MANKATO, Minn. --- It came down to the wire Saturday afternoon at Blakeslee Stadium but it was Minnesota State that was able to come away with the 31-28 win.

With the win, the Mavericks improved to 3-1 on the season, while the Marauders dropped to 0-4.

UMary jumped out to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. Logan Nelson connected with Luke Bodine on a 15-yard touchdown pass with 12:24 to go in the first quarter, before a nine-yard touchdown run from Gabe Levy that capped off a six-play drive with 13:20 to go in the second quarter.

The Mavericks answered right back with two touchdowns in the second quarter to tie the score at 14-14 heading into halftime. Freshman Camden Dean finished a 75-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run to get MSU on the board. Later in the second quarter, a 43-yard punt return by junior Trey Vaval set the Mavericks up on the UMary six yard line. On the next play, junior Shen Butler-Lawson ran into the end zone from six yards out for the score.

The Mavericks added two scores in the third quarter as freshman Isaiah Emanuel caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from Dean, before sophomore Damian Chowaniec connected on a 34-yard field goal to put MSU up 24-14.

The Marauders would respond with a pair of touchdowns to take a 28-24 lead with 13:31 to go in the fourth quarter. Collin Gapen caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Daniel Kittner, before Dave Small Jr. ran in a 21-yard touchdown.

With less than six minutes to go the Mavericks drove 60 yards down the field, before Butler-Lawson put the Mavericks back in front with a six-yard touchdown run to put MSU up 31-28. The Marauders managed to drive down to the MSU one yard line in the closing seconds but an interception from sophomore Jacob Daulton in the end zone preserved the Mavericks' 31-28 win.

Butler-Lawson rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns, while Emanuel led the MSU receivers with four catches for 67 yards and a touchdown. Dean threw for 227 yards and a touchdown. He also recorded one touchdown carry.

Vaval led the Maverick defense with eight tackles, while senior Payton Conrad notched five tackles and a sack.

Minnesota State continues its season on the road on Saturday, October 1, as it takes on the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.