Aberdeen, S.D. --- The 18^th-ranked Minnesota State football team used three touchdown passes from sophomore quarterback Will Brogan en route to a 21-14 victory over Northern State Saturday afternoon to open the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference portion of its schedule.

Brogan finished the game completing 10-of-24 passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns, two of which came to sophomore wideout Adam Thielen.   Thielen caught touchdown passes of seven and 71 yards, the later being the game winner.

“I thought the offense did fine,” said head coach Todd Hoffner. “We left a lot of points on the field today and we’ll have to get better with that. We didn’t turn the ball over today, so that is great and I am very proud of our player’s efforts.”

After a scoreless first quarter, the Mavericks cracked the board first during its first official drive of the second quarter when Brogan found sophomore wideout Cody Rose – who made a remarkable catch -over the middle for a 60-yard scoring play. The scoring play capped a five-play drive which used just a minute and 42 seconds off the clock. Sophomore kicker Sam Brockshus added the PAT and the Mavericks took a 7-0 lead.

Northern State was quick to answer as the Wolves scored on the ensuing drive when Montrel Richardson broke lose for a 47-yard touchdown run along the left sideline.   Thomas Parrott added the extra point for NSU to knot the game at seven.

The Mavericks took a 14-7 lead when Brogran found Thielen for a nine-yard touchdown pass at the 6:54 mark of the third quarter, capping an eight-play, 80-yard drive.

On the ensusing possession, NSU answered with an 13-play, 56-yard drive that was completed when Nick Wanner found Mark Hanley for a three-yard touchdown pass in the middle of the endzone. 

The game didn’t stay tied long however, as Minnesota State scored on its first play from scrimmage as Thielen hauled in a catch on the right sideline, ran across the field and into the endzone for a 71-yard touchdown catch. Brockshus added the extra point and MSU took a 21-14 lead with 14:35 remaining in the game.

Junior running back Taylor Brookins led MSU with eight carries for 39 yards on the ground, while senior linebacker Matt McQuiston added 11 tackles.   As a defensive unit, MSU finished with 10 tackles for a loss of 44 yards. Redshirt freshman Chris Schaudt led the way with three tackles for a loss of 18 yards.

Minnesota State continues its NSIC schedule next weekend as it travels to Minnesota, Crookston for a 1 pm., contest against the Golden Eagles.

To view the game stats, click HERE