Box Score Winona, Minn. – Minnesota State junior quarterback Steve Pachan completed 14-of-17 passes for 258 yards and four touchdowns as the Mavericks downed Winona State, 34-13, Saturday afternoon in front of 3,297 fans in Winona.

The win for the Mavericks snapped Winona State’s 35-game NSIC home winning streak and 19-game overall winning streak in Verizon Stadium.

The win pushed Minnesota State’s record to 5-0 marking just the third time in school history that it has won its first five games. The last time MSU opened 5-0, was in 1993, a year in which the Mavericks qualified for the NCAA playoffs. Minnesota State also opened 5-0 in 1926.

“We had some good fortune, but we had some very good play,” said head coach Todd Hoffner. “Up front we did a very solid job. It boiled down to making big plays with our wideouts and our wideouts came up very big. Our receivers made some great catches to help Steve (Pachan) out. It is good to see.”

“Our defense turned them down in the redzone. Winona State moved the ball very well and we did a good job tipping the ball and making interceptions. We had a lot of patience and a lot of poise.”

The Mavericks opened the game with a 7-play, 70-yard drive that chewed up just over three minutes. Pachan capped the drive with a four-yard touchdown toss to senior wideout Vincent Flury. The touchdown was set up when Pachan found tight end Luedtke for a 26-yard gain, giving MSU a first-and-goal from the four yard line.

The Warriors would crack the scoreboard early in the second quarter with a defensive touchdown. Pachan completed a pass to Flury over the middle, which was fumbled and returned by Lucas Wolf for a 54-yard touchdown.

Minnesota State answered on the following drive as senior running back Ernest Walker punched in a four-yard touchdown run. The drive started with a 49-yard kick return by senior kick returner Rodgers. An additional 15-yards was tacked on after the return thanks to a Winona State personal foul. Brockshus added the extra point, and Minnesota State regained the lead, 14-7.

Winona State then scored on the ensuing drive when quarterback Greg Preston found Drew Alexander for a six-yard touchdown pass with 4:47 remaining in the half. Senior defensive tackle Randy Earl blocked the extra point, and MSU held onto the 14-13 advantage.

Minnesota State again answered a WSU scoring drive as Pachan found junior wideout Omaar Balton for a 22-yard scoring strike. Brockshus added the extra point, and MSU opened a 21-13 lead with 2:03 remaining in the first half. Pachan was 4-for-4 on the drive for 44 yards. Redshirt freshman Adam Theilen caught three passes on the drive, covering 22 yards.

The Mavericks opened the second half similar to the way they opened the first half, with a Pachan touchdown.

Minnesota State forced the Warriors into a three and out, and after an 11-yard punt, Pachan and the Maverick offense took over on their own 38-yard line. Three plays later, Pachan found senior wideout Chris Nowlin for a 44-yard touchdown pass. Freshman kicker Sam Brockshus added the extra point, and extended its lead to 28-13 with 11:31 remaining in the third quarter.

Minnesota State scored its fifth touchdown of the day when Pachan connected with Balton for a 74-yard touchdown pass along the Winona State sideline. The extra point was no good and MSU opened a 34-13 lead with 4:07 remaining in the game. The touchdown was set up when junior defensive end Michael Robinson hauled in his first career interception.

Winona State threatened late in the fourth quarter, however junior defensive back Troy Jones picked off a Preston pass in the endzone to give MSU the ball and the victory.

Flury caught five passes for 66 yards while Balton had two catches for 96 yards and two scores to pace the Minnesota State wideouts.

Senior running back Julian Phipps led all rushers with 11 carries for 75 yards. Senior linebacker Dan Fehlberg collected a team-high nine tackles.

The Maverick defense forced Preston into a 22-of-40 day for 278 yards and four interceptions. Sophomore Jesse Hamilton hauled in two interceptions for the Mavericks to go along with his four tackles.

“We were just reading what they gave us,” said Pachan. “We had a great week of practice and game-planning and we will have to do the same next week.”

The Mavericks ran 53 plays for 414 yards, while Winona State ran 69 plays for 413 yards.

Minnesota State (5-0, 4-0 NSIC, 2-0 NSIC South) hosts Augustana next week in its annual homecoming game at 3 p.m.

Notes: Nowlin now stands fourth on MSU’s all-time receiving yardage list…He entered the game with 2,009 yards and now has 2,050, passing John Davis (1993-95, 97) who was fourth all-time with 2,022 yards…Nowlin also moved into a tie for sixth on the school’s career touchdown receptions list with 16, tying him with Chad Ellman (1995-97)… The Mavericks have scored 30 or more points in every game this season and have now done so 12 times under head coach Todd Hoffner.