MORRIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris accomplished something on Saturday that was nearly half-a-century in the making. With a 47-0 win over Martin Luther College, the Cougars posted consecutive shutouts for the first time since the start of the 1978 season. The victory over the Knights improves UMN Morris to 5-3 (4-0 UMAC).

The first quarter moved quickly with Minnesota Morris not picking up a first down on its opening two possessions and Martin Luther going on one extended drive that stalled near midfield. As the first quarter came to a close, the Cougars had begun to march downfield courtesy of a 33-yard completion from Marcus Reeb to Jacob Miranda and a pair of 15-yard runs from Izayah Boss.

On the opening play of the second quarter, Reeb hit Boss in the flat and the sophomore running back did the rest, scampering 11 yards for the touchdown. Alex Happ tacked on the extra point for a 7-0 lead. 

Following a three-and-out from the Martin Luther offense, Minnesota Morris extended its lead immediately by going 64 yards in four plays for another touchdown. On a gadget play, Miranda found Ethan Tang for a 31-yard completion. Boss then took a run up the middle 19 yards into the red zone and Keyton Johnson scored on the next play.

Later in the second quarter, the Cougars had a three-play, 58-yard scoring drive with runs of 33 yards from Johnson, 16 yards from Miranda, and finally nine yards from Boss to make it 20-0. After a Martin Luther turnover, Minnesota Morris drove into field goal range in the final minute of the half and Happ converted a 37-yard attempt to give the Cougars a 23-0 cushion at the break.

The defense continued to stifle Martin Luther and after forcing the Knights off the field on the opening possession of the second half, Boss took the first offensive snap of the third quarter 59 yards to the end zone to make it 30-0. Minnesota Morris continued to pile on, scoring on its second drive of the third quarter. A big completion of 27 yards from Reeb to Cameron Whitney put the Cougars on the 1-yard line and Sam Hagan ran it in for a 37-0 lead after three quarters of play.

The fourth quarter once again went by quickly as the Cougars killed the clock with a 14-play drive that took more than eight minutes before Happ knocked home a 19-yard field goal to go up, 40-0. After an interception from JaKobe Anderson, Hagan went 30 yards on the subsequent play to cap the scoring at 47-0. A long Martin Luther drive in the closing minutes of the game stalled inside the UMN Morris five-yard line to preserve the shutout.

Reeb was efficient with a 7-of-12 day for 93 yards and a touchdown through the air. The running game was evenly split with Boss going for 126 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, Johnson rushing 11 times for 90 yards and a score, and Hagan adding 13 carries for 69 yards and two touchdowns.

Chayce Meyer had a day to remember on the defensive side of the ball for Minnesota Morris. The freshman lineman finished with 14 tackles (five solo), a school record 3.5 sacks, a total of five tackles for a loss, and three forced fumbles.

Minnesota Morris faces the other undefeated UMAC team -- the University of Northwestern -- next Saturday in St. Paul beginning at 5 p.m.