MANKATO, Minn. --- The third-rated Minnesota State football team put forth another solid Homecoming performance Saturday afternoon at Blakeslee Stadium as it downed the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs 56-14.

With the win, MSU improves to 5-0 on the season, while SMSU falls to 1-4. MSU has now won 27 straight NSIC contests as it improved to 13-0 all-time against the Mustangs. A total of 6,714 fans witnessed MSU's win marking the second-largest crowd to witness a Maverick football game at Blakeslee Stadium.

The Maverick special teams unit harried the Mustangs all game long as it blocked two punts, both of which were blocked by junior Chad Zastrow, to go along with a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown by senior Austin Rieder with 24 seconds left in the second quarter.

The Maverick defense also came up with a score early in the second quarter. After a scoreless first quarter, junior Josh Gordon sacked Charlie Kern and forced a fumble. Gordon would then pick up the fumble and return it 47 yards for MSU's first score of the game. Gordon also led the team in tackles with eight.

Junior Justin Otto recorded MSU's lone interception on the day as well.

The MSU offense also had its share of scoring as it tallied six touchdowns on the day.

Junior Connor Thomas notched his sixth career 100-yard rushing effort as he ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Ricky Lloyd also made his presence felt in the rushing game as he rushed 56 yards to pay dirt for the Mavericks final score of the game.

Through the air, Lloyd hooked up with a pair of Mavericks in the end zone as he threw a 17-yard strike to Rieder, after connecting with junior Bryce Duncan on a four-yard touchdown pass. Sophomore Nick Pieruccini threw MSU's other touchdown pass, a 13-yard pass to senior Keyvan Rudd.

SMSU was able to break into the end zone twice, ending MSU's shutout streak at Blakeslee Stadium this season.

Davontay Stevens scored SMSU's first touchdown with 4:52 left in the third after rushing six yards for the score. Daryl Thomas picked off an MSU pass and returned it 27 yards for the game's final score with 13:44 left in the fourth quarter.

MSU hits the road Thursday as it takes on the #25 Winona State Warriors. The opening kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

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