MANKATO, Minn. --- The #2 Minnesota State football team needed overtime Thursday evening at Blakeslee Stadium, but the Mavericks proved to be up to the task as they defeated the Northern State Wolves 40-34.
With the win, MSU improves to 1-0 on the season, while NSU drops to 0-1. The Mavericks have now won 36 consecutive NSIC contests, just four shy of their previous record of 40 straight conference wins. Head coach
Todd Hoffner also claimed his 107th career victory at Minnesota State. Hoffner trails former MSU head coach Dan Runkle for the all-time coaching victory record at Minnesota State who leads the way with 108 career victories.
The first quarter saw both teams get an early touchdown as sophomore
Kaleb Sleezer put the Mavericks up 7-0 with a 47-yard touchdown run, before Hunter Trautman connected with Jacob Streit on a seven-yard touchdown pass on the following drive to knot up the score at 7-7.
Both teams would add 10 more points in the second quarter as both teams went into the locker room tied 17-17. Junior
Luke Williams connected on an 18-yard field goal, while junior
Jalen Sample caught a 71-yard touchdown pass from freshman
Hayden Ekern.
The third quarter saw the Wolves pull out to a 10 point lead at 27-17. Trautman completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Dakota Larson, before Payton Eue connected on a 23-yard field goal.
The Mavericks answered right back in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter as Ekern capped off a 12-play drive with a one-yard touchdown run to bring the Mavericks back within three of the Wolves at 27-24 with 13:05 to go. NSU responded immediately on their next drive as Trautman connected with Larson on a 65-yard touchdown pass to put the Wolves back up by 10 at 34-24.
Minnesota State then responded with a 21-play, 8:12 drive that was capped off with a 37-yard field goal from Williams to bring the Mavericks back within a score at 34-27 with 4:37 remaining. On the ensuing kickoff, the Wolves muffed a fair catch and sophomore
James Williams was there to recover the ball to set up MSU on the Northern State 39 yard line with 4:37 to go.
Ten plays and 39 yards later the Mavericks tied the score at 34-34 as senior
JD Ekowa ran into the end zone from two yards out with :38 remaining. NSU was unable to score in the final 38 seconds as the game went into overtime.
NSU began overtime with the ball but it was unable to reach the scoreboard as its 61-yard field goal attempt fell short. Facing a fourth and one on the 16 yard line, MSU elected to go for it and the gamble paid off as Ekowa broke free and ran into the end zone for the touchdown, giving the Mavericks the 40-34 win.
This was MSU's first overtime game since the 2017 season when the Mavericks defeated CSU-Pueblo 16-13 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Sleezer finished the game with 153 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Ekowa added two rushing touchdowns and 49 rushing yards. Ekern threw for 156 yards and a touchdown, while Ekowa tallied 139 passing yards.
Junior
Jalen Sample led the Mavericks receiving corps with four catches for 104 yards and a touchdown, marking the first time in his career with the Mavericks that he has surpassed 100 receiving yards in a game.
The Maverick defense tallied five sacks and seven tackles for a loss. Senior
Ty'Shonan Brooks, junior
Bedale Naba and senior
Eli Thomas each tallied six tackles.
Minnesota State continues its season on the road on Saturday, Sept. 11, as it takes on #23 Minnesota Duluth. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
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