MANKATO, Minn. --- No. 1 Minnesota State begins a two-game homestand on Saturday as it hosts the Sioux Falls Cougars at Blakeslee Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.

Our History: The 2018 season marks the school's 92nd season playing football. The Mavericks are 460-384-28 (.543) in 872 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 a 98-13 (.882) record in league action. Over the course of its history, MSU has claimed 22 conference championships, including 14 NIC titles and five NSIC championships. The Mavericks also made their 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season. MSU owns a 9-10 overall record in NCAA postseason play. 

Grabbing the Reins: The 2018 season marks the ninth season with Head Coach Todd Hoffner on the sidelines. During his nine seasons at Minnesota State, Hoffner has compiled an 88-20 (.814) record, including four NSIC Championships and five trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015 and 2017.

Against the Cougars: Saturday's game between the Minnesota State and Sioux Falls marks their eighth meeting, with MSU leading the all-time series 5-2. MSU owns a 2-2 record against USF at home. Last season, the Mavericks defeated the Cougars 27-23. MSU scored two touchdowns in the final 5:15 of the game to claim the win.

Last season, the Mavericks tallied 270 yards of total offense against the Cougars, including 181 passing yards. USF posted 390 yards of offense against the Mavericks, including 255 passing yards.

Junior Ryan Schlichte threw for 147 yards and three touchdowns, while junior Shane Zylstra caught five passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Shlichte's two touchdown passes to Zylstra came in the final 5:15 of the game. 

Both junior Jack Curtis and sophomore Cade Johnson recorded an interception against USF last season. Johnson also recovered a fumble and recorded six tackles. Sophomore Lukas Burrington also recovered a fumble.

Last Week for the Mavericks: Minnesota State improved to 9-0 last weekend as it defeated Wayne State 55-2 on the road. MSU has now won 22 NSIC games in a row and 13 consecutive road games.

The Mavericks tallied 485 yards of total offense against the Wildcats, including 229 yards on the ground and 256 yards through the air. Their 55 points are the second most in a game this season. WSC was limited to 189 yards of offense, including just 24 rushing yards.

Junior Shane Zylstra caught six passes for 113 yards and a touchdown. Juniors Vance Barnes and Tyler Schmidt, along with sophomore Parker Gloudemans, each caught a touchdown pass as well. 

All three Mavericks quarterbacks including junior Ryan Schlichte, sophomore JD Ekowa and freshman Brevin Kaiser, all threw at least one touchdown pass against the Wildcats. Ekowa led the team with 125 passing yards.

Junior Nate Gunn notched 79 rushing yards and two touchdowns and has now tied the MSU single-season record for touchdown carries in a season with 15.

Sophomore Cole Schroedermeier recorded two interceptions against the Wildcats. Junior Jack Curtis also recorded an interception that he returned 47 yards for a touchdown. Freshman Bedale Naba notched a team-best 3.0 tackles for loss. 

Last Week for the Cougars: Sioux Falls improved to 6-3 last weekend as it defeated Upper Iowa 34-7 at home.

As a team, USF posted 616 yards of total offense against the Peacocks, including 333 rushing yards. The Cougars held UIU to just 294 yards of offense, including 124 rushing yards.

Gabriel Watson tallied 185 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Colton Myles added 84 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Caden Walters threw for 283 yards and a touchdown. Michael Maxwell led the USF receiving corps with seven catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. Ty Smith added 94 receiving yards as well.

Brody Grantham and Harvey Enalls recorded a team-leading seven tackles each.
 
Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State improved to 9-0 last weekend as it defeated Wayne State 55-2 on the road.

As a team, MSU has averaged 46.1 points and 483.2 yards of offense a game this season. Its opponents have averaged 16.4 points and 288.2 yards of offense a game.

Junior Nate Gunn leads the MSU rushing attack with 968 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. Gunn's 15 rushing touchdowns tie the MSU single-season record set by TJ Schraufnagel (1999) and Jon Wolf (2013). Sophomore Justin Taormina has notched 359 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while sophomore JD Ekowa has added 277 yards and three touchdowns.

Junior Ryan Schlichte has thrown for 1,455 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. He is averaging 161.7 passing yards a game and has completed 61.1% of his passes.

The Maverick receiving corps is led by a duo of juniors, Shane Zylstra and Justin Arnold. Zylstra has tallied 854 receiving yards and 11 touchdown catches, while Arnold has caught 28 passes for 444 yards and two touchdowns.

Junior Alex Goettl leads the MSU defense with 50 tackles, including 9.5 for a loss and 3.5 sacks. Sophomore Chance Bowen has tallied 24 tackles, including 10.5 for a loss and 9.5 sacks as well. Sophomore Cade Johnson has also recorded 39 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss.

Concerning the Cougars: Sioux Falls enters the weekend the owner of a 6-3 record, including wins in its last two games. Last week, USF defeated Upper Iowa 34-7.

As a team, USF is averaging 36.1 points and 492.3 yards of offense a game this season. The Cougars are doing most of their damage on the ground as they are averaging 297.3 rushing yards a game. Opponents are averaging 19 points and 348.7 yards of offense a game this season.

Gabriel Watson is leading the USF rushing attack with 1,702 yards and 23 touchdown carries. Colton Myles has added 645 yards and five touchdown carries as well.

Caden Walters has thrown for 1,673 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. Michael Maxwell leads the USF receiving corps with 610 yards and four touchdowns.

Brody Grantham is leading the USF defense with 60 tackles this season. Steven McKee has tallied 35 tackles, including a team-best 4.5 sacks, while Parker Gregston has tallied 31 tackles and three interceptions.

Regional Rankings: Minnesota State improved to #1 in the second edition of the NCAA Super Region 4 rankings. The top seven teams in each super region advance to the NCAA Tournament, with each #1 seed receiving a first round bye. The NCAA Selection Show will take place on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 4:00 p.m.