University of Dubuque

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque football team jumped out to a quick 21-0 lead on Saturday before the visiting McMurry University (Texas) fought it's way back to out score the Spartans 28-0, before UD grabbed the victory in the final minutes by a 35-28 margin.

The Spartans scored their first touchdown on a 10 play drive with 7:23 in the first quarter on a 25 yard pass from Joey Rhomberg to Kali Freeman. Pato Marvite added the extra point. Rhomberg found Noah Roling from nine yards out on an eight play 38 yards drive with 14:14 remaining in the second quarter. Marvite would finish the extra point to give UD the lead 14-0. Peter Lee Jr. scampered for the Spartans third touchdown of the afternoon on a gritty 21 yard run with 9:21 remaining before halftime. Marvite's kick was good for the 21-0 lead. McMurry would slice into the Spartans lead with 5:52 left on the second quarter on a eight play, 75 yard touchdown drive, 7-21.

The second half appeared to be in the hands of the visiting McMurry University as they would score 21 points unanswered to take a 28-21 lead. The Spartans would find Freeman for two more touchdowns in the fourth to capture the win. Freeman caught a 14 yard pass from Rhomberg with 5:52 left in teh fourth quarter for the tie 28-28. The Spartans defense held strong and UD would earn the ball and captured the late lead 35-28 on another 14 yard touchdown pass to Freeman from Rhomberg. Marvite finished the afternoon a perfect 5-5 in extra points and kicked off five times for 259 yards for an average of 51.8 yards. Late in the game he kicked a high floater which was recovered by the Spartans as an onside kick to help seal the game.

Rhomberg completed 22-33 pass attempts for 217 yards and four touchdowns. Freeman was his favorite target who grabbed eight catches for 108 yards and a trio of touchdowns. Six different receivers caught a pass in the victory. The Spartans pounded the ball for 137 yards rushing and were led by Peter Lee Jr. who carried the ball nine times for 53 yards. Noah Roling rushed 12 times for 33 yards, Isaiah Martinez carried the ball seven times for 29 yards. 

Trey Roberson and Giovanni Rivera led the Spartans defense with 11 tackles each. Rivera had one tackle for loss and a forced fumble. Brady Buchmann punted six times for 278 yards and dropped the ball inside the 20 yard line three times and had his longest of the day being 60 yards. Jeremiah Speer returned four punts for 32 yards and had one pass interception for a return of one yard. Dre Jarvis returned one kickoff for 21 yards and Mekyael Hall returned one kickoff for 14 yards.

UD finished with a game high 25 first downs and a total offense of 354 yards after running 80 plays. UD waas called for six penalities for 65 yards while McMurry had eight penalties for 79 yards. UD held the edge in possession time 35:39 to McMurry's 24:21. UD converted 7-18 third downs and McMurry converted 7-13 third downs. UD was a perfect 2-2 in fourth down conversions.

The Spartans (1-2 overall) will open American Rivers Conference play next Saturday, Oct. 3 at Central College (2-1 overall) in Pella, Iowa with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m.