MORRIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris football team defeated Westminster College, 14-7, in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play Saturday afternoon in Morris, Minn., on Senior Day.
 
The win moves the Cougars to 3-6 overall and 3-3 in the UMAC, while the Bluejays fall to 3-6 overall and 1-5 in the conference.
 
Before the game, 10 seniors were honored for all they have contributed to the football program. The seniors recognized were Kyler Clitso, Dino Villalobos, Orion Knakmuhs, Gregory Ohman, Chayce Meyer, Dayton Allery, Andrew Purcell, Dylan Packer, James Longua, and Carter Watnaas.
 
On the opening kickoff, Aidan Mattair forced a fumble, and Christian Davis recovered it, setting the Cougars up at the 12-yard line. After a pair of Sean-Keley Chinanga rushes, Bryson Drake scored on a 13-yard run. Logan Ahlers made the PAT, putting UMM up 7-0 in the first two minutes.
 
On Westminster's opening drive, the Bluejays made it into the red zone. On third-and-one, a bad snap forced them to attempt a field goal from the UMM 15-yard line, but Meyer got a hand on it, keeping WC off the scoreboard.
 
Westminster gained good field position after a fumble recovery in Cougar territory, but the Minnesota Morris defense held them to a three-and-out. On the punt, Meyer got a piece of the ball again, resulting in only a three-yard punt.
 
The Cougars began their drive at their own 31, and a penalty moved them closer to midfield. Hayden Charboneau connected with Watnaas for a 14-yard gain into WC territory. Charboneau then rushed for 15 yards to move the chains again. The drive continued into the second quarter and resulted in another Cougar touchdown, this time with Drake catching a pass from Charboneau to make it 14-0.
 
Westminster responded with a long drive for seven points. The Cougars turned the ball over on downs on their next possession, but Meyer intercepted the first WC play to give UMM the ball right back. Starting at the Westminster 29-yard line, the Cougars were unable to convert after a failed quarterback sneak on fourth-and-one. On the final play of the quarter, the Westminster quarterback threw a deep pass to the end zone, where Juan "JT" Garza III intercepted it and returned it to the Westminster 35, but time expired.
 
Garza returned the opening kickoff of the second half 48 yards, giving the Cougars excellent field position. Minnesota Morris moved into the red zone and attempted a trick play on fourth down but was unable to convert.
 
The rest of the quarter produced little offense from either team until the final drive, when Westminster completed a 43-yard pass to the UMM 27. A 26-yard rush set the Bluejays up at the one-yard line to start the fourth quarter.
 
On first-and-goal from the one, Dylan Young dropped the running back for a loss of one. Ohman and Nathaniel Edwards-Gaona then pushed the Bluejays back another eight yards. Meyer stopped the next rush for no gain, and an incomplete pass gave the ball back to the Cougars.
 
Westminster again earned strong field position after a blocked punt and drove inside the red zone, but Edwards-Gaona forced a fumble that Nick Brandner recovered to preserve the 14-7 lead.
 
Another blocked punt gave the Bluejays the ball at the UMM 26 with under two minutes left. A holding call pushed them back 10 yards, but a 24-yard gain moved them inside the red zone. Young and Derrick Dohmen stopped a rush, then Garza broke up a pass to bring up third down. Brennan Johnk stopped the running back for a one-yard gain, setting up fourth-and-five. Garza broke up another pass with Ohman pressuring the quarterback, turning the ball over on downs.
 
Three kneel-downs secured a 14-7 victory for Minnesota Morris.
 
Charboneau finished with 70 passing yards and one passing touchdown. On a fake punt, Garza threw for 22 yards. On the ground, Chinanga totaled 46 rushing yards, followed by Drake with 37. Knakmuhs, Drake, and Derek Hoglin each recorded over 20 receiving yards.
 
Defensively, Ohman led the Cougars with 10 tackles and two tackles for loss. Meyer and Young each recorded a sack. Garza and Meyer registered interceptions, and Mattair and Edwards-Gaona each forced a fumble. The Cougar defense tallied six pass breakups, with Garza leading the team with three.
 
On special teams, Garza totaled 135 punting yards with a long of 45, 69 kickoff return yards, and 13 punt return yards. Ahlers went 2-for-2 on extra points but missed one field-goal attempt off the upright.
 
The Cougars close out the regular season next week as they travel to Martin Luther College for a 1 p.m. kickoff.