ABERDEEN, S.D. --- The #3 Minnesota State football team continued its winning ways on a snowy Saturday afternoon in Aberdeen, S.D., as the Mavericks bested Northern State 39-7.
With the win, the Mavericks improve to 6-0 on the season, while the Wolves drop to 3-3. The Mavericks have now won their last 30 NSIC contests.
The first quarter saw both teams struggle to get anything going offensively as they combined for 53 yards and three first downs. As Northern State lined up to punt in the closing seconds of the first quarter, as bad snap allowed freshman Nick Foss to get into the backfield to block the punt that set MSU up on the NSU 29.
Two plays later the Mavericks reached the end zone as senior Ryan Schlichte hooked up with senior Shane Zylstra on a 26-yard touchdown pass. Sophomore Brevin Kaiser ran in the two point conversion to put MSU up 8-0.
The duo of Schlichte and Zylstra connected again on MSU's second touchdown of the game. Schlichte's 10-yard touchdown pass to Zylstra capped off a nine-play drive that went 37 yards. Junior Brady Tuckner ran in the two-point conversion to put MSU up 16-0.
The Mavericks added one more score in the second quarter as junior JD Ekowa threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to senior Tyler Schmidt. The touchdown pass finished a seven-play drive that went 58 yards in just under three minutes. MSU's extra point attempt missed as the Mavericks carried a 22-0 lead into halftime.
As a team, MSU tallied 189 yards of offense in the first half, including 148 passing yards. NSU was limited to just 56 yards of offense, including just 12 passing yards.
The Mavericks wasted no time in the third quarter as they marched 75 yards down field in four plays to go up 29-0. The drive included a 48-yard pass from Ekowa to Zylstra and a 15-yard run by senior Justin Arnold. Senior Nate Gunn also had a couple of carries, including a one-yard touchdown run to put MSU up 29-0 with 13:22 left in the third quarter.
The Mavericks got two more scores in the third quarter, including a one-yard touchdown run by Gunn and a 25-yard field goal from sophomore Ashton Garner. Northern State was able to get in the scoring column as well as Hunter Trautman hooked up with Dakota Larson on a 30-yard touchdown pass as MSU carried a 39-7 lead into the fourth quarter.
Neither team reached the scoring column in the fourth quarter as Minnesota State improved to 6-0 on the season after its 39-7 win.
In total, the Mavericks tallied 495 yards of offense, including 246 rushing yards and 249 passing yards. The Wolves were limited to 126 yards of offense, including just 49 passing yards.
Zylstra finished his game with 163 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Ekowa completed 7-of-14 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown, while Schlichte tallied 54 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Freshman Kaleb Sleezer led the Maverick rushing attack with 85 yards, while Gunn posted 69 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Junior Brayden Thomas led the Maverick defense with five tackles and a fumble recovery, while Foss posted four tackles and blocked a punt. Senior Destyn Woody and junior Josh Kawlewski each recorded a sack as well, while senior Spencer Hermus recorded an interception
Minnesota State returns to Blakeslee Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19, as it host the University of Mary. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
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