FAYETTE, IOWA --- The Minnesota State football team pushed its record to 10-0 as it downed Upper Iowa, 48-17, Saturday afternoon in front of 723 fans in Eb Eischeid Stadium on the campus of Upper Iowa University.  The win gave Minnesota State the 2009 Northern Sun Intercollegiate South Division Title.

The Maverick offense racked up 403 yards of total offense in the win, while the defense held Upper Iowa to 320 total yards.

 “In general our players were very excited and loose today,” said head coach Todd Hoffner.  “We didn’t play tense and it showed early.  I am very impressed with our effort and I’m very excited about winning the South Division championship and there is one more to get.”

After both teams traded punts, Minnesota State scored the games first points when redshirt-freshman running back Jake Aberg punched in a five-yard touchdown.  Junior quarterback Steve Pachan found senior fullback Ernest Walker in the endzone for the two-point conversion and MSU went up 8-0 with 8:24 remaining in the first half.

The scoring drive was set up when junior defensive back Bryce Kinniry hauled in his fifth interception of the season and giving MSU the ball on UIU’s 19-yard line.

After Minnesota State entered the UIU redzone twice – and came up empty – Upper Iowa produced an eight-play, 71-yard drive which ended in a Tim Eulitz field goal to cut the lead to 8-3.

On the ensuing kick, senior kick returner Kelvin Rodgers gathered the kick and returned it 78-yards for a touchdown.  The two-point conversion was no good and MSU held a 14-3 lead at 10:30.  The kick return marked the fourth career kick return for Rodgers as a Maverick and the eighth time he has scored on a return in his career.

Following the MSU kickoff, junior linebacker Andrew Paik recovered a UIU fumble to give MSU a 1-and-10 on the Peacock 33 yard-line.  The Mavericks followed when redshirt-freshman quarterback Cody Rose found junior tight end Cameron Sprecher for a 13-yard touchdown pass.  Aberg ran in the two-point conversion and MSU opened a 22-3 lead with 8:42 remaining.

Rose added a rushing touchdown as he scampered eight -yard to cap a 6-play, 65-yard drive.  Senior running back Julian Phipps punched in the two-point conversion and MSU opened a 30-3 lead.  Rose added another touchdown on a five-yard run as time expired in the first half.  Rose then added the two-point conversion and MSU opened a 38-3 lead at the break.

Minnesota State started the second half with a 12-play, 46-yard drive that used 5:46 off the clock and was capped when freshman kicker Sam Brockshus booted a 30-yard field goal. 

Upper Iowa added two touchdowns late in the game to finish out the scoring.

Rose finished the game completing 10-fo-17 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown.  Junior wideout Omaar Balton added three catches for a team-high 75 yards, while Aberg led MSU on the ground with 17 carries for 105 yards.  Rose also added five rushes for 27 yards and three touchdowns. 

“It is a great feeling coming in and contributing,” said Rose.  “Injuries play a huge part in the game and I’m glad I could come in and step up.  Our offensive line did a great job opening holes for us today.”

Defensively, junior Troy Jones led Minnesota State with five tackles while senior linebacker Kevin Klug and junior linebacker Matt McQuiston each added four tackles.  In all, 23 Mavericks recorded at least one touchdown in the victory.               

The Minnesota State defense hauled in three interceptions on the day, pushing their season total to 27, which ties a team record for interceptions in a season. 

Minnesota State (10-0, 9-0 NSIC) concludes the regular season portion of the schedule next Saturday as it travels to St. Cloud State.  Kickoff in the annual battle for the Traveling Training Kit is slate for 1 p.m.

 To view the final stats, click HERE