ST. PAUL, Minn. --- The No. 1 Minnesota State football team put forth another dominant performance Saturday afternoon as its defeated the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears 51-10.

With the win, MSU improves to 7-0 on the season, including a 3-0 record in NSIC South Division action. With the loss, CSP falls to 1-6, including a 0-3 record in south division action. The Mavericks have now won 40 consecutive NSIC games.

The MSU defense dictated the pace throughout the entire first half as it allowed just three first downs and 47 yards of total offense. Senior Rob Myers was able to return a fumble 41 yards for a touchdown, marking the fourth time this season a member of the MSU defense has scored a touchdown.

While the MSU defense kept CSP in check, the Maverick offense tallied 24 points in the first half as it notched 245 yards of total offense, including 145 on the ground.

Junior Virgil Hammond and senior Chad Zastrow each ran in a touchdown for the Mavericks in the first half. Hammond led the rushing attack in the first half with 68 yards, with Zastrow following with 47.

Freshman Trevor Nissen recorded his first career touchdown catch as a Maverick as he caught a two-yard pass from junior Ricky Lloyd. Senior Alden Haffar notched a 42-yard field goal in the second quarter as well. Senior Bryce Duncan led the MSU receiving corps in the first half with four catches and 44 receiving yards.

MSU added a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter behind a 30 yard touchdown run by Zastrow and a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown by junior Brent Esser. Concordia-St. Paul was able to get on the scoreboard in the third quarter as Jonas Schenderlein connected on a 42-yard field goal to make the score 45-3.

Concordia-St. Paul reached the endzone in the fourth quarter as Alquawn Vickers caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Tillet. Haffar recorded MSU's two scores of the fourth quarter as he connected on a pair of field goals from 42 and 47 yards out to bring the final score to 51-10.

Hammond finished the game leading the Mavericks with 116 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Zastrow added 88 rushing yards and two touchdown carries.

As a team, MSU held CSP to 174 yards of total offense, including 37 on the ground. Four Mavericks tallied a team-leading five tackles, including senior Rumeal Harris, junior Colt Nero and freshmen Isaac Weber and Michael Palme. Myers and sophomore Alex Matheson each recovered a fumble as well.

The Mavericks return to Blakeslee Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 24, as they host the Winona State Warriors. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

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