Courtesy of Midland Athletics
BISMARCK, N.D. – Midland University opened the 2025 football season on the road against the University of Mary. After trailing by two touchdowns at halftime, the Warriors battled back but suffered a 28-22 loss to their NCAA Division II opponent.
Mary got on the board first when quarterback Ryan Blair connected with Karsyn Jablonski on a 6-yard touchdown pass with 1:25 remaining in the opening quarter. Jack Henniger added the extra point to put the Marauders in front, 7-0.
The Marauders extended their lead just before halftime when Blair tossed another scoring strike, this time to Luke Bodine for a 5-yard touchdown. The score capped a 14-play, 80-yard drive. After Henniger’s kick, Mary led 14-0 with 22 seconds left in the half.
Midland answered in the third quarter with a 14-play drive of its own, though it stalled in Mary territory. Camron Spicer booted a 30-yard field goal to make it 14-3 with 6:59 left in the third.
Mary responded immediately. Blair threw his third touchdown of the night, again to Bodine, this time from 12 yards out. The 11-play, 60-yard drive, capped by Henniger’s PAT, made it 21-3 Marauders.
The Warriors struck back when quarterback Brodey Johnson connected with Tae Marks for a 69-yard touchdown. Spicer’s extra-point attempt missed, leaving Mary ahead 21-9 with 11 seconds left in the third quarter.
In the fourth, Blair threw his fourth touchdown pass — his third to Bodine — on a 21-yard connection that stretched the lead to 28-9 after Henniger’s kick.
Midland kept fighting. Johnson threw two more touchdown passes in the final quarter. With 9:05 left, he found Kevin Adams Jr. for a 6-yard score, though the two-point try failed to keep the score 28-15. Then, with 6:00 remaining, Johnson connected with Brodie Andersonon a 2-yard pass. Spicer’s kick made it 28-22, but Mary’s offense controlled the clock the rest of the way to seal the win.
The Warriors finished with 13 first downs and rushed 32 times for 63 yards. Midland quarterbacks went 12-of-23 for 166 yards. Overall, the Warriors ran 55 plays for 229 total yards.
Mary recorded 25 first downs and rushed 41 times for 208 yards. Blair went 26-of-37 for 303 yards and four touchdowns, though he was intercepted twice. The Marauders totaled 79 plays for 411 yards of offense.
Johnson led Midland with 10-of-15 passing for 145 yards and three touchdowns. Marks caught three passes for 79 yards and a score. Adams had two catches for 22 yards and a touchdown, while Anderson added two grabs for seven yards and a score. Tyler Denkert paced the rushing attack with 15 carries for 33 yards.
Defensively, Jay Ballard led the Warriors with nine tackles, including one for loss. Beau Lacroix and Dom Rohdler each had a sack. Lacroix and Carson Crouch each intercepted a pass.
For Mary, Jablonski caught eight passes for 129 yards and a touchdown, while Bodine hauled in seven for 79 yards and three scores. Carl Henry rushed 20 times for 62 yards. On defense, Tuakoi Mahe had seven tackles. Kalani Washington and Christian Arteaga each tallied a sack, and Abram Jopp grabbed an interception.
“I’m proud of how the team battled up in Bismarck, North Dakota, against the University of Mary, a very formidable Division II opponent. I’m disappointed with the loss, but I couldn’t be more proud of how we fought. We got off to a slow start and were down 14-0 at halftime. We finally got it to 14-3 with a field goal in the third quarter, but we weren’t able to stop them on the next series. We scored back-to-back touchdowns to make it a six-point game with six minutes left, but we couldn’t get the ball back.
I thought our defense, special teams and offense each did some really good things that we can build on. This will prepare us for GPAC play. We’ll get over this quickly and be ready to play Hastings in our annual rivalry trophy game next week in Hastings.” commented head coach Jeff Jamrog
Midland (0-1, 0-0 GPAC) will open Great Plains Athletic Conference play at Hastings on Saturday, Sept. 6. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Lloyd Wilson Field in Hastings, Nebraska.
The Warriors’ home opener will be Saturday, Sept. 13, against Waldorf at Heedum Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
