ABERDEEN, SD – Mayville State's first road trip of the spring season is in the books, with the road warrior Comets heading home with a close 20-14 victory of the Presentation College Saints. The Comets led 20-7 late in the third, giving up a touchdown in the final nine minutes of the fourth quarter – but the defense held in the end.
Mayville State jumped out to the 20-7 lead late in the third when quarterback
Tim Salmon connected with receiver
Reece Smith for a seven-yard touchdown with one second left in the third quarter – giving the Comets all of the momentum heading into the fourth quarter.
But a punt by the Comets with 10:04 to go in the fourth quarter gave the Saints plenty of time, and Innocent Okoh capitalized on the six-play, 27-yard drive with 8:14 to go when he scampered in from two yards out. Max Welch's extra point kick pulled Presentation to within six points, but the Comets held off.
Mayville State took the lead with 5:26 to go in the first half, when Salmon connected for his first of three passing touchdowns, finding receiver Josh Portillo in the end zone from 20 yards out, capping off a nine-play, 58-yard drive, which took six minutes off the clock.
Samer Waz's extra point kick put the Comets up 7-0.
Just six minutes later, early in the third quarter, on the first play from scrimmage, Salmon connected with Portillo again, this time for 84 yards and a Comet touchdown. Waz's extra point put the Comets ahead 14-0.
Michael Peek got Presentation on the board with a 21-yard run with 6:19 to go in the third quarter.
Salmon finished the game 15-of-26 passing for 164 yards and three touchdowns.
Jason Nelson was the Comets' leading rusher, with 22 attempts for 67 yards, with
Mason Ollman attempting nine rushes for 51 yards.
Portillo led all receivers with three receptions for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Smith added a receiving touchdown on one of two receptions, amassing 91 yards. Ollman had seven receptions for 34 yards.
Mayville State (2-7, 1-5 NSAA) will now take on Dakota State on April 24 in Madison, S.D. The Comets and Trojans have played once, a November 19 game that saw the Trojans pick up a 37-28 win in Mayville.
