MOORHEAD, Minn. --- The #1 Minnesota State football team jumped out if front quickly Saturday afternoon as it worked its way to its sixth win of the season with a 42-20 victory over MSU Moorhead.

With the win, the Mavericks improve to 6-0 on the season, while the Dragons drop to 4-2. Minnesota State has now won its last 19 NSIC games.

The first quarter saw the Mavericks jump out to a 21-0 lead as they dominated the play throughout the first 15 minutes. Junior Ryan Schlichte connected with junior Justin Arnold on a 14 yard touchdown pass, before junior Nate Gunn raced into the end zone from 10 yards out to put MSU up 14-0 with 6:03 to go in the 1st quarter. Schlichte found junior Shane Zylstra on a 59 yard touchdown pass two minutes after the touchdown run from Gunn as well.

Early on in the second quarter, a punt from senior Casey Bednarski place the Dragons on their own three yard line. On MSU Moorhead's first play of the following drive, the Mavericks forced a fumble that was recovered by junior Jack Curtis on the Dragon 10. Two plays later Gunn raced into the end zone from 10 yards out to put the Mavericks up 28-0 with 10:19 to go in the second quarter.

MSU Moorhead was able to cut into Minnesota State's lead as it managed to reach the end zone twice to bring the score to 28-14 with 2:07 to go in the second quarter. Ty Jochim got the first score for the Dragons as he rushed into the end zone from 27 yards out, before Zach Simons tallied a 20 yard rushing touchdown.

The Mavericks managed to answer in the closing seconds on the second quarter as they drove 75 yards in 1:59 to go up 35-14 before heading into halftime. MSU's drive included a 41 yard pass from Schlichte to Zylstra and a one yard touchdown run from Gunn.

Minnesota State notched 256 yards of total offense in the first half, including 177 passing yards. The Mavericks also converted on 5-of-8 attempts on third down. MSU Moorhead managed 176 yards of offense in the first half, including 104 passing yards.

Scoring was at a premium during the second half as the Mavericks and the Dragons each reached the end zone once. Minnesota State's lone score in the second half came via an 82 yard kick return by senior Trevor Nissen to put the Mavericks up 42-14. Nissen is the first Maverick since 2011 to return a kickoff for a touchdown. 

MSU Moorhead's lone score of the second half came on its second drive of the third quarter. The Dragons took over on their own 37 and marched 63 yards for the score. Jochim capped off the drive with a 15 yard touchdown to bring the score to 42-20. 

The Maverick defense held the Dragons to 290 yards of offense, including 78 rushing yards. As a unit, the Mavericks tallied 10 sacks on the day, three of which came courtesy of sophomore Chance Bowen. MSU's 10 sacks set a single-game record, passing the previous mark of nine set against Minnesota Morris (1979) and Winona State (2013).

A pair of Mavericks, including Bowen and Curtis recovered a fumble. Junior Alex Goettl paced the MSU defense with seven tackles.

Gunn finished his day with 90 rushing yards and three touchdown carries. Schlichte completed 12 of 22 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns.

Zylstra led the Maverick receiving corps with five catches for 132 yards and a touchdown. This is the second time this season, and fifth time in his career, that Zylstra has tallied more than 100 receiving yards in a game. Arnold caught four passes for 49 yards and a touchdown as well.

Minnesota State continues its season at Blakeslee Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 13, as it hosts Minot State. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

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