PUEBLO, Colo. --- It proved to be another dramatic finish for the Minnesota State football team Saturday afternoon as the Mavericks rallied for 20 points in the fourth quarter to defeat CSU Pueblo 26-23.

With the win, MSU improves to 10-3 on the season and will now host Bemidji State in the third round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 7. Kickoff is to be determined by the NCAA Division II football playoff committee. With the loss, CSU Pueblo finishes its season with a 10-2 record.

Through the first three quarters, neither defense allowed an offensive touchdown as the ThunderWolves led 16-6 heading into the fourth quarter.

MSU's two scores in the first three quarter came via field goals from senior Matthew Jaeger from 29 and 41 yards out. CSU Pueblo's Jacob Willig connected on three field goals from 46, 24 and 27 yards out, while Makeah Scippio returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown.

On their first drive in the fourth quarter, the Maverick offense finally reached pay dirt as they went 63 yards down field, including a 36-yard touchdown pass from senior Hayden Ekern to senior Grant Guyett to cut CSU Pueblo's lead to 16-13 with 9:40 to go. MSU then recovered a surprise onside kick on the following kickoff to take over on the CSU Pueblo 44. Six plays later, the Mavericks took a 20-16 lead after Ekern notched a 15-yard rushing touchdown.

Not to be outdone, CSU Pueblo put together a six-play touchdown drive of its own that was capped off by a 16-yard pass from Roman Fuller to Howard Russell V to put the ThunderWolves back up 23-20 with 4:02 to go.

Trailing by three, Minnesota State again worked its way down field, including a 20-yard pass from Ekern to senior Gabe Hagen on fourth down, before reach the CSU Pueblo 23. Jaeger again stepped in and connected on his third field goal of the day, this time from 40 yards out, to tie the game at 23-23 with 1:00 to go in the fourth quarter.

With :55 to go after the kick return to the CSU Pueblo 25, the ThunderWolves tried to respond, but on their second play of the drive freshman Cade Stingle intercepted a pass from Fuller and brought the ball up to the CSUP 22 with 42 seconds to go. Three plays later, the Mavericks moved the ball up to the CSUP 15 with five seconds to go. CSU Pueblo tried to ice Jaeger, but the timeout made no difference as Jaeger put MSU up 26-23 with a 32-yard field goal with :01 to go.

CSU Pueblo's Reece Robinson was able to return the following kickoff to the MSU 35 before the Mavericks would bring him down to lock up the 26-23 win.

Ekern finished his day throwing for 212 yards and a touchdown. Seven Mavericks caught at least one pass in the game, including Hagen who notched 76 receiving yards. Guyett added 66 receiving yards and a touchdown also.

Freshman Sam Backer led the Maverick rushing attack with 65 yards, while Ekern finished with 59 yards and a touchdown. Senior Christian Vasser recorded 50 rushing yards also.

Junior Karson Dunn led the Maverick defense with 10 tackles, while senior Khai West tallied eight tackles. Sophomore Gage Tennyson added seven tackles as well.