Box Score Bismarck, N.D. --- The Minnesota State football squad scored 21 unanswered points to turn a 7-0 deficit into a 21-7 lead and never look back en route to a 35-14 victory over the University of Mary Saturday afternoon in the Community Bowl in Bismarck, N.D.

The win - which moves MSU's record to 3-0 on the season - marks the first time that it has won its first three games since the 1993 season. It also marked the Maverick's first win in the Peace Garden State since it downed North Dakota, 36-35, on Nov 2, 2002.

Neither team was able to muster much offense throughout the first quarter and much of the second. The University of Mary struck first at the 4:05 mark of the first half as quarterback Henry Lau found Tyler Steffan for a 12-yard touchdown pass, capping a nine-play, 68-yard drive, giving it a 7-0 lead.

The Mavericks answered to close the first half as junior quarterback Steve Pachan found senior wideout Chris Nowlinfor a 41-yard touchdown pass in the back-of the endzone. Freshman kicker Sam Brockshus point after was good and the two teams entered halftime tied at seven.

"It was a designed out-route to Omaar (Balton)," said Nowlin. "Steve (Pachan) just threw it up and Steve threw a perfect ball right in the back of the endzone."

The Mavericks opened the third quarter with a 10-play, 65-yard scoring drive that was capped when Pachan punched in a one-yard touchdown run. The drive was kept alive when senior running back Ernest Walker picked up 12 yards on a fourth-and-one from the MSU 44. Brockshus added the PAT and MSU pushed a 14-7 lead with 10:42 remaining in the third.

After MSU forced a U-Mary punt on its ensuing possession, the Maverick offense struck again as Pachan found redshirt-freshman Jake Aberg for a 57-yard scoring strike. Brockshus added the extra point, and MSU led 21-7 with nine minutes remaining in the game.

Minnesota State opened the fourth quarter the same way they finished the second quarter as Pachan found Nowlin for a 40-yard touchdown grab. The extra point was good the Mavericks extended its lead to 28-7.

U-Mary stopped the Maverick scoring run when Lau found caught Terry Newsome in the middle of the endzone, capping a six-play, 49-yard scoring drive and cutting the MSU lead to 28-14.

The Mavericks answered right back when Walker capped an eight-play, 61-yard drive with a 12-yard scoring plunge. The extra point was good and MSU pushed its lead to 35-14.

"We came in at halftime and regrouped," said Nowlin. "We were really flat and after last week's injuries we had a lot to prove. It took us while to realize we are vulnerable if we don't play they way we can. We came out in the second half and played hot."

Pachan finished the game connected on 13-of-22 of his passes for 322 yards and three touchdowns. His 322 yards of passing marked the first time that a Maverick to throw for over 300 yards in a game since Ben King threw for 429 yards in MSU's 48-24 win at Western Washington (11/10/07). Pachan is now the 35th player in MSU history to toss for 300 or more yards in a game.

"I had great protection from today's offensive line," said Pachan. "You aren't a football team without a great offensive line."

Walker led MSU with 66 yards rushing on 11 carries while Aberg rushed 11 times for 26 yards. Nowlin caught five passes for a team-high 135 yards and two touchdowns. It marked Nowlin's third career 100-yard receiving game.

MSU ran 69 plays for 463 yards while U-Mary ran 66 plays for 267 yards. The Mavericks limited U-Mary to 66 yards rushing on 23 attempts. The two teams were called for a combine 19 penalties for 194 yards.

Junior linebacker Dan Fehlberg led MSU with eight tackles while senior Kelvin Rodgers and sophomore Jesse Hamilton each had six stops.

Minnesota State (3-0, 2-0 NSIC) opens NSIC South Division play Sept. 19, when it hosts Wayne State. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.

Notes: Captains for Saturday's game were senior offensive lineman Adrian Battles, junior linebacker Matt McQuiston, senior defensive back Kelvin Rodgers and senior fullback Ernest Walker...MSU has not scored first this season...MSU did not have a third-down conversion in the first half and converted on its first four third downs in the second half...DeWet's last punt of the game went 71 yards, which was a career-long and sixth longest in school history.

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