Box Score Highlight |
Greg Gates became the all-time MNU leading rusher as the Pioneers exploded in the second half to beat Graceland 45-20 on Saturday. The mark was 3,369 yards by Greg Simpson (00-03) until early in the 4th quarter. Gates was 8 yards shy and MNU was at the 7-yard line, but a couple of penalties backed up the Pioneers to the 12 and that's when Gates reached the top of the record book. A 12-yard touchdown scamper was vintage Gates: two hard cuts and a burst of speed to the corner put MNU up by 22 and put himself at the top.
The game began with a 4-play 75-yard Graceland touchdown drive. The second play from scrimmage was a 65-yard run by Mathis Thomas and the Yellowjackets took an early lead. MNU answered right back with a 6-play 57-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by a Gates 27-yard reception and finished with a
Marcell Blow 3-yard touchdown.
Graceland took the lead on a 27-yard field goal, but MNU countered quickly again when
Trent Hedlund connected twice with
Michael Lindsey for 32 and 25 yards to take a 14-10 lead. Graceland crept closer with a 51-yard field goal, but they wouldn't score again until the final second of the game.
The second half was all MNU.
Jabari Harris found Lyndsey for a 40-yard touchdown to start the third quarter, and the combo connected again at the end of the quarter to put MNU up 28-13 heading to the fourth. Gates' record-breaking rush put MNU up by 3 scores, and
Michael Brewer nailed a 51-yard field goal to seal the game. Harris capped off a 4-play 37-yard drive with a touchdown run, and Graceland drove 75 yards in 16 plays in the final 7 minutes for a touchdown to account for the 45-20 final.
Gates carried 19 times for 100 yards and a touchdown. He also caught 4 passes for 48 yards.
Jabari Harris was 7-10 for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air, and 18 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Michael Lindsey had a monster game with 8 catches for 184 yards and 3 touchdowns. And
Michael Brewer continued his impressive season with a 51-yard field goal.
Joe Camacho led the defense with 11 tackles and a sack. And
Donte Wade,
DeRahn Williams, and
Kamaron Riley each recorded an interception.
The Pioneers are 3-5 (3-4 HAAC). The next game is Saturday the 9th at ODAC vs. Culver-Stockton (1-8, 1-6) at 1:00.
