When Glyn Borel got the ball with room to run Saturday, it worked out pretty well for the Minot State University football team.
The 5-foot-6 junior receiver had two long touchdown receptions and ran for another score as MSU cruised past the University of Minnesota, Crookston 38-14 at Herb Parker Stadium.
On the Beavers' second possession, Borel snagged a pass near the 30-yard line and ran untouched into the end zone for a 55-yard score. Midway through the third quarter, he caught a short pass near the sideline and blew by the Crookston defense for a 37-yard score.
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Daniel Allar/MDN
Minot State University junior receiver Glyn Borel hauls in a pass in front of University of Minnesota, Crookston safety Freedom McCullough on Saturday at Herb Parker Stadium. Borel ran untouched into the end zone for a 55-yard touchdown.
"I see space and the first thing I think is touchdown," said Borel, who turned three catches into 114 yards. "Especially if I only see one person in front of me, the first thing I see is the red end zone and I'm trying to score every time."
The only thing stopping MSU (2-6) from scoring was its own turnovers. On five possessions in the first half - not including when the Beavers got the ball with 45 seconds remaining before halftime - MSU scored two touchdowns and turned the ball over deep in UMC territory twice.
A season-high 220 MSU rushing yards supplemented Borel's big plays. Senior running back Blake Eggl became the first Beaver to break the century mark this season with an 18-carry, 109-yard performance, and freshman Randel Barber added 82 yards on 10 rushes.
"We got the big play to start with so we got it in there right away," MSU coach Paul Rudolph said. "I felt we had a good plan and executed in the run game - not huge plays but we were mixing in some plays and nipping at 'em and then hitting some passes."
UMC (1-7) controlled the clock with its own running game for much of the first half, but 21 unanswered MSU points in the third quarter nixed that plan. Forced to throw the ball and play catch-up, the Golden Eagles went away from all-conference running back Richard Haley, who finished with 89 rushing yards.
"The thing we're trying to do is run the ball because we've got a couple talented kids there," Crookston coach Paul Miller said. "We're not as talented some other places."
MSU junior linebacker Chad Marshall tallied a career-high 16 tackles, and fellow linebacker Josh Weidler had two sacks and a forced fumble.
The Beavers led 35-7 after their dominant quarter. Senior tight end Kirk Mason caught a 28-yard pass with three minutes, 21 seconds left in the stanza and Borel scored on a 5-yard reverse about three minutes later.
The Beavers rested their offensive starters for the fourth quarter, but the substitutes set up freshman kicker Aaron LaDeaux for a 48-yard field goal that made it 38-7. Crookston junior Marcus Cheatham hauled in a 30-yard touchdown reception with 5:11 remaining for the final score of the day.
"We worked hard all week and really prepared for this game," said MSU freshman quarterback Zac Cunha, who threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns. "We knew it was a big game for the program because it was one we should win. We came out a little flat, but we came out in the second half, put the pedal to the metal, and kept on going."
MSU junior receiver Wayne Peters injured his leg on a 31-yard end-around in the first half. He walked off the field but didn't return to the game.
Rudolph said Peters tweaked his hamstring and was being held out "as a precaution more than anything." Rudolph expects Peters to play Saturday at Minnesota State University-Moorhead.