MANKATO, Minn. --- No. 4 Minnesota State will wrap up its regular season schedule with a two-game road trip beginning Saturday as they take on the Sioux Falls Cougars. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

Our History: The 2019 season marks the school's 93rd season playing football. The Mavericks are 473-385-28 (.549) in 886 games since their inception as a varsity sport in 1922.  Minnesota State is in its 11th season in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and owns a 112-13 (.896) record in league action. Over the course of its history, MSU has claimed 23 conference championships, including 14 NIC titles and seven NSIC championships. The Mavericks made their 11th appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season. MSU owns an 11-11 overall record in NCAA postseason play. 

Grabbing the Reins: The 2019 season marks the 10th season with Head Coach Todd Hoffner on the sidelines. During his 10 seasons at Minnesota State, Hoffner has compiled a 101-21 (.827) record, including six NSIC Championships and six trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018.

Against the Cougars: Saturday's meeting between Minnesota State and Sioux Falls marks their ninth game all-time, with MSU leading the series with a 6-2 record. The Mavericks have won their last two games with the Cougars, including a 31-21 victory last season at Blakeslee Stadium.

As a unit, Minnesota State tallied 431 yards of total offense against the Cougars last season, including 243 passing yards. USF notched 323 yards of offense, with 170 coming through the air.

Junior JD Ekowa completed 10 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown, while also posting 57 rushing yards. Senior Nate Gunn led the Maverick rushing attack with 30 carries for 121 yards and three touchdowns. 

Six different Mavericks caught at least one pass against the Cougars last season, including senior Justin Arnold, who led the MSU receiving corps with four catches for 103 yards. Senior Shane Zylstra also caught three passes for 61 yards.

Senior Alex Goettl led the Maverick defense with 10 tackles and an interception, while senior Parrish Marrow tallied nine. Junior Cade Johnson also tallied five tackles and broke up two passes.

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State improved to 9-0 on the season after defeating Wayne State 62-7 last weekend at Blakeslee Stadium. During the last five weeks, the Mavericks have outscored their opponents 308-38.

As a team, MSU is averaging 46.9 points and 530.2 yards of offense a game this season. The Mavericks are averaging 304.2 rushing yards a game, while allowing just 60.8 rushing yards a game.

Senior Nate Gunn leads the Maverick rushing attack with 1,043 yards and 15 touchdowns, while freshman Kaleb Sleezer has tallied 499 yards and five touchdown carries. 

Senior Ryan Schlichte has thrown for 953 yards and 12 touchdowns, while junior JD Ekowa has thrown for 754 yards and five touchdowns.

Senior Shane Zylstra is pacing the Maverick receiving corps with 51 catches for 1,049 yards and 12 touchdowns. Senior Justin Arnold has tallied 26 catches for 326 yards  and a touchdown also.

The Maverick defense has allowed just 8.6 points and 215.6 yards of offense per game this season. Opposing teams own a 24% conversion rate on third down this season and have reached the red zone just 10 times. As a unit, MSU has notched 36 sacks, while giving up seven. 

Senior Zach Robertson is leading the MSU defense with 47 tackles, including 9.5 for a loss and 4.0 sacks. Junior Cole Schroedermeier has tallied 36 tackles and a team-leading three interceptions, while junior Jack Leius has tallied 38 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss and two interceptions.

Concerning the Cougars: Sioux Falls enters Saturday's the owner of a 7-2 record, including wins in its last five outings. Last weekend, USF bested Upper Iowa 47-10 on the road.

As a team, Wayne State has averaged 35.8 points and 441.4 yards of offense a game this season. USF has tallied 234.4 rushing yards a game and 207.0 passing yards a game.

Thuro Reisdorfer leads the USF rushing attack with 863 yards and 12 touchdowns. Ja'Tai Jenkins has tallied 513 rushing yards and three touchdowns also.

Caden Walters, who has tallied seven rushing touchdowns this season, has thrown for 1,804 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. Nate Johnson leads the USF receiving corps with 37 catches for 599 yards and six touchdowns. Karnell Collier has tallied 35 catches for 495 yards and a touchdown also.

On defense, USF's opponents have averaged 13.3 points and 214.3 yards of offense a game this season. Team's have managed just 64.1 rushing yards a game against the Cougars this season and have tallied seven rushing touchdowns.

Brody Grantham leads the USF defense with 47 tackles, while Tucker Stout and Ryan Nieman have each intercepted four passes. Harvey Michael Enall leads the Cougars with 4.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries.

NCAA Super Region Four Rankings: Minnesota State has been ranked second in the second edition of the NCAA Super Region Four Rankings. The top seven teams in the super region will advance to the NCAA Tournament, with the #1 seed receiving a first-round bye. The NCAA Selection Show will be streamed on NCAA.com on Nov. 17.