris at the Westminster 36-yard line. After converting on a fourth down in the red zone, The Cougars went to Izayah Boss inside the 5-yard line and the touchdown increased the Cougar lead to 21-8. 

A long Westminster drive followed but the Blue Jays stalled inside the Minnesota Morris 10 and were stopped short on a fourth-down conversion attempt. The Cougars took over with six minutes on the clock in the third quarter and a 41-yard completion to Ethan Tang got Minnesota Morris out of the shadow of its own end zone. From there, the drive ended in a missed field goal but Westminster was rapidly running out of time as the fourth quarter began.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Minnesota Morris tacked on another touchdown to essentially seal the win. Reeb found Tang for another huge completion, this one for 32 yards down to the Westminster 8-yard line. On the next play, Reeb connected with Cole Mitchell for the touchdown to increase the advantage to 28-8 with six minutes left. Two Westminster drives came and went with no real threat in the final minutes.

Behind center, Reeb was 15-of-23 for 252 yards and two scores. Johnson had 17 carries for 60 yards, with Boss adding 16 carries for 59 yards and a score. Naughton was the leading receiver for the Cougars with five catches for 124 yards and a touchdown, with Tang adding five catches for 84 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, Gregory Ohman finished with a game-high 11 tackles (four solo). Carter Maurice finished with seven tackles (all solo), with four tackles for a loss including a pair of sacks. Chayce Meyer and Landon Wagner also had sacks in the game.

Minnesota Morris will be back at Big Cat Stadium on Oct. 8 to celebrate Homecoming with a 12 p.m. kickoff against Finlandia University.