MANKATO, Minn. --- The No. 4 Minnesota State football team will continue NCAA Tournament action this Saturday at Blakeslee Stadium as it takes on the No. 21 Texas A&M-Commerce Lions. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.

Our History: The 2019 season marks the school's 93rd season playing football. The Mavericks are 476-385-28 (.551) in 889 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 114-13 (.897) 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 are making their 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament this season. MSU owns an 12-11 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 104-21 (.832) record, including six NSIC Championships and seven trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Against the Lions: Saturday's game between Minnesota State and Texas A&M-Commerce will be their second all-time meeting. The Lions defeated the Mavericks 31-21 in the third round of the NCAA Tournament back in 2017.

As a unit, Minnesota State tallied 367 yards of total offense against the Lions in 2017, including 198 passing yards. TAMCU tallied 360 yards of total offense, including 257 passing yards.

Senior Ryan Schlichte threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Shane Zylstra caught four passes for 74 yards, while senior Justin Arnold caught two passes for 44 yards. Senior Nate Gunn notched 139 rushing yards.

Senior Alex Goettl recorded eight tackles, while junior Cade Johnson notched seven tackles, including one for a loss. Senior Jordan Bergren also tallied four tackles and an interception. 

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State improved to 12-0 on the season as it defeated CSU-Pueblo 35-7 last weekend in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

As a team, MSU is averaging 47.7 points and 534.9 yards of offense a game this season. The Mavericks are averaging 301.1 rushing yards a game, while allowing just 68.6 rushing yards a game.

Senior Nate Gunn leads the Maverick rushing attack with 1,383 yards and 23 touchdowns, while freshman Kaleb Sleezer has tallied 624 yards and six touchdown carries. 

Senior Ryan Schlichte has thrown for 1,343 yards and 15 touchdowns, while junior JD Ekowa has thrown for 1,136 yards and nine touchdowns.

Senior Shane Zylstra is pacing the Maverick receiving corps with 66 catches for 1,379 yards and 15 touchdowns. Senior Justin Arnold has tallied 38 catches for 508 yards and two touchdowns also.

The Maverick defense has allowed just 12.0 points and 228.4 yards of offense per game this season. Opposing teams own a 26% conversion rate on third down this season and have reached the red zone just 16 times. As a unit, MSU has notched 41 sacks, while giving up 12. 

Senior Zach Robertson is leading the MSU defense with 56 tackles, including 9.5 for a loss and 4.0 sacks. Junior Cole Schroedermeier has tallied 49 tackles and a team-leading four interceptions, while junior Jack Leius has tallied 47 tackles, including 7.0 for a loss and two interceptions.

Concerning the Lions: Texas A&M-Commerce enters the weekend the owner of an 11-2 record, including road wins against Tarleton State (23-16) and Colorado School of Mines (23-3) in the NCAA Tournament. 

As a team, TAMCU has averaged 33.9 points and 410.6 yards of offense a game this season. The Lions have averaged 232.4 passing yards a game and have tallied 23 rushing touchdowns and 23 passing touchdowns.

Antonio Leali'ie'e leads the TAMCU rushing attack with 689 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Miklo Smalls has tallied 485 rushing yards and five touchdown carries also.

Smalls has thrown for 2,727 yards and 22 touchdowns this season. Ryan Stokes leads the TAMCU receiving corps with 621 receiving yards and four touchdown catches. Cooper Chance has tallied 582 receiving yards and three touchdown catches also.

On defense, TAMCU's opponents have averaged 18.5 points and 315.8 yards of offense a game this season. Team's have managed 110.5 rushing yards a game against the Lions this season and have tallied 13 rushing touchdowns.

Terrell Collins leads the TAMCU defense with 85 tackles, including 10.0 tackles for a loss and 4.0 sacks. Jalon Edwards-Cooper has tallied 63 tackles, including 6.0 for a loss and three interceptions. Elijah Earls has tallied 46 tackles, including 14.0 for a loss and 9.5 sacks.