MANKATO, Minn. --- Minnesota State begins its 2023 season this Thursday on the road as it takes on the Sioux Falls Cougars. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m., at Bob Young Field. 

Our History: The 2023 season marks the school's 96th season playing football. The Mavericks are 494-394-28 (.554) in 916 games since their inception as a varsity sport in 1922. Minnesota State is in its 15th season in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and owns a 129-20 (.865) record in league action. Over the course of its history, MSU has claimed 24 conference championships, including 14 NIC titles and eight NSIC championships. The Mavericks made their 13th appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2022. MSU owns a 15-13 overall record in NCAA postseason play. 

Grabbing the Reins: The 2023 season marks the 13th season with Head Coach Todd Hoffner on the sidelines. During his 12 seasons at Minnesota State, Hoffner has compiled a 122-30 (.802) record, including seven NSIC Championships and eight trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022.

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 122 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. Sioux Falls: Thursday's game between Minnesota State and Sioux Falls marks their 13th all-time meeting, with MSU leading the series 9-3. Last season, the Mavericks defeated the Cougars 38-24 on the road.

Junior Hayden Ekern threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns, while junior Shen Butler-Lawson tallied 103 rushing yards and one touchdown carry. Ekern recorded two touchdown carries also.

Senior Trey Vaval notched five tackles, including one for a loss, while senior Dakota Smith tallied four tackles and an interception.

Head Coach Todd Hoffner owns a 6-2 record against the Cougars, including a 4-0 record at Bob Young Field.

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State opens its season this Thursday at Sioux Falls. The Mavericks finished their 2022 season with a 10-3 record as they claimed a share of the NSIC overall and south division championships. MSU also advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament where they fell to Colorado School of Mines by the score of 48-45.

As a team last season MSU averaged 376.1 yards of total offense a game. The Mavericks notched 214.0 passing yards and 162.1 rushing yards a game, while outscoring their opponents 431-303 

Junior Shen Butler-Lawson led the Maverick rushing attack with 996 yards and 12 touchdown carriers. Junior Hayden Eken added 333 rushing yards and eight touchdown carries as well.

Ekern threw for 1,837 yards and 17 touchdowns. Sophomore Isaiah Emanuel caught 21 passes for 334 yards and two touchdowns, while junior Gabe Hagen caught nine passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns.

The Maverick defense allowed 23.3 points and 358.8 yards of offense a game last season, including 114.7 rushing yards a game.

Senior Jacob Daulton notched 64 tackles, including 7.5 for a loss and 4.0 sacks, while junior Terrell Hall tallied 38 tackles and broke up 11 passes. Senior Trey Vaval notched 38 tackles also.

Head Coach Todd Hoffner is in his 13th season with the Mavericks. He owns a 122-30 record. Against USF, Hoffner owns a 6-2 record, including a 4-0 road record.

Concerning the Cougars: Sioux Falls opens its season this Thursday at home against Minnesota State. USF finished its 2022 season with an 8-3 record, including a 50-6 win against Upper Iowa in its regular season finale last season.

As a team, USF averaged 32.8 points and 424.6 yards of total offense a game last season, including 221.4 rushing yards a game.

Dylan Rudningen tallied 289 rushing yards last season to go with three touchdown carries.

Adam Mullen threw for 2,231 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Carter Slykhuis caught 36 passes for 439 yards and two touchdowns, while Hunter Schneider caught 16 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns.

As a unit, the USF defense allowed 20.7 points and 286.3 yards of offense a game last season, including 104.9 rushing yards.

Joseph Sapp recorded 36 tackles and broke up eight passes last season, while Amaurii Grosskopf tallied 31 tackles, including 9.0 for a loss and 3.5 sacks. Brady Crawford notched 25 tackles, including 4.0 for a loss and two sacks as well.

Sioux Falls is coached by Jim Glogowski who is in his first season as head coach of the Cougars. Glogowski previously served at MSU's defensive coordinator from 2016-22.

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