MANKATO, Minn. --- A 28-point fourth quarter proved to be the difference Saturday afternoon at Blakeslee Stadium as the Wayne State Wildcats defeated #11 Minnesota State 35-24.

With the loss, MSU drops to 4-2 on the season, including a 0-1 NSIC south division record. With the win, WSC improves to 5-1 on the season, including a 2-0 division record. The loss to Wayne State snaps MSU's 20-game NSIC winning streak at home dating back to week 11 of the 2016 season.

The first half featured little scoring as the Mavericks carried a 10-7 lead into the locker room. After a scoreless first quarter, the Mavericks got on the board as junior Jalen Sample caught a five-yard touchdown pass from freshman Hayden Ekern to put MSU up 7-0 with 13:40 to go in the second quarter. 

Wayne State was able to respond late in the second quarter on a two-play drive that included a 40-yard touchdown run by Anthony Watkins to knot up the score at 7-7 with 2:58 to go. MSU eventually got the ball back with 43 seconds to go in the half and they proceeded to drive 56 yards down to the WSC 34 with two seconds on the clock. Junior Luke Williams then connected on a 41-yard field as time expired to put MSU up 10-7 as both teams went into the locker room.

The Mavericks recorded a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter to go up 24-7. Senior Parker Gloudemans caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from senior JD Ekowa before freshman Charles Coleman recorded a two-yard touchdown carry.

Trailing 24-7, Wayne State with the wind at its back went on to outscore the Mavericks 28-0 in the fourth quarter, en route to a 35-24 win.

The Wildcats capped off an eight-play drive with a one-yard touchdown run from Nick Bohn to cut MSU's lead to 24-14 with 14:57 remaining. On its next drive, WSC's Bohn connected with Taurean Grady on a 71-yard touchdown pass to bring the score to 24-21 with 11:20 remaining.

A fumble and a turnover on downs helped set up Wayne State's final two scoring drives on the game inside Maverick territory. Watkins recorded a 32-yard touchdown run to put WSC up 28-24 with 9:07 to go, before Bohn recorded a 21-yard touchdown run to put the Wildcats up 35-24. 

As a unit, MSU tallied 424 yards of total offense, including 260 passing yards. Ekowa and Ekern both threw for 130 yards and a touchdown. Sample led the MSU receiving corps with 109 receiving yards and a touchdown, while senior Nyles Williams caught four passes for 75 yards.

Junior Payton Conrad led the Maverick defense with nine tackles, while junior Bedale Naba and freshman Maven Kretche each record 1.5 sacks.

Minnesota State continues its season on the road on Saturday, October 16, as it takes on the Upper Iowa Peacocks. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.  

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