Box Score
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Southwest Minnesota State snapped a five-game losing streak behind a season-high 192 yards rushing on 26 attempts from Zach Wysong to earn a 34-10 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory over Northern State on Saturday in Aberdeen, S.D.
The victory for SMSU was its first in Aberdeen since 1990, breaking a seven-game losing streak. SMSU with the victory is 4-6 overall, 3-6 NSIC, while NSU drops to 2-8 overall, 2-7 NSIC.
The Mustang offense finished with 499 yards offense, including a season-high 259 yards rushing. It was SMSU's third game of 400-plus yards of offense this season and its seventh game of scoring at least 30 points this year.
The points allowed by the SMSU defense was the third time this season SMSU has limited an opponent to 10 points or less this season. NSU was limited to 310 yards on offense, including 91 yards rushing on 36 attempts.
SMSU quarterback Ryan Ratekin completed 16 of 20 pass attempts for 240 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. The SMSU defense was led by Levi Reiff with nine tackles and one interception.
SMSU opened the game with a punt on its opening drive despite starting near midfield following a 45-yard kickoff return by Warren Matthews.
NSU picked up three first downs on its opening drive moving the ball into SMSU territory. The Mustang defense then made the game's first big play of the game as Levi Reiff intercepted NSU quarterback Joei Fiegler and returned the interception 71 yards setting up the SMSU offense deep at the NSU 23-yard line.
The Mustang offense took advantage of the short field with Ryan Ratekin completing a six-yard touchdown pass to Warren Matthews on third-and-goal to give SMSU a 7-0 lead with 1:06 left in the opening quarter.
NSU answered with a 12-play, 34-yard drive capped by a Thomas Parrott 43-yard field goal with 1:06 left in the quarter to trim the lead to 7-3.
SMSU extended the lead on its next possession with Zach Wysong breaking free on a 33-yard touchdown run with 14:10 remaining in the half to cap a 4-play, 54-yard drive to make the lead 13-3 in favor of SMSU following a missed PAT.
The NSU came back on its next driving moving the ball down to the SMSU 3-yard line, but the Mustang defense forced an incomplete pass, a tackle for loss and a sack by Aaron Diggs to force a 33-yard field goal attempt by Parrott. SMSU's Randy Erickson then broke through the NSU line to block his third field goal of the season and keep SMSU with a 10-point lead.
The SMSU offense then used the momentum to march down the field with Ratekin completing a 19-yard touchdown pass to Lester Lewis to extend the lead to 20-3 with 1:17 left in the half. Lewis' touchdown reception was the first of his career and capped an eight-play, 87-yard drive.
The NSU special teams then responded with a long return by Brian Jark setting up the Wolves' offense at the SMSU 23-yard line. NSU scored its first touchdown of the day two plays later on a Fiegler 23-yard touchdown pass to John Migdal with 55 seconds remaining in the half.
The Mustang offense finished the first half with 248 yards on 23 plays with Wysong racking 89 yards on 11 carries. Ratekin completed 9 of 11 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
Northern State nearly cut into the SMSU lead late in the third quarter driving 83 yards down to the SMSU 3-yard line, but a fumble on a hand off attempt on second-and-goal was recovered by SMSU's Matt Carmody at the 8-yard line to stop the NSU scoring threat.
For the second time in the game, the Mustang offense was able to take advantage of the turnover putting together one of its best drives of the season marching 91 yards on 14 plays capped by a Gannon Moore six-yard touchdown with 8:22 left in the game. The scoring drive took seven minutes off the clock and pushed SMSU's lead to 27-10.
The SMSU defense then forced a three-and-out and the Mustang offense put together another impressive drive to seal the victory moving 87 yards on 12 plays with Moore cruising in from 12 yards out to extend the lead to 34-10 with 1:46 remaining in the game. It was Moore's second rushing touchdown of the game and his team leading 11th score of the season.
SMSU will conclude the 2009 season next Saturday, Nov. 7, hosting MSU Moorhead for Senior Day at the Regional Event Center. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
