KANSAS CITY, Kan. --- It proved to be a defensive battle at the NCAA Championship game Saturday at Sporting Park but it was CSU-Pueblo that would claim the championship with a 13-0 victory over Minnesota State.

With the win, CSU-Pueblo finishes its season with a 14-1, while MSU wraps up its season with a 14-1 record. The 14 wins for the Mavericks are the most in a season in program history.

This is the first time the Mavericks have been shutout since the 2004 season when Northern Iowa defeated Minnesota State 40-0 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

In total, MSU was held to just 265 yards of total offense, including 160 passing yards. MSU's 105 rushing yards were the fewest in a game this season. The ThunderWolves managed 327 yards of total offense, including 136 rushing yards.

Sophomore Ricky Lloyd led the Mavericks with 67 rushing yards, to go along with 99 passing yards. Senior Dorian Buford caught five passes for 50 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, redshirt freshman Cory Brent led the Mavericks with six total tackles, while senior Nathan Hancock notched 5.5 tackles. Junior Justin Otto posted the game's only turnover with an interception.

The first quarter saw both defense keep the opposing offenses off the scoreboard. In total, CSU-Pueblo managed 71 yards of total offense while MSU compiled just 31 yards of offense.

MSU managed to drive to CSU-Pueblo's 11 yard line, but the Mavericks were forced to attempt a 27-yard field goal attempt. Stephen Dickens managed to block MSU's field goal attempt and returned it to the CSU-Pueblo 37 before being dragged down by junior Alden Haffar .

The ThunderWolves then advanced to the MSU 10-yard line before Greg O'Donnell booted a 27-yard field goal to give CSU-Pueblo a 3-0 lead with 7:21 left on the clock.

On its following drive, CSU-Pueblo marched 69 yards down field for a touchdown that was capped off by an 18-yard touchdown pass from Chris Bonner to Paul Browning to put the ThunderWolves up 10-0 before heading into the locker room.

The ThunderWolves managed another field goal on its opening drive of the third quarter, this time from 24-yards out, to increase their lead to 13-0. The Mavericks were unable to get onto the scoreboard as the third quarter ended, marking the first time since week one of the 2010 season they have been held scoreless through the first three quarters.

The fourth quarter saw the Mavericks advance into ThunderWolves territory just one time, but the Mavericks could not get into the end zone as CSU-Pueblo completed the 13-0 shutout.  

Junior Connor Thomas rushed for 25 yards against the ThunderWolves. In doing so, he passed senior Andy Pfeiffer for the career rushing record at Minnesota State with 3,231 yards. Pfeiffer finished his career with 3,227 rushing yards.



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