Box Score Mankato, Minn. --- Minnesota State scored two touchdowns within the first five minutes and never looked back as they defeated Minnesota Crookston 68-26 Saturday night at Blakeslee Stadium in front of 3,407 fans. With the win, the #2 Mavericks improve to 2-0 on the young season.
The 94 total points is the fifth-highest scoring game in MSU history.
As a team the Mavericks had a total of 532 yards on 53 plays for an average of 10 yards per play. Through the air MSU compiled 205 yards to UMC's 185 yards. On the ground, MSU ran for 327 yards while UMC ran for 98 yards.
Sophomore Connor Thomas ran for 75 yards and two touchdowns and senior Jon Wolf threw for 140 yards and two touchdowns to pace the Mavericks offense. Senior Dennis Carter led all receivers with 73 yards and two touchdowns.
The defense was led by junior Sam Thompson who had 6 tackles on the night while junior Nathan Hancock added five. Junior Eric Clark added an interception that he returned for a touchdown, his first of the season.
MSU started the scoring just 1:40 into the game as Thomas scored on an eight-yard run. Just a couple minutes later Clark intercepted a pass and ran it back 58-yards for another MSU touchdown to make the score 14-0.
UMC was able to get on the board late in the first quarter, but the Mavericks responded with five touchdowns in the second quarter. The first touchdown came on a 29-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Mitch Brozovich to Carter. The Mavericks added a safety a minute later after the Golden Eagles fumbled the punt and recovered it in the their own end zone to give MSU the lead 23-6.
Thomas and Brozovich ran in a touchdown while junior Austin Rieder and Carter each caught a touchdown to increase MSU's lead to 51-12 at the half.
MSU continued its scoring in the third quarter as senior Ra'Shon Harper ran in a touchdown from 10 yards out. Senior Sam Brockshus added a 32 yard field goal in the fourth quarter to improve to three of three on the season. The Mavericks last score of the night was on a 17-yard run by junior Anthony Lewis, his first of the season.
Minnesota State will travel to #7 Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, September 21st to take on the Bulldogs. Opening kick is set for 6 p.m.
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