Box Score Duluth, Minn. --- It went down to the wire between #2 Minnesota State and #7 Minnesota Duluth Saturday evening in Malosky Stadium, but it would be the Mavericks that would hold their ground as they came away with the 21-17 win.

With the win, MSU improves to 3-0 on the season, while UMD falls to 2-1.

In front of the fourth largest home crowd in Minnesota Duluth's history (5,723), the Mavericks won their third straight game behind some solid defense down the stretch, including a crucial redzone stand during the final seconds of the fourth quarter.

With 6:04 left in the game, the Bulldogs took over on their own 48 yard line trailing the Mavericks 21-17. UMD clawed its way down the field and eventually got to a first and goal on the MSU five yard line.

A series of runs and a false start pushed the Bulldogs back to the MSU 16 yard line. UMD then threw a pass that appeared to give the Bulldogs the go-ahead touchdown, but a holding penalty negated the touchdown and pushed the Bulldogs back to the MSU 26 yard line. The Mavericks then took over possession after a pair of incomplete passes to close out the game with a 21-17 win.

Junior Nathan Hancock made his presence felt on defense all night long as he posted one interception, one fumble recovery, 10 tackles and one forced fumble. Freshman Mat Andriano recovered UMD's other fumble, while sophomore Tyler Henderson led the team with 11 tackles, including one sack.

On offense, the Mavericks rushed for 154 yards, including a team-high 72 yards from senior Jon Wolf. Wolf, who also rushed for one touchdown, threw for 115 yards, to go along with two touchdown passes. Sophomore Connor Thomas rushed for 65 yards as well.

Senior Dennis Carter led the Maverick receiving corps with 44 receiving yards and a touchdown, with junior Austin Rieder posting 42 receiving yards as well. Sophomore Kyle Riggot tallied 14 receiving yards and a touchdown.

The first quarter saw UMD post the lone score as Andrew Brees booted a 41 yard field goal to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead with 6:02 left  in the first. UMD struck again early in the second quarter as Drew Bauer connected with Aaron Roth for a 19 yard touchdown pass with 14:55 left in the second quarter.

Trailing 10-0 early in the second frame, MSU rallied with an eight-play, 73-yard drive that was capped off by a seven yard touchdown pass to Riggot to pull MSU within three at 10-7.

MSU kept its momentum rolling late in the second as it put together another long drive, this time with Wolf running it in for the score to give the Mavericks a 14-10 lead heading into the locker room.

UMD retook the lead with 8:51 left in the third quarter as Bauer connected with Zach Zweifel with a 23 yard touchdown pass to take a 17-14 lead. The Mavericks responded with 1:59 left in the third as Wolf connected with Carter on a 34-yard touchdown pass to put the Mavericks ahead for good at 21-17.

The Mavericks return home Saturday, Sept. 28 for homecoming as they host the Northern State Wolves. The opening kickoff is set for 2 p.m.

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