FAYETTE, Iowa. --- The top-rated Minnesota State football team put forth another dominant second half performance Saturday evening as it defeated Upper Iowa 38-10 to open play in the NSIC South Division.
With the win, MSU improves to 5-0 on the season, including a 1-0 record in south division play. With the loss, Upper Iowa drops to 3-2 on the season, including a 0-1 record in the south division.
The Mavericks have now won 38 consecutive NSIC victories dating back to week one of the 2012 season. The Mavericks have not allowed a point in the second half this season as they have outscored their opponents 129-0 in the second half.
After posting just 172 total yards and seven points in the first half, the Mavericks exploded for 31 points in the second half, as it limited the Peacocks to just 235 total yards of offense.
Senior
Connor Thomas rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns in MSU's victory, marking the 14th time in his career he surpassed the 100-yard rushing plateau. Sophomore
Nick Pieruccini connected on 16-of-26 passes for 169 yards and two touchdown strikes, with senior
Bryce Duncan and sophomore
Erik Fuller each hauling in a touchdown catch.
Senior
Josh Gordon finished the game with five tackles, including a pair of sacks. His two sacks brings his career total to 34.5 which is now the most in program history. Gordon also recorded his second career score as a Maverick after he returned an interception 53 yards for a touchdown.
Sophomore
Dylan Oleszak and senior Rob Myers each led the team with seven tackles. The Mavericks also came up with three additional interceptions senior
Tyler Henderson, senior
Justin Otto and junior
Marcus Gooden each picked off a Peacock pass.
The first half saw a defensive battle that saw both teams limit the opposing offense to less than 200 yards of total offense, to go along with a combined total of 17 points.
Upper Iowa struck first with 3:34 left in the first quarter as David Esswein caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Dimitri Morales to put the Peacocks up 7-0. MSU would answer right back on its next drive as it went 69 yards down field to knot up the score at seven, courtesy of an eight-yard touchdown carry from Thomas.
Neither team was able to reach the endzone in the second quarter, but UIU was able to regain the lead with 11:42 left in the opening half as Brady Beuschel connected on a career-long 45-yard field goal to put the Peacocks up 10-7.
The Mavericks did not waste any time in the third quarter as Gooden recorded an interception on UIU's opening drive, before Pieruccini connected with Duncan in the endzone on a six-yard pass to put the Mavericks up 14-10. Haffar added a 46-yard field goal to put MSU up 17-10, before Gordon returned his interception 53 yards for a touchdown.
MSU would add two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter as Fuller caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Pieruccini, before Thomas ran in his second touchdown of the game to bring the final score to 38-10.
The Mavericks return to Blakeslee Stadium for their annual homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 10, as they play host to the Augustana Vikings. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
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