MORRIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris football team fell in its season opener on Saturday night, dropping a 45-24 decision to Macalester College. 

The first drive of the game went to Macalester, but the UMN Morris defense took care of business as Isaiah Henderson forced a fumble that was recovered by Garrett Elison to give the Cougars their first offensive possession of the year. That drive eventually was stopped short of the end zone, but Alex Happ booted a 27-yard field goal to give Minnesota Morris an early 3-0 lead. 

Macalester was on the march as the first quarter ended and the Scots scored on an 11-yard pass from Michael Nadeau to Nathan Wu for a 7-3 edge. On the next Macalester possession, a couple of long pass completions put the Scots down near the goal line and Josh Bulski charged up the middle from a yard out to make it 14-3.

It didn't take the Cougars long to answer. Taking over on their own 27-yard line, the first play from scrimmage was a run up the middle from Izayah Boss and the newcomer made a couple defenders miss before shaking off a pair of would-be tacklers on his way to a 73-yard touchdown run. Happ's extra point sliced the deficit to 14-10.

The Scots hit back with a 12-play, 83-yard drive that ended with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Nadeau to Nick Bice to make it 21-10. In the late stages of the first half, Minnesota Morris drove down the field but had its drive stall in the Macalester red zone. A 31-yard field goal attempt from Happ hit the upright to leave the visitors in front by 11 at the break.

The third quarter was mostly a battle of attrition as the Cougars were unsuccessful in their first three drives and Macalester didn't add onto its lead until its third drive. Late in the third, Macalester took over inside Minnesota Morris territory and drove to the Cougar 11-yard line before the defense held. Theo Crosby then knocked home a 28-yard field goal to make it 24-10 entering the final quarter.

As the third quarter ended, Minnesota Morris was close to the Macalester end zone after Marcus Reeb connected with Jacob Miranda on a 27-yard reception that put the ball at the Scots' five-yard line. Boss then scored on the first play of the fourth quarter and Happ's extra point made it 24-17.

That would be as close as things would get for Minnesota Morris on the night. Macalester followed with a nice drive that was helped by a personal foul penalty and ended with a gadget play touchdown pass from wide receiver Michael Poker to Bice to make it 30-17. After the Cougars were unsuccessful on a fourth down, the Scots had a short field and extended their lead to 38-17 with a touchdown pass from Nadeau to Poker.

With a little under six minutes remaining in the contest, Minnesota Morris was able to make one last push when Reeb connected with Dylan Naughton on a 21-yard touchdown pass to make it 38-24. Happ followed with a solid onside kick attempt but Macalester recovered and was able to use that short field to tack on one last touchdown to put the game away.

Reeb finished the night 21-of-40 for 178 yards and a touchdown. Boss led the way on the ground with nine carries for 119 yards and two scores. Blake Johnson added 14 carries for 68 yards and Reeb ended with eight carries for 45 yards. Miranda was the leading receiver for the Cougars with six catches for 66 yards. 

Defensively, Henderson, Hunter Infanger, and Gavin Paulson all finished with eight tackles. Carter Maurice had with 1.5 sacks.

Minnesota Morris will play its next two games away from home, beginning on Sept. 10 with a 1 p.m. kickoff in St. Paul against Hamline University.