MINOT, N.D. --- #6 Minnesota State jumped out in front quickly Saturday afternoon on the road as it bested the Minot State Beavers 52-25.

With the win, the Mavericks improve to 3-0 on the season, including a 3-0 NSIC record. With the loss, the Beavers drop to 0-3, including a 0-3 conference record.

"We did enough to win the football game," head coach Todd Hoffner said. It wasn't our brightest game of the season but we did enough to put plenty of points on the board. We definitely took advantage of favorable field position all game long."

The first quarter saw the Mavericks jump out to a big 28-7 lead. Sophomore Hayden Ekern completed two touchdown passes to junior Shen Butler-Lawson and sophomore Isaiah Emanuel from six and 10 yards out, respectively. Butler-Lawson also notched a pair of rushing touchdowns from 28 and seven yards out.

The Mavericks and Beavers would exchange touchdowns in both the second and third quarters as Minnesota State went up 42-19 after the third quarter. Ekern connected with Emanuel on a 25-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, before junior Gabe Hagen powered his way into the end zone from the one-yard line in the third quarter.

Minot State's first three scores of the contest came via the ground game as Erik Palmquist (13 yards), Myles West (49 yards) and Evan Lovett (8 yards) each ran in a score for the Beavers as the Mavericks led 42-19 after three quarters.

The Mavericks added 10 more points in the fourth quarter as junior William King III connected with freshman Mason Perich on a 29-yard touchdown pass, before junior Matthew Jaeger made a 41-yard field goal attempt to put MSU up 52-19. The Beavers managed to get a nine-yard touchdown run from Isaiah Griffin in the closing minutes to bring the final score to 52-25.

As a team, the Mavericks finished with 463 yards of total offense, including 283 passing yards. Minot State managed 290 yards of offense, including 274 yards on the ground.

Ekern threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns, while King III threw for 48 yards and a touchdown. Ten Mavericks caught at least one pass, including Emanuel who caught four for 54 yards and two touchdowns.

Butler-Lawson led the Maverick rushing attack with 95 yards and two touchdown carries.

Senior Zack MacIntire recorded five tackles, while junior Khai West, sophomore Luke Mulder and freshman Zach Krause each tallied a sack. MacIntire, senior Arturo Torres, senior Jacob Daulton and freshman Quintin Hale each recovered a fumble.

Minnesota State continue-s its season at home on Saturday, September 23 as it hosts the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., at Blakeslee Stadium.