MANKATO, Minn. --- Off the heels of a 24-21 overtime victory against Pittsburg State, the Minnesota State football team has advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament where it will take on the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs on Saturday at Blakeslee Stadium. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.

Our History: The 2014 season marks the school's 88th season playing football. The Mavericks are 418-377-28 (.524) in 823 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 62-9 (.873) record in league action. Over the course of its history, MSU has claimed 20 conference championships, including 16 NIC titles. This season, the Mavericks claimed their second straight NSIC title and third in the last four seasons.

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 46-13 (.779) record, including three trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2008, 2009 and 2014.

Mutual History: Saturday's game between the Mavericks and the Bulldogs marks the 36th all-time meeting between them, with the Bulldogs leading the series 20-14-1. MSU won their last encounter in Duluth 21-17. At Blakeslee Stadium, the Mavericks own a 7-12 record against UMD, with the Bulldogs winning the last five encounters in Mankato.

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State improved to 12-0 overall last weekend as it defeated the Pittsburg State Gorillas 24-21 in overtime at Blakeslee Stadium. With the win, MSU improved to 3-3 all-time in NCAA Tournament games at Blakeslee Stadium.

Sophomore Ricky Lloyd led the Mavericks rushing attack against the Gorillas with 91 rushing yards and a touchdown. He also threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns. Seniors Dorian Buford and Austin Rieder each caught a touchdown pass, with Rieder leading the receiving corps with 94 receiving yards.

Junior Alden Haffar kicked what turned out to be the game-winning field goal in overtime as he connected on 29-yard attempt on MSU's first drive in overtime.

Junior Tyler Henderson led the Maverick defense with 13 tackles, including three for a loss. He also recorded an interception on PSU's first play in the overtime session to secure the win for Minnesota State. Senior Nathan Hancock and junior Rumeal Harris each posted an interception as well.

Concerning the Bulldogs: The Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs enter the weekend the owners of a 13-0 record, including a 48-45 overtime victory at Ouachita Baptist in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last weekend. UMD secured its overtime victory when Drew Bauer connected with Zach Zweifel on a nine-yard touchdown pass.

Bauer has connected on 184-of-312 passes for 2,232 yards and 24 touchdowns compared to five interceptions. Zweifel leads the Bulldogs with 710 receiving yards, while Aaron Roth has hauled in a team-leading seven touchdown catches.

Logan Lauters leads the UMD rushing attack with 1,448 rushing yards and 14 touchdown carries. Bauer has rushed for 877 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns as well.
David Boegel and Gavin Grady lead the Bulldog defense with 73 tackles each. Gavin Brown has a team-leading 13.5 tackles for a loss. Hunter Malberg leads UMD with three interceptions as well.
 
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