Box Score Mankato, Minn. --- Spearheaded by a three redzone interceptions that resulted in ten points for the offense, the Minnesota State football team earned a 45-23 victory over Wayne State in front of 2,872 on a sundrenched Blakeslee Stadium. 

Minnesota State struck early as it took just two plays to score as senior quarterback #Jon Daniels# found junior wideout Adam Thielen for a 45-yard touchdown strike.  Wayne State answered with a touchdown on the ensuing possession before Minnesota State kept the scoring pattern alive with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Daniels to junior wideout #Dennis Carter#, giving MSU a 14-7 lead midway through the first quarter.

After both teams traded punts, Wayne State struck with a 74-yard touchdown run by Bryce Hawthrone to tie the game at 14 with 1:12 remaining in the first quarter. 

Minnesota State broke the 14-all tie at the 10:48 mark of the second quarter when senior #LaMark Brown# punched in a two-yard touchdown run.   On their next possession, Wayne State drove deep into Maverick territory before quarterback Evan Johnson was intercepted at the two-yardline by senior senior defensive back #Andre LaGrone#.  LaGrone returned the interception to the WSC 45-yardline where the Maverick offense took over, culminating in a 15-yard touchdown run by redshirt freshman #Andy Pfeiffer#. 

Minnesota State tacked on a 24-yard field goal by junior #Daniel Padilla# to close out the first half, giving MSU a 31-14 lead.  The field goal was set up by a 81-yard interception return by sophomore #Nathan Hale#. 

Wayne State’s Nick Bell scored the only points of the third quarter when he hit a 26-yard field goal on the Wildcat’s ensuing possession.

Sophomore #Jon Wolf# added an 11-yard rushing touchdown early in the fourth-quarter to put the game out of reach.  Thielen closed the scoring with a 34-yard onside kickoff return for a touchdown.

The Mavericks finished the game 454 yards of total offense, 184 yards of rushing and 270 yards in the air. The Wildcats finished the game with 578 yards of total offense 349 of which came via the pass and 229 on the ground.

Pfeiffer led MSU with 27 carries for 113 yards and a score while Daniels completed 17-of-23 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns.  Carter caught seven passes for 134 yards and a touchdown while Thielen caught seven passes for 108 yards and a score.  Thielen’s seven receptions pushed him over the century mark for career receptions.

Redshirt freshman defensive end #Chris Fleigle led MSU with 14 stops while sophomore defensive end Chris Schaudt# had seven stops, including three for a loss to go with a pair of sacks.  Hale finished with a pair of interceptions to go with his two tackles and a blocked  kick.

Minnesota State (6-2, 6-1 NSIC) hosts Augustana Thursday evening.  Kick-off is set for 7 p.m., on Blakeslee Stadium and will air live on CBS College Sports Network.

To view the boxscore, click HERE
  Watch the postgame press conference