Wayne, Neb. –  The seventh-ranked Minnesota State football team scored on its first three possessions of the first half – and its final two of the half – and then held on for a 42-35 victory over Wayne State College in the annual Egg Bowl played on the campus of Wayne State College.  The game was witnessed by 1,651 fans.

Maverick junior quarterback Jon Wolf was named the Minnesota State Most Valuable Player of the Egg Bowl after finishing the game with by completing 10-of-18 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns.  He also rushed ten times for 54 yards and a score.

The win pushed MSU’s record to 9-0 on the season a mark which ties the 2010 squad for the best start in program history.

“It is always great to come away with a win,” said acting head coach Aaron Keen.  “That wasn’t the prettiest football game we have played all season, but at the end of the day we accomplished our goal, a victory.”

The Mavericks scored on their opening drive after the defense recovered an errant pitch on an option, giving MSU the ball on the WSC 29-yard line.  Sophomore running back Andy Pfeiffer capped the seven-play, 29-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown dive. 

On WSC’s ensuing possession, the Mavericks tackled the Wildcat punter after a bad snap, turning the ball over on downs on the ten-yardline.  Two plays later, Wolf made the best of a broken play, scrambling ten yards for the score.  Junior kicker Sam Brockshus added the extra point as MSU opened a 14-0 lead with 7:04 left in the first quarter.

Minnesota State continued its scoring trend on its third possession of the game when redshirt freshman #Connor Thomas# punched in a one-yard run pushing MSU’s lead to 21-0 after the Brockshus PAT.  The scoring drive was set up by a 37-yard run by Pfeiffer and kept alive by an 11-yard reception by senior wideout #Adam Thielen#. 

Wayne State answered with a scoring spurt of its own early in the second quarter, as it cracked the scoreboard with a touchdown at the 13:47 mark of the quarter.   On MSU’s ensuing possession, the Mavericks fumbled on a third-down option play giving WSC the ball on the MSU 24-yard line.  Seven plays later, the Wildcats found the endzone and WSC had cut the Maverick lead to 21-14 with 8:52 left in the half.

The Wildcats continued the scoring as it tied the game with 3:09 left in the first half as Brian Kent went 38-yard for the touchdown.

Minnesota State regained the lead when Wolf found Thielen for a 39-yard scoring strike with 44 seconds remaining in the half. 

Sophomore linebacker #Isaac Kolstad# closed the first half for the Mavericks with a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown as time expired.  Brockshus’ PAT pushed the score to 35-21 at the intermission.  The interception return for a touchdown was MSU’s first since then sophomore Jordan Hale recorded an 81-yard interception return a year ago against Wayne State.  It was MSU’s first interception return for a touchdown since Kelvin Rodgers returned an interception – coincidently enough for 60-yards – against Truman State on August 29, 2009.

After a scoreless third quarter, Wayne State cracked the scoreboard with 10:54 left in the game with Charlie Davidson - Wayne State's MVP of the Egg Bowl - scored from five yards out.

The Mavericks answered on its ensuing possession when Wolf found Pfeiffer for a 39-yard touchdown pass.

Wayne State added one more touchdown late, but the Mavericks held on for the victory.

Pfeiffer led MSU on the ground with 16 carries for 75 yards while Thielen caught seven passes for 99.  Senior defensive back #Robert Gunderson# added a team-high eight tackles to go with two interceptions.

As a team, MSU finished with 366 yards of total offense while Wayne State had 455.

Minnesota State opens a two-game homestand Saturday against Sioux Falls.  Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

Kolstad talks about the interception return for the touchdown