ST. PAUL, Minn. --- The #3 Minnesota State defense was in fine form Saturday afternoon in St. Paul as the Mavericks defeated Concordia-St. Paul 29-3 to claim their third win of the season. 

With the win, the Mavericks improve to 3-0 on the season, while the Golden Bears drop to 2-1. MSU has now won its last nine games against CSP and has extended its NSIC winning streak to 27. 

The Maverick defense allowed just three points and 134 yards of total offense. Junior Jack Leius paced the Maverick defense with seven tackles, including 4.5 for a loss, while senior Zach Robertson added six tackles of his own. Robertson and senior Alex Goettl each recovered a fumble while junior Cole Schroedermeier notched his third interception of the season.

As a defensive unit, the Mavericks tallied 13 tackles for a loss and three sacks. MSU allowed only 14 rushing yards as well.

Senior Nate Gunn led the Maverick rushing attack with 103 yards, marking the 22nd time in his career that he has rushed for more than 100 yards in a game. Junior Justin Taormina and freshman Kaleb Sleezer each recorded a rushing touchdown as well. 

Junior JD Ekowa completed 10 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown. Senior Justin Arnold caught a team-leading five passes for 50 yards, while senior Tyler Schmidt recorded one touchdown catch.

Sophomore Ashton Garner finished 2-for-2 in field goal attempts as he connected on kicks from 30 and 42 yards out.

The first half saw the Mavericks set the pace as they tallied 200 yards of offense, while limiting CSP to just 44 yards. MSU also converted on 4-of-8 third down attempts, while holding the Golden Bears to a 1-of-6 showing.

The lone score of the first quarter came during MSU's final drive. MSU took over on its own 41 and march 59 yards down field, in 10 plays, including a 12-yard touchdown pass from junior JD Ekowa to senior Tyler Schmidt. The lone turnover of the opening quarter came courtesy of junior Cole Schroedermeier as he notched his third interception of the season.

Minnesota State added another touchdown in the second quarter to go up 14-0. Starting on their own 23 with just under 14 minutes to go in the half, MSU began a nine-play, 77-yard drive that was finished off by a 13-yard touchdown run by junior Justin Taormina.  

Senior Alex Goettl recovered a CSP fumble late in the second quarter deep in Golden Bear territory, but the Mavericks could not add to their lead as MSU carried the 14-0 lead into halftime.

The third quarter saw sophomore Ashton Garner connect on a pair of field goals to put the Mavericks up 20-0. Garner connected on a 30 yard field goal with just under eight minutes to go, before notching a 42-yard field goal with 1:19 remaining in the quarter. Senior Zach Robertson recovered a Golden Bear fumble as time expired in the third quarter as well.

The Mavericks recorded two more scores in the fourth quarter to increase their lead to 29-0. Senior Jack Curtis and junior Cade Johnson tackled Shaq Johnson in the end zone for a safety, before Sleezer recorded a one-yard touchdown run, the first of his career.

Concordia-St. Paul ended the shutout bid with less than a minute to go as Danny Laudet connected on a 44-yard field goal to bring the final score to 29-3 in favor of Minnesota State.

Minnesota State begins a two-game homestand on Saturday, Sept. 28, as it hosts the Winona State Warriors at Blakeslee Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
   
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