Matt Padilla

It had been 13 years since the Miners had won a Homecoming football game, but UMR got just enough done at the right time to put an end to that streak Saturday afternoon.

Joe Winters threw for 371 yards and two scores, including a 55-yard touchdown pass to Mike Greaving in the third quarter, allowing UMR to come from behind for a 17-14 win over Southern Nazarene at Allgood-Bailey Stadium. It was UMR's first win on Homecoming since it beat Southwest Baptist in 1993.

Things didn't start out so well for the Miners, as the visitors from Oklahoma took the opening kickoff and drove 61 yards on seven plays for a touchdown. Maurice Upshaw's three-yard run gave the Crimson Storm a 7-0 lead right out of the gate.

After two scoreless possessions to open the game, the Miners got a spark from Jon Iglehart's blocked field goal late in the quarter. On the very next play, Winters hit Matt Padilla on a swing pass that he took the distance for a game-tying 75-yard touchdown reception to bring the Miners even.

UMR took the lead early in the second quarter on a 38-yard field goal by Tim Valencia and would take that 10-7 lead into the locker room as the defense got two stops in Miner territory before the half ended. Brian Jordan picked off a pass at the UMR 10 to end one drive, then SNU quarterback Tyler Schneider was stopped short of a first down on a fourth down play at the Miner 15.

The Crimson Storm took the lead on a 17-yard scoring pass from Schneider to Zack Bridwell at the 5:47 mark of the third quarter to cap an 84-yard scoring drive. But the Miners answered that score by scoring on the fourth play after getting the ball back on what turned out to be the game's decisive play.

Winters lofted a pass on the sideline to Greaving, who hauled it in and then eluded two Crimson Storm defenders to reach the end zone to give UMR a 17-14 lead. It was part of a huge day for the sophomore wide receiver as he caught seven passes for a career-high 150 yards, a resume that included a tremendous one-handed catch in the first half and a key catch in the fourth quarter to lock up the win for the Miners.

After Greaving's score, the Miner defense stiffened and held SNU to just one first down on its final four possessions. UMR forced a punt with 4:42 remaining and then picked up three first downs to lock up the win.

Winters finished the game with 24 completions in 40 attempts for 371 yards and the two scores, with Ashton Gronewold also going over the 100-yard mark in receptions with 122 on nine catches. UMR had only 14 yards rushing in the game (most of the losses were the result of six quarterback sacks), but did get 42 yards on the ground from David Shields in his most extensive playing time of the year.

Avian Jordan led the Miner defense with eight tackles.

UMR evened its record at 4-4 with the win and will wrap up the three-game homestand next Saturday with a 1 p.m. game against Butler at Allgood-Bailey Stadium.