Box Score
CROOKSTON, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State opened the 2009 season in style jumping out to a 34-0 halftime lead and never looked back in earning a 48-10 victory over Minnesota, Crookston on Saturday afternoon in Crookston, Minn. SMSU, 1-0 overall, 1-0 NSIC, won its seventh season opener in the last eight years and have now won sixth straight over UMC since 2004. UMC falls to 0-1 overall, 0-1 NSIC.
It was game of firsts and a record setting day for SMSU, which won its third straight road game (dating back to last season) for the first time since the 1991 season. SMSU junior transfer quarterback, Ryan Ratekin, making his first career start, completed 16 of 26 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns, while true freshman Gannon Moore rushed for two touchdowns in his first career game. The Mustang defense forced two turnovers in the game including the first career interception for safety Levi Reiff.
Senior punt return man Blake Wilson put his name in the school record book with an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter, setting a record for longest punt return for a score in school history.
Mustang senior running back Zach Wysong also had a solid game in limited action with 99 yards rushing on 12 carries.
Southwest Minnesota State finished the game with 370 yards of offense and 21 first downs, while UMC was limited to 228 yards of offense, including just 68 yards rushing.
SMSU started the game strong taking the opening kickoff and scoring the game's first points driving 43 yards in eight plays and capped the drive with a 34-yard field goal by Lance Schuveiller with 11:01 on the clock.
On the ensuing UMC drive, the SMSU defense forced the season's first turnover as Mustang linebacker Levi Bullerman intercepted UMC quarterback Tim Ennis setting up the SMSU offense near midfield. SMSU took advantage of the turnover just minutes later moving down the field in seven plays and took a 10-0 lead with 6:05 left in the first quarter on a five-yard touchdown run by true freshman Gannon Moore on his first career rushing attempt.
Following a three and out by the UMC offense, SMSU took over at its own 49-yard line and promptly drove down the field and pushed the lead to 17-0 on a Ryan Ratekin to Blake Wilson 11-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter.
After forcing another UMC punt, the SMSU special teams stepped up as Warren Matthews blocked the UMC punt attempt giving SMSU the ball deep in Golden Eagle territory. SMSU back-up quarterback Tyler Peschong made his first appearance of the game and completed his first career pass to Shane LaDage for a 30-yard completion down to the UMC five-yard line. The Mustang offense stalled though settling for a 31-yard field goal by Schuveiller to push the lead to 20-0 with 7:39 left in the opening half.
The Mustang special teams then added to the lead later in the quarter as Blake Wilson returned a UMC punt 80 yards for a touchdown, setting a school record for longest punt return in school history to extend the lead to 27-0 with 3:20 left in the half.
SMSU wasn't finished scoring in the opening half as the Mustang offense took over with just under three minutes left in the half and moved 62 yards on 10 plays and closed the drive on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Ratekin to Bret Ballantine with four seconds left in the half to push the margin to 34-0.
SMSU rolled up 240 yards of offense in the opening half on 36 plays including 76 yards rushing on just 13 attempts.
After a UMC began the second half with a drive that produced three points, the Mustangs responded with two more touchdowns in the third quarter as Moore plowed in from two yards out to give SMSU a 41-3 lead with 6:40 left in the quarter. SMSU capped the scoring with a Ratekin 6-yard scoring strike to Derek Townsend with 1:58 on the clock to build a 48-3 lead.
Reiff, Nic Wagner and Jason Ferhholz each recorded five tackles to lead the SMSU defense.
SMSU opens the 2009 home season next Saturday, Sept. 5 hosting Black Hills State (S.D.) for the third annual Ag Bowl at the Regional Event Center. Kick-off is slated for 6 p.m.
