MORRIS, Minn. – A pair of fourth quarter touchdowns allowed the University of Minnesota Morris to defeat the Macalester College football team, 17-16 Saturday evening in the season opener for both teams at Big Cat Stadium. The result ends the Scots' three-game winning streak over the Cougars, who won the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference in 2023.

Saturday's game was a departure from the previous three meetings between Macalester and Minn. Morris, which saw the teams average a combined 71 points and 890 yards. This year the defenses held the upper hand, as the Cougars out-gained the Scots, 265 yards to 193 yards on offense.

The game started well for Macalester, as Minn. Morris fumbled the opening kickoff. sophomore linebacker Michael Madrid (Fountain, Colo./Fountain-Fort Carson) forced the fumble and sophomore Boaz Lieberman (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) recovered it at the Cougars' 25-yard line. Three plays later, senior running back Josh Bulski (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) ran it in from 14 yards out for a 6-0 lead. Later in the first quarter, the Cougars got on the scoreboard following a 55-yard drive that ended with a 31-yard field goal to make the score 6-3 Scots. Early in the second quarter the Scots moved the ball to the Minn. Morris 25-yard line, where senior Theo Crosby (Edina, Minn./The Blake School) kicked a 42-yard field goal to restore Macalester's 6-point lead, 9-3. Neither team moved the ball into the red zone for the rest of the first half, leaving the halftime score at 9-3.

On the first drive of the second half, sophomore quarterback Kellen Sedlmayer (San Marcos, Calif./Santa Fe Christian) completed passes of 13 yards to first year receiver Paxton Boyd (Newton, Mass./Newton South) and 11 yards to senior receiver Gabe Kasper (Shoreview, Minn./Irondale), and Bulski had a 12-yard run as the Scots moved the ball to the Morris 28-yard line. On 3rd down and 9, Sedlmayer connected with sophomore receiver Brian Maddox (Alexandria, Va./Georgetown Preparatory School) for a 28-yard touchdown pass. Crosby kicked the extra point to give Macalester a 16-3 advantage with 12 minutes left in the third quarter.

At the end of the third quarter and into the fourth, the Cougars drove deep into Macalester territory. On 2nd and goal from the 4-yard line, senior linebacker Jacob Hellenbrand (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) and junior linebacker Issam Rafidi (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) stopped running back Izayah Boss for no gain, then sophomore linebacker Diego Agustin (Menlo Park, Calif./Menlo-Atherton) sacked quarterback Ethan Klimek at the 10-yard line. Minn. Morris went for it on fourth down from the 10-yard line and Klimek's pass was broken up by senior defensive lineman Max Menache (Beverly Hills, Calif./Beverly Hills), turning the ball over on downs.

After Macalester was forced to punt on its next possession, the Cougars drove 65 yards on five plays, culminating in a 4-yard touchdown pass from Klimek to Ethan Tang that made the score 16-10 with 7:32 left in the game. A deep kickoff and short return gave the Scots the ball at their own 7-yard line. Macalester was able to move the ball to its own 23-yard line before punting, and the Cougars' return brought the ball to the Scots' 40-yard line with 2:42 on the clock. On 3rd and 5 from the 35-yard line, Klimek hit Cole Mitchell down the left sideline for a 35-yard touchdown pass and a 17-16 edge with 1:47 remaining. Three incomplete passes and a sack on Macalester's final possession ended the game in favor of the Cougars.

Bulski rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, averaging 7.3 yards per attempt. Sedlmayer was 12-of-20 for 90 yards, a touchdown and an interception, while Maddox caught three passes for 39 yards and a touchdown. Senior receiver Henry Clymer (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/George Washington) also caught three passes. Senior linebacker Gabe Gallardo (Tustin, Calif./Foothill) led the defense with 11 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, while first year defensive lineman Jake Ray (Houston, Texas/Tompkins) made nine tackles and forced a fumble. Menache, senior defensive back Cameron Latvis (West St. Paul, Minn./Two Rivers) and junior defensive back Jacob Degnan (Kansas City, Mo./The Pembroke Hill School) each broke up two passes.

Klimek was 17-of-29 for 198 yards and two touchdowns, while Tang caught five passes for 73 yards and a touchdown.

Macalester hosts Martin Luther College on Saturday, Sept. 14 in the Scots' home opener. Kick-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Macalester Stadium.