MANKATO, Minn. --- #9 Minnesota State fell to #24 Minnesota Duluth 33-21 in its regular season finale at Blakeslee Stadium.
With the loss, MSU drops to 9-2 on the season, including an 8-2 NSIC record. With the loss, UMD improves to 9-2, including an 8-2 conference record.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Maverick offense finally broke through with its opening drive of the second quarter. MSU went 73 yards in 11 plays, including a six0yard touchdown run by junior
Hayden Ekern to put the Mavericks up 7-0. UMD would answer right back on their following drive as it tied the score at 7-7 with a 44-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Walljasper to DaShaun Ames.
Both teams exchanges touchdown again on their following drives to bring the score to 14-14. Ekern Connected with sophomore
TreShawn Watson on a 32-yard touchdown pass, before Walljasper wrapped up UMD's scoring drive with a one-yard touchdown carry.
The Bulldogs would then stop the Mavericks on fourth down with one second to go in the half. Looking at a 39-yard field goal attempt, UMD's Curtis Cox connected on the field goal to put UMD up 17-14 at the half.
Minnesota Duluth would add two more scores in the third quarter to go up 27-14. DaShaun Ames recorded an eight-yard touchdown carry, before Cox connected on a 45-yard field goal with 1:20 to go in the third quarter.
Minnesota State managed to get back within six of the Bulldogs with 6:36 to go in the game. Ekern finished the MSU scoring drive with a 19-yard touchdown run. This was as close as MSU would get however as the Bulldogs put the game out of reach with a 62-yard touchdown pass from Walljasper to Jimmy Durocher to bring the final score to 33-21.
Ekern finished the day completing 21-of-42 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 61 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Shen
Butler-Lawson recorded 60 rushing yards also. Sophomore
Grant Guyett led the Maverick receiving corps with four catches for 61 yards, while sophomore
Isaiah Emanuel tallied 59 receiving yards. Watson caught three passes for 54 yards and a touchdown also.
Senior
Dakota Smith led the Maverick defense with 12 tackles and two fumble recoveries. Senior
Jacob Daulton and senior
Shawn Brodie each recorded seven tackles as well, with Brodie also recording a sack.
Minnesota State will learn its NCAA Tournament fate during the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday, at 5:00 p.m. The selection show will be streamed on NCAA.com.
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