NEW ULM, Minn. - The football team received a pair of touchdowns from Paul Garrett, and Jaden Apple-Gibbs returned a fumble 21 yards for a TD in Greenville's 21-14 overtime victory against Martin Luther on Saturday.
The Panthers scored the only touchdown of the first half. Garrett caught a pass from Chase Butterfield and went 77 yards on Greenville's first play from scrimmage. A Lucas Hermo extra point put Greenville ahead 7-0.
After shutting out MLC in the first half, GU was able to keep them off the scoreboard for most of the third quarter as well, but Martin Luther finally broke through with 6:31 remaining in the third and tied the game.
The teams traded punts on the first two possessions after game was tied, but on GU's next possession the Panthers went for it on fourth down in Martin Luther territory and were stopped at the MLC30 to give the Knights possession. On the Knights possession, Apple-Gibbs picked up a fumble and went 21 yards for the score. After the Hermo kick, the score tipped in Greenville's favor at 14-7.
The Knights added the game-tying touchdown with 9:30 to play in regulation, and the game went to overtime.
On Greenville's first possession of overtime that started at the MLC25, GU's Butterfield connected with Seth Logan on an eight yard pass that took the ball to the MLC17. After an incomplete pass from Butterfield to Logan, Garrett ran the ball on 3rd-and-2 for seven yards, carried the ball nine yards on his next touch, and crossed the goal line with a one yard TD. Hermo completed the seven point swing with his third PAT of the game.
Overtime rules in college allow for each team to have a possession in overtime until the game ends with a defensive stop. Greenville stopped Martin Luther on first through third down, and Doug Becker forced a fumble after a seven yard loss on fourth down to give the Panthers the win.
Garrett finished the game for GU with 20 carries for 110 yards and three receptions gaining 102 yards. He ended with 212 yards of total offense.
Butterfield went 9-of-25 for 230 yards and a touchdown pass.
On defense Greg Urbanc collected 13 tackles, and Turjon McLaurin was right behind with 12 tackles, including an assisted quarterback sack and one other assist on a tackle behind the line of scrimmage. McLaurin also recovered a fumble.
The Panthers (3-2, 1-0 UMAC) will play Northwestern on Saturday, Oct. 9, in Greenville at Noon.
