MANKATO, Minn. --- The #1 Minnesota State football team returns home on Saturday as they take on the #10 Sioux Falls Cougars at Blakeslee Stadium. The opening kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

Our History: The 2014 season marks the school's 88th season playing football. The Mavericks are 414-377-28 (.522) in 819 games since their inception as a varsity sport in 1922.  Minnesota State is in its seventh season in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and owns a 60-9 (.869) record in league action. Over the course of its history, MSU has claimed 19 conference championships, including 16 NIC titles. Last season, the Mavericks won the NSIC Championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Grabbing the Reigns: The 2014 season marks the fifth season with head coach Todd Hoffner on the sidelines. During his five seasons at Minnesota State, Hoffner has compiled a 42-13 (.763) record, including a pair of trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2008 and 2009.

Mutual History: Saturday's game between the Mavericks and the Cougars marks the third meeting all-time between them. MSU has won the two prior meetings dating back to the 2012 season, including a 52-17 win in Sioux Falls last season.

Last season, senior Andy Pfeiffer rushed for 66 yards and three touchdowns, while junior Connor Thomas rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown. Six different Mavericks recorded a sack against USF last season as well, while junior Connor Thomas recorded an interception.

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State improved to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in NSIC South Division competition last Saturday as it defeated the Augustana Vikings 34-28 in Sioux Falls last weekend. MSU has now won 30 NSIC games in a row dating back to week one of the 2012 season.

The MSU rushing attack accounted for 341 rushing yards, as both junior Connor Thomas and sophomore Nick Pieruccini surpassed 100 rushing yards. Senior Dorian Buford also caught six passes for 70 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Nathan Hancock led the Maverick defense with nine tackles against the Vikings, while junior Jordan Campbell recovered a fumble.

As a team, MSU has tallied 3,584 yards of total offense on the season, including 2,103 yards on the ground. The Mavericks have also posted 364 points through eight games. Thomas is leading the MSU rushing attack with 758 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Mavericks have two shutouts on the season and have only allowed a total of 101 points through eight games.

Junior Tyler Henderson is leading the Mavericks in tackles with 64, while junior Josh Gordon leads MSU in sacks with 12.5. The MSU defense has also tallied 12 interceptions and has recovered eight fumbles.

Concerning the Cougars: The Sioux Falls Cougars enter the weekend the owners of an 8-0 record, including a 4-0 record in the south division. Recently, USF defeated Winona State 44-20 in Winona. The Cougars have won their last nine games, with their last loss coming against Minnesota State back in week 10 of the 2013 season.

Luke Papilion has completed 148-of-241 passes for 1,793 yards and 14 touchdowns compared to seven interceptions.

Nephi Garcia leads the USF rushing attack with 760 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, while Papilion has rushed for 549 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

Josh Angulo has caught 41 passes for 530 yards and six touchdowns, while Brady Rose has caught 39 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns.

Solomon St. Pierre has tallied 10 interceptions for the Sioux Falls defense, while Cameron Ostrom leads the Cougars in tackles with 55. Evan Gentry leads USF in sacks with 4.5.
 
Nationally Speaking: Minnesota State currently ranks in the top-10 in the nation in several categories including blocked punts (2nd), scoring defense (3rd), scoring offense (5th) and sacks (7th).

Several Mavericks are also making their presence felt including junior Joshua Gordon,  who leads Division II in sacks per game with 1.56. Senior Dorian Buford is currently fifth in the nation in receiving touchdowns with 11.

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