MANKATO, Minn. --- It was a close battle Thursday evening at Blakeslee Stadium but it was top-rated Minnesota State that came out on top 20-17 over #3 Minnesota Duluth.
With the win, MSU improves to 1-0 on the season, while UMD falls to 0-1. The Mavericks and Bulldogs also saw the fourth-largest crowd in Blakeslee Stadium history as 6,387 fans packed the stands for the battle between top-10 NSIC foes.
In the first half, the Bulldogs set the tempo as they carried a 17-3 lead into halftime. Drew Bauer posted the first quarter's lone score with 8:24 remaining as he ran into the end zone from two yards out to give UMD a 7-0 lead.
UMD would add a pair of scores in the second quarter to take a 17-0 lead. Andrew Brees connected on a 41-yard field goal with 14:55 left in the half, before Justin Fowlkes caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Bauer.
With time winding down in the second quarter, senior
Kyle Riggott provided a spark for the Mavericks as he returned a UMD punt 46 yards to the Bulldog 33 yard line with 1:36 left. MSU managed to get to the UMD five yard line but the Mavericks were forced to take a field goal as senior
Alden Haffar connected on a 22-yard kick to make it 17-3 heading into the half.
MSU managed just 85 yards of total offense in the first half, while the Bulldogs topped out at 89 total yards of offense.
The second half saw the Mavericks score on their opening drive as sophomore
Nick Pieruccini connected with sophomore
Ty Dennis on a 72-yard touchdown pass to bring the score to 17-10. MSU added three more points in the third quarter as Haffar connected on a 26-yard field goal to make it 17-13 Bulldogs with 5:57 remaining in the third.
The scored remained 17-13 until the Mavericks third drive of the fourth quarter. Once again, Riggot set the table for the Mavericks as he returned a UMD punt 51 yards to the Bulldog 20. Pieruccini would take the ball himself for the next three plays, including a seven-yard touchdown run to put the Mavericks up 20-17.
Minnesota Duluth would get the ball back two more times before the game ended but the Maverick defense held firm through the final seven minutes of the game to lock down the 20-17 win.
The MSU offense finished the game with 380 yards of total offense, of which 295 came in the second half. Pieruccini led the Maverick rushing attack with 94 yards and a touchdown. Pieruccini also threw for 118 yards and a touchdown.
Senior
Josh Gordon led the Mavericks with nine tackles, including two for a loss and one sack. Junior
Marcus Gooden notched eight tackles as well. The MSU defense also forced three UMD turnovers as senior
Jeffrey Raymond recovered a fumble, while senior Rob Myers and junior
Jared Gillespie each posted an interception.
With its win, MSU has now won 34 consecutive NSIC games dating back to the 2012 season. The Mavericks have also won their last 25 regular season games at Blakeslee Stadium dating back to the 2010 season.
Minnesota State opens its road schedule on Saturday, Sept. 12, as it takes on the Northern State Wolves. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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