MANKATO, Minn. --- It proved to be a close game throughout Saturday afternoon at Blakeslee Stadium, but it was #1 Minnesota State that was able to come away with the 31-21 win against Sioux Falls.

With the win, MSU improves to 10-0 on the season, while USF drops to 6-4. The Mavericks have also clinched the NSIC South Division championship with their 6-0 division record. MSU has now extended its NSIC winning streak to 23 games.

As a team, MSU tallied 431 yards of total offense against the Cougars, including 243 passing yards. USF managed 323 yards of offense, with 170 coming through the air. MSU also went 8-of-14 (.571) on third down attempts. The Mavericks also scored on all five of their trips to the red zone.

The Cougars reached the scoreboard first as they went up 7-0 with 9:18 to go in the first quarter. The USF offense was set on the MSU 21 after Ryan Nieman intercepted a pass from junior Ryan Schlichte. The Cougars then ran their way into the end zone using six plays, including a two-yard touchdown run from Gabriel Watson.

The Mavericks answered right back on their following drive to knot up the score at 7-7. Starting at their own 20, the Mavericks marched 80 yards down field. Junior Nate Gunn accounted for 49 of MSU's yards on the scoring drive, including a two-yard touchdown carry.

The score remained tied at 7-7 into the second quarter. USF was able to reach the MSU 16, but was forced to send in the field goal unit. On the field goal attempt, senior Jayme LaPlante was able to block it to keep the score tied. The Maverick offense then carried that momentum forward on their next drive as they drove 80 yards again for their second touchdown, with Gunn running into the end zone from four yards out. 

The Cougars managed to respond on their next drive as they drove 65 yards in just over four minutes to knot up the score at 14-14 with 2:47 remaining in the half. USF finished its scoring drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Caden Walters to Clint Sigg.

It appeared the game would head into halftime tied 14-14, but an interception from junior Alex Goettl gave the Mavericks the ball on the USF 47 with 57 seconds left in the half. After a pair of pass plays which saw sophomore JD Ekowa connect with junior Justin Arnold and senior Trevor Nissen, the Mavericks advanced to the USF five yard line. Gunn would then finish the drive with a five yard touchdown run to put MSU 21-14 heading into the locker room.

The early part of the third quarter saw the Mavericks go up 28-14 as MSU reached the end zone on its second drive of the half. Gunn carried the ball four times on the drive, while Ekowa completed three passes, including a one-yard touchdown pass to junior Tyler Schmidt.

Sioux Falls was able to get back within seven points of the Mavericks at 28-21 early in the fourth quarter, but that was as close as it would get as a 24-yard field goal from senior Casey Bednarski with 3:00 left in the game put the game out of reach as MSU won 31-21.

Gunn finished his day with 121 rushing yards and three touchdown carries. He has now rushed for more than 100 yards in six games this season. His 18 rushing touchdowns also set an MSU single-season record.

Ekowa completed 10-of-17 passes for a season-high 196 yards and a touchdown. Arnold led all MSU receivers with four catches for 103 yards. His 103 receiving yards marks the second time this season he has tallied more than 100 receiving yards in a game this season.

Goettl led the Maverick defense with 10 tackles and an interception. Junior Parrish Marrow added nine tackles, while senior Michael Palme notched seven tackles, including one sack.

Minnesota State concludes its regular season schedule on Saturday, Nov. 10, as it hosts the Upper Iowa Peacocks at Blakeslee Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.

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