FAYETTE, Iowa --- It proved to be a one-sided affair Saturday evening as #4 Minnesota State defeated Upper Iowa 52-7 on the road.

With the win, MSU improves to 7-0 on the season, including a 3-0 record in NSIC South Division action. With the loss, UIU falls to 4-3, including a 1-2 division record

The Maverick defense proved tough to crack in the first quarter as it limited the Peacocks to 30 total yards and no first downs in its five drives. In comparison, the Mavericks notched 166 yards and two touchdowns to take a 13-0 lead.

Both of MSU's touchdowns in the first quarter came courtesy of sophomore quarterback Ryan Schlichte as he connected with sophomores Shane Zylstra and Tyler Schmidt with touchdown passes. Schlichte completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Zylstra to open the scoring, before hooking up with Schmidt on a 19-yard touchdown pass.    

The second quarter saw the Mavericks continue their dominance as they took a 36-7 lead into halftime. Schlichte recorded MSU's first touchdown of the second quarter at the 13:30 mark after a five-yard run. Less than three minutes later, freshman JD Ekowa put the Mavericks up 27-0 after throwing a 65-yard touchdown pass to freshman Parker Gloudemans. 

The Maverick defense would then record its first safety of the season as sophomore Austin Behm and freshman Cole Schroedermeier tackled Nate Skare in the endzone. Following the free kick from Upper Iowa, MSU only needed two plays to get back in the endzone as sophomore Nate Gunn ran for 29 yards, before freshman Justin Taormina finished the drive with a 58-yard touchdown run.

Upper Iowa managed to get on the scoreboard in the closing minutes of the second quarter as Brent Lammers hooked up with Skylar Lehman on a 10-yard touchdown pass to bring the score to 36-7 in favor of the Mavericks heading into halftime.

As a team, MSU tallied 388 yards of offense in the first half, including 261 rushing yards.  Gunn tallied 111 rushing yards in the first half, marking the seventh time this season he has rushed for more than 100 yards in a game. Upper Iowa managed just 141 yards of offense in the first half, including 131 passing yards.

MSU added two more touchdowns in the third quarter to go up 49-7. MSU's first touchdown of the third quarter came via a five-yard run from Taormina with 9:05 left in the third. Minnesota State's final touchdown of the quarter came in the final minute as Schlichte threw his third touchdown pass of the game, this time via a 22-yard pass to freshman Nyles Williams.

A 25-yard field goal from junior Casey Bednarski proved to be the only scoring play of the fourth quarter as MSU ran away with the 52-7 victory.

As a team, notched 588 yards of total offense against the Peacocks, including 359 rushing yards, compared to Upper Iowa's 150 yards of offense. The Maverick defense limited the Peacocks to just six first downs and 14 rushing yards.

Freshman Michael Buetow led the Maverick defense with six tackles, while junior Michael Palme tallied five. Seniors Evan Perrizo and Shola George each tallied a sack.

Gunn and Taormina both rushed for more than 100 yards on the day. Taormina notched a game-high 118 yards and two touchdown carries, while Gunn tallied 111 yards, marking the seventh time this season he has rushed for more than 100 yards in a game. Freshman Jace Franklin added 82 rushing yards as well. Gunn now has 1,055 rushing yards this season, which are the ninth most in a season in team history.

Schlichte finished his night completing 13-of-19 passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns. Four Maverick receivers caught a touchdown pass, including Gloudemans, who led all MSU receivers with 77 receiving yards.

Minnesota State wraps up its road trip on Thursday as it takes on Southwest Minnesota State. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.


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