MANKATO, Minn. --- #5 Minnesota State returns to Blakeslee Stadium on Saturday for its annual homecoming game as it plays host to the Augustana Vikings. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. 

Our History: The 2017 season marks the school's 91st season playing football. The Mavericks are 443-383-28 (.535) in 853 games since their inception as a varsity sport in 1922.  Minnesota State is in its 10th season in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and owns an 85-13 (.867) record in league action. Over the course of its history, MSU has claimed 21 conference championships, including 16 NIC titles. The Mavericks have also made nine appearances in the NCAA Tournament. MSU owns a 7-9 overall record in NCAA postseason play. 

Grabbing the Reins: The 2017 season marks the eighth season with Head Coach Todd Hoffner on the sidelines. During his eight seasons at Minnesota State, Hoffner has compiled a 71-19 (.788) record, including four trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2008, 2009,  2014 and 2015.

Homecoming History: MSU's homecoming game against Augustana this weekend marks its 85th homecoming game in team history. The Mavericks own a 49-33-2 record in homecoming games, including a 5-0 record against Augustana. Minnesota State has won its last six homecoming games dating back to the 2011 season.

Against the Vikings: Saturday's game between the Mavericks and Augustana marks their 48th all-time meeting with MSU holding the series edge with a 24-23 record. Minnesota State has won its last six encounters against AU, including a 42-35 win last season in Sioux Falls.

Sophomore Shane Zylstra caught three passes for 61 yards and a touchdown against the Vikings last season, while senior Ty Dennis added four catches for 45 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Erik Fuller caught a touchdown pass as well. On defense, senior Corey Brent tallied six tackles, while senior Evan Perrizo added two tackles for a loss, including one sack. Junior Jayme LaPlante recorded an interception as well.

As a team, MSU recorded 412 yards of total offense against AU, including 223 passing yards, while the Maverick defense came away with three turnovers.

Last Week for the Mavericks: Minnesota State defeated Concordia-St. Paul 47-10 last weekend to improve to 5-0 on the season and to 10-2 all-time against the Golden Bears. 

As a team, the Mavericks tallied 625 yards of total offense against CSP, including 479 rushing yards. Sophomore Nate Gunn rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns, while freshman Justin Taormina added 103 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman JD Ekowa added 84 rushing yards and two touchdown carries as well.

On defense, the Mavericks limited CSP to just 244 yards of offense, including 34 rushing yards. Sophomore Alex Goettl posted a team-leading six tackles, including a sack. Senior Evan Perrizo and junior Michael Palme each recorded a sack as well, while senior Corey Brent tallied one interception. 

Last Week for the Vikings: Augustana fell to the Wayne State Wildcats at home last weekend by the score of 16-13. AU has now lost its last two games.

As a team, Augie tallied 436 yards of total offense against the Wildcats, including 243 rushing yards. Kyle Saddler completed 17 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns but he threw seven interceptions.

On the ground, AU was led by Ryan Bradberry who posted 144 rushing yards. Rudolh Sinflorant added 81 rushing yards as well.

Matt Wagner led the Augustana defense with 10 tackles, while Jordan Determan tallied eight tackles, including 2.5 for a loss.

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State owns a 5-0 record after posting a 47-10 record at Concordia-St. Paul last weekend.

So far this season, MSU is averaging 523 yards of total offense a game, including 338 yards on the ground. In comparison, the MSU defense is allowing 288 yards of offense a game, including 81.2 yards on the ground.

Sophomore Nate Gunn leads the MSU rushing attack with 792 yards and eight touchdowns, with freshman Justin Taormina following with 325 yards and four touchdowns. 

Sophomore Shane Zylstra leads the MSU receiving corps with 295 receiving yards and five touchdown catches, while senior Ty Dennis has posted 240 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Ryan Schlichte has thrown for 639 yards and eight touchdowns this season.

Junior Michael Palme leads the Maverick defense with 27 tackles, to go along with 3.0 tackles for a loss and two sacks. Senior Evan Perrizo has a team-leading 7.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks, and senior Jerry Nash III has three fumble recoveries and one interception, to go along with 23 tackles.

Concerning the Vikings: Augustana enters the weekend the owner of a 2-3 record, including losses to St. Cloud State (26-14) and Wayne State (16-13) in its last two games.

Augustana is averaging 351.8 yards of total offense a game this season, including 208.8 passing yards a game. Its opponents have averaged 299.4 yards of offense per game this season, including 188.6 passing yards a game.

Ryan Bradberry leads the AU rushing attack with 320 yards and a touchdown. Rudolh has 200 rushing yards and two touchdown carries as well.

Kyle Saddler has thrown for 560 yards and four touchdowns this season, but he has also thrown 10 interceptions. Trevor DeSchepper has caught 19 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown.

Kirby Hora leads the AU defense with 62 tackles and two sacks. Matt Wagner is second on the team in tackles with 55, with Jordan Determan following in third with 34 tackles and two interceptions.