MANKATO, Minn.. --- Despite a slow start in the first quarter, #1 Minnesota State turned in another dominant performance Saturday afternoon as it defeated St. Cloud State 45-10 in its annual Homecoming game at Blakeslee Stadium.
With the win, MSU improves to 5-0 on the season, while SCSU drops to 3-2. The Mavericks have now won their last eight homecoming games, dating back to the 2011 season. MSU has also extended its NSIC winning streak to 18 games.
As a team, Minnesota State tallied 387 yards of total offense against the Huskies, including 212 rushing yards and 175 passing yards. The Maverick defense held SCSU to just 160 yards of offense and nine first downs. All of MSU's 45 points came in the final three quarters, including three touchdowns in the second quarter and two touchdowns in the opening three minutes of the third quarter.
On defense, MSU saw several Mavericks step up and make plays, including senior
Jayme LaPlante and junior
Alex Goettl who each returned an SCSU fumble for a touchdown. Goettl returned a fumble 38 yards late in the second quarter to put MSU up 14-3, before LaPlante raced 24 yards into the end zone in the opening minutes of the third quarter. Goettl also intercepted a pass early in the third quarter that he returned it to the SCSU three yard line. MSU would score on the next play after sophomore
JD Ekowa ran into the end zone from three yards out.
As a team, the MSU defense finished with 11 tackles for loss, including six sacks. Sophomore
Chance Bowen notched a team leading seven tackles, to go along with three tackles for a loss and two sacks. Goettl, LaPlante, sophomore
Cade Johnson and sophomore
Jake Schaper each posted a sack as well. Sophomore
Brady Tuckner recorded an interception as well.
Junior
Nate Gunn tallied 100 rushing yards marking the fourth time this season, and 14th time in his career at MSU. Both Ekowa, and junior
Ryan Schlichte recorded a rushing touchdown. Schlichte finished his day completing 13-of-16 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, while Ekowa completed five passes for 52 yards and a touchdown.
Junior
Shane Zylstra led the MSU receiving corps with five catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. Junior
Ian Pribyl caught an eight-yard touchdown pass as well.
Gregory Lewis led the SCSU rushing attack as he notched 100 yards and a touchdown. Just Czech completed five passes for 51 yards.
On defense, the Huskies were led by Ben Gutschow who posted eight tackles. Devon Krzanowski notched six tackles, including two for a loss.
Minnesota State continues its season on the road as it takes on MSU Moorhead on Saturday, Oct. 6. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
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