FAYETTE, Iowa --- The #4 Minnesota State football team finished its regular season schedule Saturday afternoon with a decisive 73-21 victory over the Upper Iowa Peacocks.

With the win, the Mavericks improve to 11-0 on the season, while the Peacocks finish their season with a 2-9 record. The Mavericks have extended their NSIC winning streak to 35 games and have now gone 11-0 in the regular season in six of the last eight seasons. 

The Maverick defense came up with the game's first score as junior Cole Schroedermeier intercepted a UIU pass and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown on the third play of the game to put MSU up 7-0. Upper Iowa managed to knot up the score at 7-7 on its following drive as Zach Reader connected with DJ Emsweller on a 46-yard touchdown pass.

MSU would follow up with a pair of scores including a 43-yard field goal from sophomore Ashton Garner and a 20-yard touchdown pass from junior JD Ekowa to junior Justin Taormina to put MSU up 17-7.

The Mavericks added two more touchdowns in the second quarter, while the Peacocks notched one as MSU carried a 31-14 lead into halftime. Senior Ryan Schlichte hooked up with senior Shane Zylstra on a five-yard touchdown pass, before Ekowa connected with senior Justin Arnold on a 43-yard touchdown pass. Reader notched an eight-yard touchdown pass to Alexander Stevens for UIU also.

The third quarter saw the Mavericks add three more touchdowns to go up 52-14. Zylstra and sophomore Jalen Sample each caught a touchdown pass in the third quarter, while Taormina notched a two-yard touchdown carry.

Like the third quarter, MSU added three more touchdowns in the fourth quarter as MSU finished the game with a 73-21 win. Junior Parker Gloudemans caught a 51-yard touchdown pass from Ekowa, before freshmen Chase Devitt and Kaleb Sleezer each recorded a rushing touchdown of their own. UIU's lone score of the fourth came via a five-yard touchdown pass from Reader to Brandyn Tulloch.

As a team, MSU tallied 612 yards of total offense, including 349 passing yards. UIU was limited to 254 yards of offense, including 191 passing yards.

Ekowa threw for 211 yards and three touchdowns, while Schlichte notched 138 passing yards and three touchdowns. Seven Mavericks caught a pass in the game, including Zylstra who led the team with six catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns. Sleezer led the Maverick rushing attack with 87 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Alex Goettl led the Maverick defense with eight tackles, while seniors Jordan Bergren and Destyn Woody each tallied five. Schroedermeier, senior Spencer Hermus and freshman Greg Kohler each recorded an interception also.

Minnesota State will learn its NCAA Tournament fate on Sunday during the NCAA Selection Show. The selection show will air on NCAA.com at 4:00 p.m. (CST).

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