WACO, Texas – Coming off a 35-17 victory over Northern State, the Minnesota State football team remained fourth in the newest American Football Coaches Association Top 25, announced Monday. 
 
The Mavericks and Northern State battled on Saturday at Blakeslee Stadium in a match up of the final two unbeaten teams in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.  NSU scored the opening touchdown on the first drive of the game, marking the first time MSU had trailed all season.  From there, however, it was all Mavericks as they scored 28 of the next 31 points – all in the second quarter for a 28-10 lead at halftime.  Despite the nation's second-leading rusher in Hank Kraft running for 154 yards and a touchdown, the Maverick "D" forced NSU into three interceptions all in the fourth quarter.
 
Ferris State remains atop the poll as it was idle last week, while Harding is second again this week, followed by Kutztown, MSU and Colorado State Pueblo rounds out the top five in no changes from last week.  Grand Valley State remained sixth, followed by Northwest Missouri State, Western Colorado and Findlay held steady at ninth.  Slippery Rock moved up one spot from 11^th to tenth this week.    Minnesota Duluth, following its 9-6 win over Winona State, moved from 14^th to 13^th, while Augustana used a 45-21 win over MSU Moorhead to remain 20^th.  Northern State is still among others receiving votes following the loss to MSU.  Click here for the AFCA poll.
 
In the D2Football.com Top 25, the Mavericks held steady at third this week, behind Ferris State and Harding, respectively.  In that poll, Minnesota Duluth is 12^th, while Augustana is 16^th among teams in the NSIC.  Click here for the D2Football.com poll.
 
The Mavericks (4-0, 3-0 NSIC) return to the road this week as they travel to Sioux Falls for a 1 p.m. kick on Saturday.  The Cougars (3-1, 3-0 NSIC) held a 34-3 lead with under ten minutes left in the third quarter at University of Mary on Saturday and then hung on for a 40-34 win in overtime against the Marauders.  
 
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