MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State football team opens its 2022 season on the road this Thursday as it takes on the #22 Bemidji State Beavers. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., at Chet Anderson Stadium.

Our History: The 2022 season marks the school's 95th season playing football. The Mavericks are 484-391-28 (.551) in 903 games since their inception as a varsity sport in 1922. Minnesota State is in its 14th season in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and owns a 120-18 (.869) 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 made their 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2019. MSU owns a 14-12 overall record in NCAA postseason play. 

Grabbing the Reins: The 2021 season marks the 13th season with Head Coach Todd Hoffner on the sidelines. During his 13 seasons at Minnesota State, Hoffner has compiled a 112-27 (.805) record, including six NSIC Championships and seven trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Hoffner was named the AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year in 2019, marking the third time that he has received the award, with the first two instances coming during the 2014 and 2018 seasons. He was later named the AFCA Division II National Coach of the Year as the Mavericks advanced to their second NCAA Championship game in five seasons.

Hoffner's 112 coaching victories at Minnesota State are the most in program history. Hoffner passed Dan Runkle's record of 108 career coaching victories after MSU's 68-10 win over Minot State on Sept. 25, 2021.

Series vs. Bemidji State: Thursday's game between Minnesota State and Bemidji State marks their 50th meeting, with MSU leading the all-time series 32-15-2. The Mavericks have won their last two meetings against the Beavers, including a 45-24 win at Blakeslee Stadium during the 2021 season. MSU owns a 15-9 road record against Bemidji State, which includes a 47-20 win at BSU back in 2018.

In their most recent outing back in 2021, junior Kaleb Sleezer rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore Hayden Ekern threw for 72 yards and a touchdown.  Senior Jalen Sample led the Maverick receiving corps with five catches for 117 yards, while junior Trent Carpenter tied for the team-lead in tackles with five.

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State posted a 6-5 record during the 2021 season, marking the 13th consecutive season that the Mavericks have posted a winning record.

As a team, MSU tallied 5,052 yards of offense last season, including 2,788 passing yards and 2,264 rushing yards, while scoring 441 points. The Mavericks also went 19-for-29 in fourth down attempts. 

Junior Kaleb Sleezer led MSU rushers with 491 yards and five touchdowns, while sophomore Christian Vasser has tallied 294 rushing yards and two touchdowns. 

Sophomore Hayden Ekern tallied 932 passing yards and nine touchdown passes. Junior Jalen Sample led the Maverick receiving corps with 64 catches for 1,047 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior Nyles Williams tallied 31 catches for 475 yards and seven touchdowns also.

The Maverick defense allowed 22.8  points and 358.9 yards of total offense a game last season, including 216.6 passing yards and 142.3 rushing yards.

Junior Trent Carpenter posted a team-leading 48 tackles, to go along with 5.5 for a loss as well. Seniors Somon Anderson and Payton Conrad each recorded 32 tackles and an interception, while sophomore Maven Kretche tallied 22 tackles, including 5.5 for a loss and three sacks. 

Concerning the Beavers: #22 Bemidji State finished the 2021 season with a 10-3 record as it claimed a share of the NSIC Championship. The Beavers would advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Colorado School of Mines 55-6.

As a team, BSU averaged 34.2 points and 463.9 yards of offense a game last season. The Beavers averaged 132.3 rushing yards a game and 331.6 passing yards a game.

Sam McGrath tallied 116 rushing yards and four touchdowns, while Jarrett Gronski posted 107 yards and one touchdown.

Brandon Alt threw for 4,245 yards and 46 touchdowns last season. Brendan Beaulieu tallied 1,318 receiving yards and 13 touchdown catches, while Dhel Duncan-Busby posted 725 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

As a unit, the BSU defense allowed 31.6 points and 428.3 yards of offense a game last season. Opponents recorded 156.2 rushing yards and 272.1 passing yards a game.

Zollie Kaplan tallied 52 tackles, including 18.5 for a loss and 8.0 sacks, while Spencer Wehr notched 53 tackles, including five for a loss. Colton Herman tallied 37 tackles and two interceptions also.