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Worcester, Mass. - Friday evening's season opener between Millersville and Assumption was the kind of game in which the last team with the ball wins. Thanks to Chad Miller's interception with 50 seconds left, it was the Marauders that were able to seal a 31-28 season opening victory.

Miller's interception--coming off a tipped pass--put the finishing touches on a game that saw three ties and five lead changes. The Marauders took the lead for good on a three-yard run from Jamal Smith with 1:25 on left in the game. That set up Millersville's final defense hold.

While the defense surrendered 410 yards of offense to the home team, it played outstanding in the fourth quarter and set up Millersville's game-winning touchdown drive. Twice the Marauders forced punts, and on Assumption's final two possessions, it forced two turnovers. Along with Miller's pick, Gary Tillman forced a fumble that was recovered by Julius Carter.

The fumble gave the Marauders the ball on their own 48 yard line with 5:32 left on the clock. Junior quarterback Bill Shirk, who was 15-of-30 for 185 yards in the game, helped engineer a drive that ate up over four minutes of clock. The drive, however, belonged to Smith. He hauled in a pair of 10-yard catches from Shirk and after a Brad Lantz 15-yard run to the 17, Smith stepped into the quarterback position and rushed twice, including the go-ahead touchdown plunge.

Smith finished the game with four catches for 48 yards and scored two touchdowns. He also hauled in a 21-yard strike from Shirk in the second quarter that tied the game at 14.

The Marauders fell behind early as Assumption scored seven on its first drive of the game. Millersville answered right back with a six-play, 34-yard drive capped by a Lantz touchdown run.

The game didn't stay tied for long. Assumption's Josh Ratacik hooked up with David Canney for a 59-yard touchdown pass. Just under four minutes later, Shirk found Smith to tie the game. After forcing an Assumption three-and-out, Cardoza Jacks gave the Marauders their first lead of the game, scampering 78-yards for a touchdown down the right sideline. It was the longest run by a Marauder since Brad Myers went for 80 against Shippensburg in 1996.

Assumption quickly tied the game at 21 just under three minutes later, but Assumption's Corey Kemps missed a field goal attempt just before the half, keeping the game tied.

Millersville struck first in the third quarter. Shirk hooked up with Andrew Downs for 37 yards to the three yard line. Assumption's defense dug in, though, and forced a John Banzhof 28-yard field goal. Assumption answered and took the momentary lead 28-24 on a 10-play, 68-yard drive capped by a Herb Woodard 23-yard touchdown run.

The Marauders managed 332 yards of offense including 147 on the ground, extending its streak to 22-straight games with 100 yards rushing. The Marauders also committed just one penalty for five yards.

Jacks and Lantz combined for 147 yards with Jacks taking three carries for 88 yards. Lantz toted the ball 17 times for 70 yards. With that total, he moved into ninth place on Millersville's all-time rushing list and 2,021 career yards.

Sophomore Matt Egenreider led the team with six catches. Greg Frantz also grabbed two passes for 40 yards.

Defensively, the Marauders totaled four sacks. Jeff Longley tallied seven tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Miller, Zack Riley and Owen King also recorded sacks. Carter led the team with nine stops.

Millersville starts the season with a victory for the first time since 2005. It was just the third season opening win in the last 10 years.

Friday's game marked the start of a three-game road swing. The Marauders visit Slippery Rock on Sept. 5.