ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris football team fell short in its comeback bid, dropping a 30-20 decision to Crown College on Saturday afternoon in St. Bonifacius, Minn.
 
On the opening drive, quarterback Hayden Charboneau connected with Dylan Shafer for 10 yards and the first first down of the game. However, the Cougars' offense stalled, resulting in a 45-yard punt from Trever Cockerill. On Crown's first play from scrimmage, Donovan Soloman broke loose for a 63-yard run into the red zone. The Cougar defense held strong, keeping the Polars out of the end zone, but Crown still came away with three points.
 
Sean-Keley Chinanga sparked the Cougar offense with 38 rushing yards on three consecutive carries. However, a penalty halted the drive, and Minnesota Morris was forced to punt. On the next drive, Crown faced a 4th-and-1 on the Cougar 22-yard line. The defense stepped up as Arian Saenz and Jonathan Kaiser stopped the run for no gain, forcing a turnover on downs.
 
With the Polars threatening to score again, the Cougars forced a fumble inside the five-yard line, recovered by Dino Villalobos. However, an interception late in the second quarter gave Crown the ball at the Cougar 27-yard line, and the Polars capitalized with a touchdown to take a 10-0 lead.
 
Juan "JT" Garza III provided a spark with a 32-yard return on the ensuing kickoff, but the Cougars couldn't capitalize before the end of the half.
 
Minnesota Morris came out strong after halftime, forcing a three-and-out, with Saenz, Kaiser, and Gregory Ohman all recording tackles. On the following punt, the Cougars blocked it and took over at the Crown 35. Chinanga kept the momentum going with an 11-yard rush. Facing 4th-and-13, Bryson Drake found Manny Guy in the end zone for a touchdown. The PAT was blocked, cutting the deficit to 10-6.
 
Crown responded with a touchdown to push the lead back to 17-6. On the final drive of the third quarter, the Cougars drove downfield. Drake found Jacob Wilmes for a six-yard gain to end the quarter, setting up first down at the Crown 28.
 
A two-yard rush by Drake set up first and goal at the two. On the next play, Drake connected with Carter Watnaas for a touchdown. The Cougars went for two, and Drake ran it in himself to cut the lead to 17-14.
 
However, Crown responded immediately. On the next play from scrimmage, Jamarrius Courtney broke free for a 70-yard touchdown run. On the ensuing kickoff, Trent Roden returned the ball to the UMM 40, and on the next play, Drake found Watnaas for a 38-yard completion. Drake then scrambled 17 yards into the end zone for a touchdown, but a mishandled snap on the PAT left the score at 24-20.
 
On the following kickoff, the Polars fumbled, and Garza came out of the pile with the ball. However, the Cougars went three-and-out and pinned Crown inside their 15-yard line with under nine minutes remaining. The Cougar defense again held strong, with tackles from Ohman, Kaiser, Dylan Young, and Brenton Overall.
 
The Cougars crossed midfield on their next drive thanks to a 13-yard pass to Cole Laitinen, but the drive stalled. Needing a stop, the defense couldn't hold as Crown earned two first downs and capped off the drive with a touchdown to seal the 30-20 win.
 
Drake led the offense with 113 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, 43 yards on the ground and a rushing TD. Chinanga totaled 91 yards on the ground to lead the Cougars. In the air, Warnass had three receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown. Guy would follow with 35 on two catches and a touchdown.
 
Defensively, Ohman had 10 tackles, five solo and five assisted. Saenz and Kaiser would follow with eight and seven, respectively. Young and Saenz each recorded a sack in the contest. Nick Brandner had the team's sole pass breakup.
 
On special teams, Cockerill had five punts averaging 40.8 yards per punt, with his long being 45 yards. Roden totaled 90 yards on four kickoff returns, and Garza had one 32-yard return.
 
The Cougars have a bye week before returning to action on Oct. 4 for their home opener against Martin Luther College at 6 p.m.