Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
MARIETTA, Ohio - The University of Dubuque football team opened their 2022 campaign on the road in Ohio on Saturday. The Spartans offense struck first, but it was the hosts who captured the win 14-13.
After a scoreless first half, UD's Kallion Buckner put the Spartans on the board with a 91 scamper on the first play at 12:12 of the third quarter. UD stretched the lead to 13-0 after a Za'Cameron Brice 10 yd pass from Ben Gultig (Jaxon Billips kick blocked), an 11 play 98 yards drive (TOP 5:57). Marietta's Dre Baldwin scored on a 53 yd pass from Connor Vierstra (Lucas Shepherd kick), a 4 play 65 yards drive (TOP 2:02) to slice into the UD lead 13-7 at 1:22 left in the third quarter. Marietta grabbed the lead when Bryce Agnew scored on a one yard run (Lucas Shepherd kick), a 6 plays 62 yard drive (TOP 2:26).
Late in the game, the Spartans use nine plays and moved the ball 42 yards to the Marietta four yard line with less than a minute left of the game. The Spartans called time with :38 seconds to go. A quick third down pass attempt which fell incomplete. UD lined up for the game winning field goal from 22 yards out, a bad snap left the kick fall wide right with :29 seconds left on the clock. The hosts held on for the slim victory.
UD grabbed 20 first downs, and compiled 409 yards of offense in the loss. Ben Gultig completed 20-28 pass attempts for 212 yards with his favorite target being Za'Cameron Brice who caught eight passes for 129 yards. Wade Sheets grabbed five passes for 68 yards and Todd Simmons three for 18 yards. Kallion Buckner led the ground attack with 14 carries for 124 yards (avg. 8.9). Lontrez Duckworth rushed eight times for 54 yards (6.8 avg.).
Defensively Colton Petersen led with nine tackles and a pass break-up. Dalton Wood finished with six tackles and a pass break-up and CJ Dean finished with six tackles.Caleb Smith had a tackle for loss and a forced fumble.Conner Halla punted seven times for 208 yards with his long being from 43 yards. Jaxon Billips had three kickoffs for 160 yards (53.3 avg.). Torre Butts Jr. returned one punt for five yards and had three kickoff returns for 51 yards. The Spartans would have a 21 yard field goal blocked at 2:01 of the first quarter and missed the late 22 yard attempt with :29 seconds to go.
UD returns to Chalmers Field next week, Saturday, Sept. 10 when they host UW-La Crosse Eagles in a game under the lights at 6 p.m. The Spartans host the annual Hall of Fame game for the Class of 2022.