MORRIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris football team had its 2022 season come to a close on Saturday afternoon in a 43-25 loss to Greenville University at Big Cat Stadium. The Cougars finish the season at 5-5 overall, with a 4-2 record in the UMAC.

The rushing attack of Greenville was as advertised, racking up over 400 yards on 55 carries. The majority of that damage was done by Paul Garrett, who finished with 34 carries for 319 yards and four touchdowns.

The opening drive laid out the blueprint for what was to come for Greenville. A heavy dose of Garrett with a pass play sprinkled in for variety was effective at moving the ball down the field. The drive ended with a scramble from quarterback Peyton Bates that finished with a collision and a flip into the end zone for a 6-0 lead. The extra point was then blocked, but somehow recovered in the end zone by a Panther lineman for the two-point conversion and an 8-0 lead.

A long kickoff return from Garrett Elison set Minnesota Morris up at the 50 to start its first drive of the game and it took just three plays – all rushes from Izayah Boss – for the Cougars to answer back. Boss found a hole up the middle on his third carry and went 38 yards for the score. Alex Happ's extra point was missed, leaving the score 8-6 in favor of the visitors.

Exploiting a gap in Greenville's return coverage, Happ went for an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff and the Cougars recovered to set up another short field. This time, a third-down conversion pass from Jaden Littell to Jacob Miranda plus a roughing the passer penalty helped UMN Morris move the ball downfield. Keyton Johnson had the final carry, going six yards and diving in at the pylon. The extra point gave the Cougars a 13-8 lead.

After having two touchdown drives in the first quarter, Minnesota Morris went three-and-out on its first three possessions of the second quarter. While that was happening on offense, Greenville managed to take a 15-13 advantage on a 42-yard touchdown run from Garrett. The teams traded turnovers and punts over the closing minutes of the half as the Panthers maintained a two-point lead at the break.

Minnesota Morris had possession to start the third quarter, but a promising reception up the seam ended with a fumble to give Greenville the ball back at its own 16. The Panthers then went on a 10-play, 84-yard march down the field, finishing things off with a well-designed pass play that allowed Kaiden Cervantes to rumble 41 yards for a score to make it 22-13. Later in the quarter, Greenville milked six minutes off the clock with a 12-play drive that ended with a 1-yard dive from Garrett for the touchdown. A two-point conversion pass gave the Panthers a 30-13 lead entering the final quarter.

Despite the deficit, Minnesota Morris made a big defensive stand in the red zone to start the fourth quarter and the Cougars then needed only three plays to go 94 yards for a touchdown. Miranda had a 45-yard reception to move the ball into Greenville territory and Johnson raced in from 48 yards on the next play. The extra point was blocked to keep it a 30-19 ballgame.

Though Greenville recovered a squib kick from the Cougars, the UMN Morris defense again came up huge. With the Panthers driving, Chayce Meyer burst through the offensive line on a pass attempt and stripped the ball away from Bates. Carter Maurice then picked the ball up and raced more than 50 yards into the end zone for the score. The two-point conversion attempt was no good, but Minnesota Morris was back in it at 30-25.

That would prove to be as close as things would get for the Cougars on the day. In need of a big play, Greenville got one from Garrett in the form of a 54-yard run up the gut to take a 37-25 lead. After Minnesota Morris was sacked on a fourth down, Greenville retook possession inside the Cougar 30 and Garrett scored again from 10 yards out, fumbling on his way in but falling on it in the end zone. Though the extra point was again blocked, the Panthers had a 43-25 edge and the clock was now fully in favor of the Panthers.

Following one more defensive stand, Greenville was able to kneel out the final moments of the game to finish off the win.

Littell was 6-of-19 through the air for 134 yards, though he was intercepted twice. He added 10 rushes for 14 yards. Boss finished with 13 carries for 71 yards and a score, while Johnson had seven carries for 63 yards and two touchdowns. Miranda finished with three catches for 115 yards.

Alex Emmrich was the leading tackler in the game with 13 (four solo). Hunter Infanger and Gavin Paulson each added 10 tackles apiece and Mondo Calderon had nine. Carter Maurice had seven tackles in addition to his fumble return touchdown. Elison had six tackles and an interception.

On Senior Day for Minnesota Morris, the Cougars honored the five departing members of the Class of 2023 in a pregame ceremony – Caden McNabb, Sam Hagan, Paulson, Jeremy Lombari, and Cameron Whitney.