MANKATO, Minn. --- The No. 1 Minnesota State football team will open the southern portion of its 2015 schedule on the road Saturday as it take on the Upper Iowa Peacocks. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

Our History: The 2015 season marks the school's 89th season playing football. The Mavericks are 424-378-28 (.527) in 830 games since their inception as a varsity sport in 1922.  Minnesota State is in its seventh season in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and owns a 66-9 (.880) record in league action. Over the course of its history, MSU has claimed 20 conference championships, including 16 NIC titles. Last season, the Mavericks claimed their second straight NSIC title and third in the last four seasons.

Grabbing the Reigns: The 2015 season marks the sixth season with head coach Todd Hoffner on the sidelines. During his six seasons at Minnesota State, Hoffner has compiled a 52-14 (.787) record, including three trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2008, 2009 and 2014.

Against the Peacocks: Saturday's meeting between Minnesota State and Upper Iowa marks the 10th all-time meeting between them. MSU has won all nine of the previous encounters, including a 45-14 win last season at Blakeslee Stadium. MSU is 4-0 in games played in Fayette, including a 73-7 win during the 2013 season.

Last season, sophomore Nick Pieruccini threw for 111 yards and two touchdowns against the Peacocks, to go along with 83 rushing yards and a touchdown. Senior Connor Thomas added 92 rushing yards as well.

Senior Tyler Henderson notched a team-leading 12 tackles last year against Upper Iowa, with senior Rob Myers following with eight. Myers, along with senior Rumeal Harris and sophomore Dylan Oleszak each recorded an interception, with Oleszak returning his pick 60 yards for a touchdown.

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State improved to 4-0 on the season last weekend with a 63-3 road win over Minnesota Crookston to extend its NSIC winning streak to 37 games.

The MSU defense continued to dominate as it allowed just 138 yards of total offense against the Golden Eagles. The Maverick defense has not allowed a touchdown in 10 straight quarters and has yet to allow a team to reach the scoring column in the second half this season.

Junior Marcus Gooden led the Mavericks with eight tackles against UMC, to go along with a fumble recovery, while senior Tyler Henderson notched six tackles and an interception he returned 33 yards for a touchdown. Henderson and Gooden currently lead the Maverick defense with 28 and 25 tackles, respectively.

On offense, the Mavericks tallied 505 total yards, including 385 rushing yards. Three Mavericks including senior Connor Thomas (110 yards), senior Chad Zastrow (115 yards) and junior Virgil Hammond (112 yards) each eclipsed the 100-rushing yard plateau, marking the second time in program history three Mavericks rushed for 100 yards in the same game. Hammond also notched four touchdown carries. Thomas currently leads the MSU rushing attack with 404 yards, which ranks him third in the NSIC.

Sophomore Ty Dennis caught four passes for 70 yards and a touchdown against the Golden Eagles. He currently leads the MSU receiving corps with 264 receiving yards and four touchdown catches.

Concerning the Peacocks: The Upper Iowa Peacocks enter the weekend the owners of a 3-1 record, including a 28-24 road loss to Minnesota Duluth last weekend.

As a team, UIU has 1,734 yards of total offense, 1,217 yards of which have come through the air.

Quarterback Dimitri Morales is currently second in the NSIC in passing as he has thrown for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns, without an interception.

Jarred Edmonds, who ranks fifth in the NSIC in receiving, leads the UIU offense with 317 receiving yards and four touchdown catches.

Derrick Portis leads the UIU rushing attack with 175 yards, and two touchdowns.

On defense, the Peacocks are led by Alex Wahl, who ranks fifth in the NSIC in tackles with 40 and third in tackles for loss with 6.5. Tanner Thompson and Darius Cohen each have a pair of interceptions as well.

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