SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Mayville State Comets Football opened the 2026 season with a hard-fought 29-22 victory over Briar Cliff Saturday night at Memorial Field, using timely big plays and key defensive stops to secure the season-opening win.
The Comets wasted little time making an impact as Darnell Green returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, giving Mayville State an early 8-0 advantage. Briar Cliff answered with a pair of first-quarter touchdowns to move in front 13-8, but the Comets responded throughout the night in a back-and-forth contest.
Mayville State regained momentum in the second quarter before Briar Cliff struck again on a 41-yard touchdown pass, giving the Chargers a 19-15 lead. The Comets, however, delivered one of the game's biggest moments just before halftime, scoring with only three seconds remaining to take a 22-19 advantage into the locker room.
The Comets extended their lead in the second half, pushing the score to 29-19 while the defense stepped up in key situations. Briar Cliff added a late field goal and had opportunities in the fourth quarter, including possession after a blocked punt, but Mayville State's defense held strong. A fourth-quarter interception by Dior Evans halted one Chargers drive, and the Comets stopped Briar Cliff on downs in the final minute to seal the victory.
Quarterback Matt Donovan guided the offense and contributed both through the air and on the ground, while Green's opening kickoff return provided an early spark that set the tone for the evening. The Comets showed resilience throughout the contest, answering every Briar Cliff surge and making winning plays in all three phases of the game.
With the victory, Mayville State begins the 2026 season 1-0 and will look to carry the momentum into next week's road contest at Oklahoma Panhandle State.
For full schedule details visit: https://msucomets.com/sports/football/schedule
