STEVENS POINT, Wis. - In a game that lasted six hours, featured two lightning delays, and was officially called off with 2:39 remaining in regulation, the Gustavus football team defeated UW-Stevens Point 31-10 on Saturday. Rookie running back De'Marion Brown was the story of the game, rushing 26 times for 228 yards and three touchdowns. Brown's 228 yards are the eighth most in a single game in program history and the most by a first-year. 

"The yards after contact is the most impressive thing with De'Marion and he made a number of special runs today," said Head Coach Peter Haugen. "But it all starts with our veteran backs in Walker Britz and River Wood. Walker got hurt in the first quarter and both of them were helping De'Marion throughout the whole game." 

The Gusties out-gained the Pointers 422-203 in total yards while the Gustie defense limited the home team to just nine first downs with six three-and-outs and eight punts. 

"The guys up front played solid and forced Stevens Point to throw the ball," Haugen said. "They got behind us a couple times but our secondary did a nice job as well. I can't say enough about their effort today." 

Both teams' first drives were halted and ended in punts but the Gusties took their second possession 48 yards in five plays, culminating with a 32-yard touchdown pass from George Sandven to Caden Kleinschmidt. After the extra point from Owen Forsythe, the Gusties led 7-0 midway through the first quarter. The next possessions for both teams once again resulted in punts and the score remained 7-0 after the first quarter. 

UW-Stevens Point's second drive of the second quarter was stopped at the Gustavus 13-yard line, resulting in a 29-yard field goal for the home team's first score of the game. The Gusties answered on the ensuing possession with a seven-play, 75-yard drive. On fourth-and-one near midfield, Brown broke free for a 43-yard touchdown run. Forsythe's extra point was good and the Gusties led 14-3 with 3:36 left in the opening half.

The Pointers immediately responded with a 72-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the drive, moving the score to 14-10. Gustavus then took its next drive all the way down to the Pointer seven-yard line, but stalled out. A 26-yard field goal attempt as time expired in the half bounced off the left upright and the Gusties carried a 14-10 lead into the locker room at half. 

Gustavus increased its lead to 17-10 on its first drive of the second half. A 12-play drive was stopped with a sack at the Pointer 18-yard line, resulting in a 35-yard field goal by Jack Sieben. The Gustie defense stood tall, forcing a three-and-out, and on the first play of the ensuing Gustie drive, Brown broke a few tackles and turned on the jets up the left sideline for a 62-yard touchdown run for a 24-10 lead. 

The game was delayed due to lightning with 31 seconds remaining in the third quarter. After the stoppage, that lasted more than two hours, the Gustie defense forced yet another punt and responded with an eight-play, 59-yard drive, highlighted by six carries from Brown and ending with a 13-yard touchdown run by Brown, his third of the game for a 31-10 lead. And with 4:01 left in the game, yet another lightning delay was called, halting the game for another hour. After the delay, five plays were run by the Pointer offense before the game was officially called off with 2:39 left in the game. 

The Gusties dominated the time of possession at 36:01-18:30. The game had zero turnovers and just six total penalties called. 

Sandven finished the game 15-of-29 for 168 yards and a touchdown. Jake Breitbach was the top target with 10 catches for 106 yards. The defense was led by Carson DeKam, who collected eight tackles. Myshawn King had two solo sacks for a loss of 18 yards. 

Gustavus opens MIAC play next Saturday afternoon at Augsburg. 
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