MANKATO, Minn. --- With Minnesota State's 20-19 win over Augustana last weekend, the Mavericks have advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament where they will take on the CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. (CT) at the CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl in Pueblo, Colo.
Our History: The 2024 season marks the school's 97th season playing football. The Mavericks are 515-403-27 (.559) in 945 games since their inception as a varsity sport in 1922. Minnesota State is in its 16th season in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and owns a 146-25 (.853) record in league action. Over the course of its history, MSU has claimed 25 conference championships, including 14 NIC titles and eight NSIC championships. The Mavericks are making their 15th appearance in the NCAA Tournament this season. MSU owns a 16-14 overall record in NCAA postseason play.
Grabbing the Reins: The 2024 season marks the 14th season with Head Coach
Todd Hoffner on the sidelines. During his 14 seasons at Minnesota State, Hoffner has compiled a 140-36 (.795) record, including seven NSIC Championships and 10 trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
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 2019.
Hoffner's 140 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. CSU Pueblo: Saturday's game between Minnesota State and CSU Pueblo marks their fifth meeting between them, with MSU leading the all-time series 3-1. All four meetings between Minnesota State and CSU Pueblo have taken place during the NCAA Tournament.
CSU Pueblo defeated MSU 13-0 in the 2014 NCAA Championship game in Kansas City. The next three encounters all took place at Blakeslee Stadium. MSU defeated the ThunderWolves 16-13 in overtime in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament and 24-10 in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament. In their most recent meeting in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament, Minnesota State bested CSU Pueblo 35-7.
MSU head coach
Todd Hoffner owns a 3-1 record against CSU Pueblo. CSU Pueblo head coach Phillip Vigil has not faced Minnesota State.
Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State enters the weekend the owner of a 9-3 overall record, including a 7-3 NSIC record. Last weekend on the road, MSU rallied in the final minutes of the game to defeat Augustana 20-19 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
As a team, MSU is averaging 30.0 points and 391.7 yards of offense a game this season. The Mavericks are averaging 166.9 rushing yards and 224.7 passing yards a game.
Freshman
Sam Backer leads the Maverick rushing attack with 764 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Senior
Christian Vasser has tallied 386 rushing yards and five touchdowns also, while senior
Hayden Ekern has notched 362 rushing yards and 11 touchdown carries.
Ekern has thrown for 2,648 yards and 21 touchdowns this season. Junior
TreShawn Watson leads the Maverick receiving corps with 670 yards and eight touchdowns, while senior
Gabe Hagen has notched 457 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
The Maverick defense has allowed 23.5 points and 349.8 yards of total offense a game this season. MSU has allowed 139.1 rushing yards a game this season.
Senior
Antonio Alzheimer leads the Maverick defense with 94 tackles, while junior
Karson Dunn has notched 49 tackles and an two interceptions. Senior
Cody Brown leads the team with 13.5 tackles for a loss and 6.0 sacks, while senior
Max Lommel has recovered two fumbles.
Head Coach
Todd Hoffner is in his 14th season with the Mavericks. He owns a 140-36 (.795) record.
Concerning the ThunderWolves: CSU Pueblo enters the weekend the owner of an 10-1 overall record, including a 9-0 RMAC record. CSU Pueblo has won its last eight games, including a 38-21 win over Chadron State back on Nov. 16. The ThunderWolves received a first-round bye last weekend.
As a team, CSU Pueblo is averaging 41.7 points and 472.0 yards of total offense a game this season. The ThunderWolves are averaging 160.3 rushing yards and 311.7 passing yards a game this season.
Howard Russell V leads the CSU Pueblo rushing attack with 1,115 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Emanuel Fincher has tallied 289 yards and four touchdown carries.
Devin Larsen has thrown for 1,705 yards and 16 touchdowns, but has not played since CSU Pueblo's Oct. 19 game vs. Black Hills State. Roman Fuller has thrown for 1,569 yards and 17 touchdowns also.
Reggie Retzlaff leads the ThunderWolves in receiving with 64 catches for 1,169 yards and 12 touchdowns. Taylor Tosches has tallied 769 receiving yards and eight touchdown catches also.
As a unit, the CSU Pueblo defense has allowed 19.8 points and 326.7 yards of total offense a game this season, including 131.3 rushing yards and 195.4 passing yards.
Gary Seidenberger has notched 73 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss, while Makeah Scippio has tallied 28 tackles, including 12.0 for a loss and 9.0 sacks. Kahden Rullo has posted 33 tackles and three interceptions also.
CSU Pueblo is coached by Phillip Vigil who is in his second season as head coach of the ThunderWolves. He owns an 18-4 (.818) record at CSU Pueblo and a 25-19 (.568) career record.
