MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State football team ended its 2016 regular season schedule with its 11th win against Upper Iowa Saturday afternoon as it topped the Peacocks 33-23 at Blakeslee Stadium.
With the win, the Mavericks finish the regular season with an 8-3 overall record, including a 5-2 NSIC South Division record. With the loss, the Peacocks fall to 3-8, including a 2-5 record in the south division.
As a team, MSU posted 393 yards of total offense, including 329 passing yards. Upper Iowa recorded 435 yards of total offense, including 317 passing yards.
Senior
Nick Pieruccini threw for 318 yards and four touchdowns against the Peacocks, which marks the second time in his career he has thrown for more than 300 yards in a game. Pieruccini also rushed for 20 yards, while senior
Virgil Hammond added 31 yards and a touchdown on the ground as well.
A total of eight Mavericks caught at least one pass, including seniors
Connor McKeen and
Taylor Johnson, and juniors
Erik Fuller and
Ty Dennis who each caught a touchdown pass. Freshman
Justin Arnold led the MSU receiving corps with six catches and 82 receiving yards as well.
Senior
Ruben Ibarra paced the Maverick defense with nine tackles, while juniors
Larry Moore and
Brendan Chrystal each recorded an interception. As a team, MSU also recorded five quarterback sacks, two of which came courtesy of sophomore
Zach Dodge.
After forcing an Upper Iowa three and out to start the game, the Mavericks marched right down the field to go up 6-0 with 12:21 remaining in the first quarter. Pieruccini completed four passes, including a 25-yard touchdown strike to McKeen to put the Mavericks up 6-0.
The Peacocks responded on their following drive as they reach the end zone after a 12-play, 73-yard drive to take a 7-6 lead will just under nine minutes to go in the opening quarter. UIU's drive was capped off by six-yard touchdown run by Dimitri Morales.
The defenses held strong through the rest of the first quarter and most of the second, but the Mavericks were able to retake the lead with 0:12 left in the second quarter at 13-7. Starting at their own 20, the Mavericks marched 80 yards to the end zone in 52 seconds. Dennis hauled in a six-yard touchdown pass to finish of the MSU drive.
The third quarter saw both teams exchange touchdowns as Minnesota State held a 20-14 lead heading into the fourth quarter. MSU's Johnson caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Pieruccini, before UIU's Derrick Portis rushed into the end zone from one yard out.
Both teams would then reached pay dirt on their opening drive of the fourth quarter. MSU's six-play scoring drive was capped off by a seven-yard touchdown run from Hammond, while UIU's Portis caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Morales to bring the score to 26-21 in favor of MSU with 10:20 remaining.
MSU then put the game out of reach as it went 65 yards in 4:39 on its following drive to go up 33-21 with 5:30 to go in the game. Pieruccini completed four passes in MSU's final scoring drive, including a nine-yard touchdown pass to Fuller. Upper Iowa managed to get a safety as time expired to bring the final score to 33-23.
Morales finished his game throwing 312 yards a touchdown, compared to two interceptions. Portis led the UIU rushing attack with 99 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Jalen Amis caught seven passes for 132 yards.
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