MANKATO, Minn. --- #3 Minnesota State put forth another solid defensive outing Saturday afternoon at Blakeslee Stadium as the Mavericks kept Winona State out of the end zone, en route to 20-6 victory.

With the win, the Mavericks improve to 4-0 on the season, while the Warriors drop to 2-2. MSU has now not allowed a touchdown in 10 consecutive quarters. The last time the Mavericks have not allowed a touchdown in 10 straight quarters dates back to the 2015 season when they did not allow a touchdown in 10 quarters against Northern State, the University of Mary and Minnesota Crookston.

As a unit, the Mavericks tallied 329 yards of offense against the Warriors, including 152 on the ground and 169 in the air. WSU notched just 187 yards, including 80 rushing yards. 

Senior Zach Robertson led the Mavericks with eight tackles and 3.0 tackles for a loss. Junior Jack Leius tallied seven tackles and 2.0 tackles for a loss, to go along with an interception. Junior Cade Johnson and senior Alex Goettl each recorded an interception as well. Goettl posted his interception during WSU's opening drive, while Johnson recorded his during the Warriors' second drive.

Robertson, Leius, senior Brayden Thomas and freshman Nick Foss each recorded a sack.

Senior Nate Gunn rushed for 107 yards and scored the game's only two touchdowns. This is the fourth time this season that he has rushed for more than 100 yards in a game. 

Junior JD Ekowa completed 8-of-12 passes for 119 yards, while senior Shane Zylstra caught five passes for 79 yards. Senior Justin Arnold also recorded 50 receiving yards.

After Goettl's interception to open the game, the Mavericks took over on the WSU 12 on their opening drive. Three plays later Gunn forced his way into the end zone for the touchdown to give the Mavericks an early 7-0 lead.

MSU's final drive of the first quarter began on its own 18 with 4:27 left in the quarter. The drive saw Gunn carry the ball four times, including a six-yard run into the end zone to put the Mavericks up 14-0.

Winona State was able to get on the board late in the second quarter as Paul Ortiz connected on a 41-yard field after an 18-play, 54-yard drive that took over eight minutes.

With 30 seconds left in the half, Ortiz kicked off to junior Justin Taormina who returned the kickoff 66 yards down to the WSU 27 with 17 seconds left. MSU eventually sent in sophomore kicker Ashton Garner who connected on a 39-yard field goal as time expired to give the Mavericks a 17-3 lead at halftime.

Winona State put together another lengthy drive in the third quarter as it posted a 13-play, 67-yard drive that ended with a 28-yard field goal from Ortiz to bring the score to 17-6 with 1:32 remaining in the third quarter.

On its following drive, MSU put together a lengthy run of its own as it drove 74 yards in 15 plays in 7:55. The drive ended with a 19-yard field goal from Luke Williams to put MSU up 20-6 with 8:37 remaining in the game. The field goal from Williams proved to be the final score of the game as the Mavericks claimed the 20-6 win.

Minnesota State wraps up its two-game homestand on Saturday, Oct. 5, as it hosts #13 Minnesota Duluth during its annual Homecoming game. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.

   
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