Box Score

Kirksville, Mo. --- The Minnesota State football team - ranked #17 in the preseason American Football Coaches Association poll - opened the 2009 season with a 31-13 victory over Truman State in front of 4,481 fans in Stokes Stadium.

The game marked the fifth consecutive season that the Mavericks have opened its season against a school from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. These two schools opened the 2006 season against each other, with the Mavericks earning a 34-16 victory in Mankato, Minn.

"One of the most impressive things was our will to win and our competitive spirit to win here tonight," said head coach Todd Hoffner. "I think our defense stepped up big when it had to and our offense responded early. It takes a team tow in and I thought our guys played well as a team."

Truman State's Vanness Emokpae returned the game's opening kick 68 yards to give the Bulldogs a short field at the MSU 16-yard line. Despite the field position, the Maverick defense held Truman to a 21-yard field goal by Mickey Masucci to cap a seven-play, 13-yard drive for Truman State.

After a Truman State missed field goal on the following possession, the Mavericks Ernest Walker punched in a one-yard touchdown run. The drive was set up by a 39-yard rush to the left by redshirt-freshman Jake Aberg. Aberg accounted for 51 of MSU's 80 yards on the drive. Freshman kicker Sam Brockshus capped the scoring play with the extra point, giving MSU a 7-3 lead with two minutes and 26 second remaining in the first quarter.

On MSU's first possession of the second quarter the Mavericks used a balanced run and passing attack to march down the field. The nine-play, 56-yard drive used 4:15 of the clock, and was capped by a six-yard touchdown run by senior running back Julian Phipps. Brockshus tacked on the extra point to extend MSU to a 14-3 lead.

After a Truman State fumble - which was recovered by senior defensive back Jesse Graves - gave MSU the all at the TSU 35, senior quarterback Ryan Fick engineered a five-play, 35-yard drive capped with a 10-yard pass to junior wideout Omaar Balton. Brockshus added the extra point to push the Maverick edge to 21-3 with 7:33 remaining left in the second quarter.

Masucci added a 24-yard field goal at the 2:19 mark of the second quarter to cut the Maverick lead to 21-6. The field goal capped an 11-play, 54-yard drive that used 5:08.

The Mavericks added a 46-yard field goal attempt by Brockshus - the first of his career - to close out the first half. The field goal was the second longest in school history and the longest since Jason Tompkins booted a 45-yard field goal at Western Washington on Nov. 10, 2007.

MSU started the third quarter with a three-and-out. The ensuing punt was blocked, setting up a first-and-10 for Truman from its own 20. The Bulldogs would get to the two-yard line before junior linebacker Matt McQuiston forced a fumble - which was recovered by junior defensive tackle Don Thomas, giving MSU the ball back on the MSU 10-yard line and thwarting the Bulldog drive.

After both teams played to a scoreless third quarter, Truman State used a four-play, 65-yard drive - which included two Minnesota State penalties - to set up a 28-yard touchdown pass from Phillip Davis to Phil Kenney. The point after was good and Truman State cut the Maverick lead to 24-13 with 7:48 remaining in the game.

Truman State threatened late in the fourth quarter but senior defensive back Kelvin Rodgers - the NSIC South Division Preseason Player of the Year - picked off an errant Davis pass and returned it 60-yard to for the touchdown. The return marks the fifth time since last season that Rodgers has returned a punt, kick or interception for score. Brockshus' point after was good and MSU led 31-13 with 2:29 remaining.

Fick finished the game connecting on 13-of-23 passes for 136 yards and one touchdown. Aberg led the Maverick ground game with 86 yards on 14 carries. Phipps added 53 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Senior wideout Vincent Flury led MSU with four catches for 54 yards, while Balton caught four passes for 36 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively seniors Kevin Klug, Dan Felhberg and Jesse Graves all paced the Mavericks with eight tackles.

The Mavericks finished the game with 166 on the ground and 136 in the air for 302 total yards of offense. The defense allowed Truman State to just 84 yards rushing, while the Bulldogs threw for 205 yards.

Minnesota State (1-0) opens the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference portion of its schedule next Saturday as it hosts Bemidji State. Game time is slated for 6 p.m.

Notes: Captains for the game were: senior, defensive tackle, Randy Earl; senior, defensive back/returner, Kelvin Rodgers; senior, wideout, Vincent Flury; senior, quarterback, Ryan Fick...MSU won the toss and deferred to start the game...The Mavericks are ranked in four preseason polls...MSU is #12 in the USA Today/Sports Weekly Division II poll, #17 in the d2football.com & AFCA polls and is #18 in the Sporting News Division II poll...Senior kick returner Kelvin Rodgers broke the school's career kick returns record today...Rodgers, entered the game tied with Scott Roach (1983-86) for the school record with 59 and now has 62 kick returns in his career...Senior quarterback Ryan Fick moved into 10th on the school's all-time pass attempts list...Fick entered he game with 294 career attempts and now has 317 attempts and passed Mike Dahleim (311; 1965-68) for 10th all-time...Fick also passed Mike McDevitt for eighth on the school's all-time pass completions list...McDevitt completed 179 passes during his career from 184-87, while Fick has now completed 178 ...The Mavericks are now 1-1 in lidlifters under head coach Todd Hoffner.

To view the stats, click HERE