Box Score MARSHALL, Minn. --- The seventh-rated Minnesota State football team got back into the win column Saturday afternoon on the road as it topped Southwest Minnesota State 55-17.

With the win, MSU improves to 8-1 on the season, while SMSU drops to 6-3.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Maverick offense exploded for three touchdowns in the second as it went into halftime with a 21-3 lead. The tandem of sophomore quarterback Nick Pieruccini and junior wide receiver Brent Esser hooked up for a pair of touchdown passes from six and 14 yards out. Pieruccini also notched a two-yard touchdown run to open the scoring for the Mavericks. SMSU's lone score in the first half came via a 21-yard field goal from Austin Wells.

As a team, MSU finished the first half with 288 yards of offense, including 177 yards through the air. Sophomore Ty Dennis caught five passes for 80 yards in the first half, with Esser following with 54 receiving yards.

Seniors Josh Gordon and Rob Myers paced the Maverick defense in the first half with five tackles, with Gordon coming away with 1.5 sacks. Senior Tyler Henderson also picked off an SMSU pass on the final play of the second quarter.

Minnesota State kept things rolling in the second half as it tallied 34 points, compared to Southwest Minnesota State's 14, to lock down the 55-17 win.

Pieruccini ran in two touchdowns from three and 15 yards out to open the third quarter, before he connected with junior Taylor Johnson on a 33-yard touchdown pass. Junior Virgil Hammond ran in MSU's first touchdown on the fourth quarter from one yard out, before senior Justin Otto recovered a blocked punt in the endzone, courtesy of freshman Jake Engelken, for MSU's final score of the game.

SMSU tallied a pair of touchdowns in the second half, including a six-yard touchdown pass from Blake Gimbel to Nate Huot, and a one-yard touchdown run from Divonte Beale.

In total, the Mavericks notched 460 yards of total offense against the Mustangs, including 280 passing yards, while the Maverick defense came away with a pair of interceptions.

Pieruccini finished with 280 passing yards and three touchdown passes, to go along with 53 rushing yards and three touchdown carries. Esser finished with a 89 receiving yards and two touchdown catches, with Dennis following close behind with 80 receiving yards. Senior Chad Zastrow led the Maverick rushing attack with 69 rushing yards.

Gordon led the Mavericks defense with seven tackles, including 1.5 sacks, to go along with his second interception of the season. Sophomore Michael Palme and Myers each notched six tackles as well.
 
The Mavericks return to action on Saturday, Nov. 7, as they take on #10 Sioux Falls on the road. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
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