ST. PAUL, Minn. - Paced by a ground game that averaged 7.4 yards per carry and compiled 295 yards, Concordia-St. Paul (2-3, 1-3 NSIC) secured its first Northern Sun victory of the season, outlasting the University of Mary (0-5, 0-5 NSIC) 37-34 on Saturday afternoon at Sea Foam Stadium.

The Golden Bears return home next Saturday, aiming to get back to the .500 mark against Sioux Falls for homecoming at Sea Foam Stadium at noon.

Junior running back Jaylin Richardson topped 200 scrimmage yards with 21 carries for 172 yards (8.2) while adding 2-32 as a receiver including 33 yards after the catch.

The Golden Bears averaged over three times as many yards per carry as the CSP run defense held UMary to 80 yards on 35 attempts (2.3) including 7.0 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss. Redshirt freshman linebacker Ben Rehl had a breakout game with career-highs 12 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks, and redshirt freshman defensive end Kendis Ledbetter had six tackles, 2.5 for loss, a pair of sacks with one forcing a fumble that was recovered on the 2-yard line by the Golden Bears.

The fumble set-up the second short touchdown run in a span of 42 seconds by redshirt freshman running back James Evans, who finished the day with six carries for 26 yards and a pair of scores.

The late second quarter turnover and score was pivotal, as CSP had just taken a 14-9 lead with 2:29 to play in the half on Evans' first touchdown from 8-yards out. The second score gave Concordia a 21-9 lead, but there were four scoring plays in the last two and a half minutes of the first half, as UMary answered with an interception with under a minute to play and scored on the next play from 14-yards out. CSP executed in the 2-minute offense, though, driving 53 yards on eight plays in 39 seconds as Payton Eue converted a 22-yard field goal as time expired in the first half for a 24-15 lead, pushing it to a 2-score margin.

The started with Concordia punishing the opposition on the ground for the third week in a row, but this time sprinkled in a short pass in the midst of a 6-play, 75-yard scoring drive to start the contest. Behind a strong push from the offensive line, Richardson gashed the Marauders for runs of nine, 26 and 10 yards with a Conner Cordts-Troy Ellison 4-yard pass mixed in. Sophomore running back Daniel Hornacek capped off the drive with a pair of runs for 26 yards including a 15-yard touchdown sprint for the lead.

In the third quarter, Concordia once again turned to the ground game, but this time, it just took one as Ellison dashed 55 yards down the right sideline on the first play of Concordia's first drive of the second half. Ellison finished with 95 all-purpose yards in the game with 3-45 rushing, 5-37 receiving including 48 yards after the catch, and two punt returns for 13 yards.

The Ellison touchdown gave Concordia a 31-15 lead with 12:32 to play in the contest.

UMary fought back, despite being pinned at their own 9-yard line on a 41-yard punt by Parker Dahlman that was fair caught inside the 10. They went 91 yards on nine plays, finding the end zone and converting the 2-point conversion to make it a 1-score contest, 31-23 late in the third quarter. They added a field goal with 9:22 to play in the fourth quarter, bringing the margin to less than a touchdown, 31-26.

The Golden Bears answered as Cordts engineered a balanced 13-play, 75-yard drive that drained nearly seven minutes (6:48) off the clock. Cordts and Richardson converted a 3rd-and-18 from their own 17-yard line on the first series of the possession to keep the drive alive as the veteran signal-caller went 3-for-4 passing for 35 yards. Richardson also ripped off runs of nine and 16 yards on the drive, which was capped off by a Cordts 1-yard keeper for a 37-26 lead with 2:34 to play.

The Marauders continued their comeback, though, executing a 78-yard scoring drive on 13 plays, but needed to use 1:45 of clock, adding the 2-point conversion to make it a field goal margin, 37-34 with 42 seconds and only one timeout remaining.

The ensuing onside kick, which popped up just as it approached CSP's hands team, was deflected out-of-bounds, allowing Cordts to kneel out the clock behind his offensive line, which proved to be a crucial position group on a hot day at Sea Foam Stadium.

Cordts finished the day 15-25 for 155 yards, a long of 23 yards, wasn't sacked and added 5-21 rushing with a score. He targeted and completed passes to eight different receivers in the game. Hornacek, who gave the Golden Bears a boost on the opening drive, finished with 4-32 rushing and 2-16 receiving.

The Marauder offense was led by backup quarterback Sofian Massoud as UMary once again played both of its listed quarterbacks on the depth chart. Massoud completed 18-26 for 201 yards and a pair of touchdowns but was sacked four times. Starter Jesse Forknell completed 6-8 for 60 yards and a touchdown and was sacked three times. They combined to find Mujeeb Rufai nine times for 120 yards and a touchdown while Jeremiah Moore led the ground game with 18 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown.

The Golden Bears out-gained UMary 450-341 and the turnover margin was even at 1-1.

Dahlman averaged 47.7 yards on his three punts with a long of 56 and one inside the 20 and Concordia had a 7-yard advantage in starting field position (36-29).