Tommies lead Cobbers at half in top-20 showdown

MOORHEAD, Minn. – Tight end Logan Marks scored two touchdowns in the first half to give No. 3 St. Thomas a 14-0 lead over No. 17 Concordia-Moorhead Saturday at Jake Christiansen Stadium.

<p>Senior tight end Logan Marks catches a 34-yard pass midway through the second quarter. Marks had two touchdowns in the first half. (Rosie Murphy/TommieMedia)</p>
Tight end Logan Marks catches a 34-yard pass midway through the second quarter. Marks had two touchdowns in the first half. (Rosie Murphy/TommieMedia)

Following a fumble recovery by safety Tyler Erstad at the Tommies’ 48-yard line, quarterback Matt O’Connell orchestrated a seven-play, 52-yard drive capped off by Marks’ 13-yard touchdown reception.

Both defenses played well in the first half. St. Thomas forced two turnovers, and Concordia created one turnover.

Midway through the second quarter, O’Connell was intercepted by safety Bryce Hentges at the Cobbers’ 35-yard line.

On the next Tommie possession, O’Connell hit Marks for a 34-yard gain, before Cobber cornerback Kenyon O’Brien popped the ball loose and linebacker Jordan Doschadis recovered the ball at the Cobber 3-yard line.

With 14.7 seconds remaining in the half, O’Connell found Marks again on the same route as his first touchdown to give St. Thomas a 14-0 lead heading into halftime. O’Connell drove the Tommies 64 yards in nine plays.

The Tommie offense dominated the first half, compiling 266 yards to the Cobbers’ 93 yards.

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Ross Schreck can be reached at schr8250@stthomas.edu.