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MARSHALL, Minn. - Southwest Minnesota State opened the Cory Sauter era in style on Thursday night defeating Northern State 28-24 in the season opener for both teams. Sauter, who served as an assistant coach for the past two seasons, is the fourth Mustang coach in history to win his coaching debut.

SMSU jumped out to a 21-0 third quarter lead only to see NSU rally to trim the score to 21-14 early in the fourth quarter, but the Mustangs put together a 12-play, 76-yard drive to extend the lead to 28-17 with two minutes and 36 seconds and seal the victory.

Ryan Ratekin passed for 333 yards and three touchdowns, while completing 21 of 30 passes. Ratekin's favorite target was Lester Lewis, who had a career night with seven receptions for 156 yards and two touchdowns. Bret Ballantine added five receptions for a career-high 110 yards.

Nick DeCaneva led the SMSU defense with a game-high nine tackles, including one for loss.

Montrel Richardson paced the NSU attack with 100 yards rushing and one touchdown, including a 52-yard touchdown run.

The Mustangs rolled up 485 yards of offense and finished with 22 first downs, but turned the ball over three times. NSU finished the game with 308 yards and was held to just 109 yards rushing. NSU did not have a turnover in the game.

The game was scoreless into the second quarter until the Mustangs were able to score the season's first points. SMSU started the scoring drive from its own 25-yard line and following back-to-back first down runs by Warren Matthews, the offense was set at the SMSU 47-yard line. Ratekin then completed an eight-yard pass to Cal vin Kosminskas before Gannon Moore blasted a 24-yard run down to the NSU 21-yard line. Three plays later, Ratekin then completed the drive with a pass to Lester Lewis, who made a one-handed grab for a 21-yard touchdown reception put SMSU up 7-0 with 6:27 left in the half.

Following a three-and-out by the Mustang defense, the offense responded just before the half with another scoring drive to take a 14-0 lead. Ratekin found Lewis on second-and-eight from the 18-yard line with just 22 seconds remaining in the half to take a 14-point lead into halftime.

SMSU extended the lead to 21-0 early in the third quarter as Ratekin connected with Shane LaDage on a 3-yard touchdown strike with 9:09 left in the third.

NSU answered right back with one of the biggest plays of the game. On its first play following the Mustang score, Joei Fiegler, who replaced starting quarterback Nick Wanner at halftime, connected with Mark Hanley on a 70-yard pass and catch to trim the lead to 21-7 with 8:52 on the clock.

Following a Mustang punt, the Wolves cut into the lead again as Richardson broke free for a 52-yard touchdown run with 4:07 left in the quarter to make the score 21-14.

Ratekin was then intercepted on SMSU's next two possessions and the Wolves took advantage as Thomas Parrott booted a 47-yard field goal with 11:02 left in the contest to cut the SMSU lead to 21-17.

The SMSU offense then answered and answered in a big way putting together its biggest drive of the season. Taking over with 10:55 left in the game, SMSU reeled off 12 plays and moved 76 yards, while taking off eight minutes and 25 seconds, as Gannon Moore plowed through from six yards out to move the lead to 28-17 with just 2:36 remaining.

Northern wouldn't quit on its next drive, converting on a third down and fourth down conversion on the next drive, before Fiegler scrambled in from eight yards out to make the score 28-24 with 1:12 left.
NSU's ensuing on-side kick sailed out-of-bounds and SMSU took over and ran out the clock to earn the victory.

SMSU will open conference play on Saturday, Sept. 11, with a road game at the University of Mary. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m.