BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – A memorable playoff run came to an end for No. 21 Minnesota State football on Saturday as the Mavericks fell to No. 1 Ferris State 52-29 in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals at Top Taggart Field. The Mavericks carried a lead into the second quarter, but in the end, the two-time defending national champions extended their current win streak to 28 straight games.
 
The Mavericks stopped Ferris State on third down on the game's opening drive in the red zone and kicker Eddie Jewett split the uprights from 23 yards for the Bulldogs.
 
Sam Backer countered out of the backfield for the Mavericks with a 45-yard run. Mitchell Thompson came up inches from the goal line on third down, then went airborne to score his 10^th rushing touchdown of the season. Kicker Connor Fournier made it 7-3.
 
Chase Carter completed a pass to Brett Taariik from the six yard line to give Ferris State the lead back at the 10:03 mark of the second quarter. An extra point made it 10-7 FSU.
 
Justin Payoute intercepted Thompson on the ensuing drive for Ferris State and the Bulldogs turned it into seven points after Chase Carter ran into the end zone from 15 yards and a 17-7 score. Carter scored a second rushing touchdown 6:03 before halftime for a 24-7 edge.
 
Needing momentum, the Mavericks moved the chains on third and 20 when Thompson completed a pass to senior Grant Guyette for 21 yards. Thompson rushed into the end zone from the two yard line and Fournier made it 24-14 with under two minutes to play.
 
The teams exchanged turnovers before heading to the locker room. Max Sheridan, already with a third down open field tackle on third down in the first quarter, recovered a Ferris State fumble at the 49 yard line but Payoute grabbed his second interception for the Bulldogs.
 
Amaun Williams provided a spark in the third quarter with a 96 yard interception for a touchdown, his third interception of the season. Fournier tacked on the extra point and the Mavericks cut the deficit to 24-21.
 
FSU quarterback Carson Gulker ran seven yards up the middle to make it a two score game again 31-21 to the 2:37 mark of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Brady Rose made a 41-yard catch and run for a 38-21 lead. Grant Guyette scored and a two-point conversion cut the deficit back to 18 points with 3:16 to play but the Bulldogs outscored MSU 20-8 over the final 10 minutes.
 
Backer led MSU's ground game with seven attempts and 47 yards. Thompson finished with 12 completions on 23 attempts for 151 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Quarterback Maximus Sims also returned from injury and completed two passes for 14 yards.
 
Carter netted 149 yards rushing for FSU. He also completed 15 passes for 175 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
 
The Mavericks defeated No. 12 Findlay in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs and No. 8 Indianapolis in the second round last weekend but their hopes to achieve three playoff road victories in a single season for the first time in program history came up short on Saturday. Minnesota State finished the 2025 campaign 10-4 overall, 7-3 in NSIC play.