By Cassie Kickert
Running back Riza Mahmoud has been a clutch player all
season for the St. Paul Pioneers. When his team needs him the most, his legs
seem to shift into overdrive, gaining yards where there were none before. It
was no different Saturday against the Lake Superior Rage in Duluth. In the
absence of starting quarterback Cleveland McCoy, Mahmoud quite literally took
over the game.

Trulen stepped up himself, managing the game well in McCoy’s
absence, according to offensive coordinator Rob Neumann. He threw for 148 yards
and the touchdown to Ubani.
But the Rage weren’t willing to give up just yet, sparking a
furious second quarter that put them into what seemed a comfortable lead.
The Pioneers defense has overcome numerous injuries this
season. However, Lionel Lamarre’s absence, in particular, seemed to have an
impact on the game. The next two Rage touchdowns would also come via the
passing game, the first one coming when Stokes threw to Hollis Dukes. Just a
few minutes later, Sherill caught his second touchdown pass of the day.
Linebacker Corey Brenner said the defense is resilient. It
had to be.
“No matter who is on the field, we will do whatever it takes
to get the Win. I know if we come out flat like we did against the Rage, it
will not make our job easy, but I am confident that we will come out with a win
if all 11 guys on the field do THEIR job,” he said.

Or, you could think of it as time for Mahmoud to take over
He had 35 rushing yards on the next drive, including a six
yard touchdown run to bring the Pioneers within ten points at halftime, 27-17.
He and running back Vernon Johnson, together with a long
pass from Trulen to Justin Miles, brought the Pioneers inside the Rage 10 at
which point, you guessed it, Mahmoud cut outside and ran along the sideline for
another Pioneers score – and a 27-24 game.
Suddenly, because of Mahmoud’s speed and elusiveness, the
Pioneers were within three points. Mahmoud said he knew he was going to have to
step up his game Saturday for the Pioneers to win. He did that and more,
running for 198 yards. In total, he had over 300 all-purpose yards on the day.

This is what Mahmoud had to say about the play:
“That just unfolded beautifully. We misdirected the guys one
way then a hole opened up on the back side and I saw it and just went with it.
Blocking was beautiful today,” he said.
After a late Rage touchdown by running back Chris Henagin,
Mahmoud showed he can play defense too when he emphatically tackled Hollis
Dukes late in the game. The Rage battled to inside the Pioneers 10-yard-line,
but time ran out on their comeback effort.
Mahmoud was named offensive player of the game. Defensive
player of the game was cornerback Brock Keaton, who had an interception and
several key passes defended. Ostertag was named special teams player of the
game.
Brenner said that everyone doing their job is what brought
the Pioneers the victory Saturday against the Rage.
“Everyone on the Pioneers can play ball, we just all need to
be on the same level so that we have no loose ends. That is what got us the victory
on Saturday vs. the Rage,” he said.
The final step in preparation for the playoffs comes this
Saturday at Concordia’s Seafoam Stadium when the Pioneers face the North Bank
Bulls for the second time this season. The Pioneers shut the Bulls out, 30-0,
in Cottage Grove on June 15. This Saturday is also Military Appreciation Day at
Concordia. All current and former military personnel will be admitted for free.
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