ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris football team hung with Hamline University for a half on Saturday, but three second-half turnovers cost the Cougars as the Pipers took home a 34-21 victory in non-conference action.

Minnesota Morris had the opening drive of the game but went three-and-out. Taking over on their own 37, the Pipers marched downfield and had a first and goal at the Cougar 2-yard line before the defense held, making a stop on fourth down from the 1-yard line.

Taking over with the length of the field in front of them, the Cougars used a 29-yard completion from Marcus Reeb to Dylan Naughton to escape from the shadow of their own end zone before that drive ended with an interception in Hamline territory. The Pipers then went 55 yards in two plays, finishing things with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Alejandro Villanueva to Ryder Hutton to make it 7-0.

Minnesota Morris answered with a rush-heavy drive that ended with a 15-yard completion to Naughton for the touchdown. Alex Happ tacked on the extra point to level the score at 7-7 after one quarter of play. 

The Cougars took the lead on their first possession of the second quarter. A 22-yard completion to Cole Mitchell moved the ball to the Hamline 32-yard line and Reeb connected with Ethan Tang on a 12-yard score seven plays later to give Minnesota Morris a 14-7 advantage.

As time ticked down in the first half, Hamline embarked on a time-consuming 16-play, 68-yard drive that finished with a five-yard rushing touchdown from Villanueva to tie the score at 14-14. A stand from the Piper defense gave Hamline one last chance before the clock expired in the first half and Villanueva hit Charlie Wilson on the first play from scrimmage to go up, 20-14, though the extra point was missed.

Both teams traded possessions to start the third quarter, but Hamline extended its lead on the first play of its second drive of the quarter with a 56-yard burst up the middle from Wilson to put the Pipers up, 27-14. 

Minnesota Morris needed a response and the Cougars quickly moved into Hamline territory. On a scramble from Reeb, the quarterback reached the Piper six-yard line before Jevon Jones forced a fumble that was recovered by Hamline to end the threat. After the Cougar defense got off the field, UMN Morris took back over on the Hamline side of the field only to be intercepted on the first play of the drive. Given that opening, the Pipers drove 59 yards and got another rushing touchdown from Villanueva to take a 34-14 lead just before the quarter ended.

The Cougars were able to get back in it with a drive that bridged the third and fourth quarters. Reeb connected with Tang on a big 27-yard completion down to the Hamline 1-yard line and Cameron Whitney had the touchdown catch two plays later to make it 34-21.

The Cougar defense held from there, but a comeback effort was derailed by a Minnesota Morris fumble on the next possession. The final drive of the game ended with a failed fourth-down conversion and Hamline knelt out the clock from there.

Reeb finished the game 23-of-35 for 247 yards and three touchdowns through the air. Izayah Boss finished with 14 carries for 59 yards. Tang led the receiving corps with eight catches for 133 yards. Defensively, Hunter Infanger finished with 15 tackles (three solo) while Alex Emmrich added nine (two solo). Both Carter Maurice and Mondo Calderon were credited with sacks in the game and Caden McNabb had a blocked field goal.

Minnesota Morris is back on the road in Northfield next week, meeting Carleton College on Sept. 17 at 2 p.m.