BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. – Northern State used several big offensive plays and forced three Southwest Minnesota State turnovers to earn a 30-17 non-conference victory on Thursday night in Aberdeen, S.D.

SMSU finished the game with 407 yards of offense and 22 first downs, but SMSU was just 3-of-5 inside the NSU 20-yard line in have its three-game winning streak over NSU snapped.

Nick Wanner led NSU completing 10 of 12 passes for 183 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 32 yards.

The NSU defense forced three interceptions on SMSU's first three drives of the second half to build a 24-10 lead.

Warren Matthews led the SMSU offense with 94 yards rushing on 12 carries, but had just two yards in the second half. Gannon Moore also had a solid game for SMSU rushing for 70 yards on just eight attempts.

SMSU quarterback Tyler Peschong, making his second career start, completed 18 of 34 passes for 208 yards and one touchdown, but was intercepted once. Peschong left the game for one series in the third with an injury and was replaced by Charlie Kern, who completed 1 of 3 passes with one interception in his limited time.

Anthony Dean finished with five receptions for 57 yards and one touchdown to lead SMSU receivers.

Lawson Starr paced the Mustang defense with 10 tackles, including one for loss. Joe Stupka and John Kersbergen each added seven tackles.

NSU jumped on the board first taking the opening drive and moving 80 yards in eight plays capped by an 8-yard touchdown run by Kristin James with 10 minutes and 43 seconds left in the opening quarter to build a 7-0 lead.

SMSU missed a great chance to tie the game early in the second quarter, moving the ball down to the NSU 3-yard line setting up first-and-goal, but the Wolves defense stopped SMSU on downs to keep its seven-point lead.

The SMSU defense then forced a three-and-out by the NSU offense and the Mustang offense was able to take advantage to score its first points of the season. Gannon Moore put SMSU in scoring position with a 47-yard run on the first play of the drive, but again the NSU defense stiffened inside the 10-yard line and forced Mike Wenk to connect on a 24-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3 with 9:04 left. The field goal was SMSU's first since the final game of the 2009 season.

NSU answered back in a big way on its next possession to push its lead to 14-3 midway through the quarter. NSU quarterback Nick Wanner connected on a 59-yard pass to Chris Morton on the first play of the drive moving the ball down to the 1-yard line. Two plays later James ran around the right side for his second touchdown of the game to extend the Wolves' margin.

SMSU had an answer of its own three minutes later as the Mustang offense moved 80 yards on seven plays with Tyler Peschong closing the drive with a 9-yard touchdown run with 4:47 left in the half to cut the NSU lead to 14-10.

Northern State moved the ball down to the SMSU 9-yard line on its next possession, but SMSU's Mark Schollmeyer recorded a big sack to help stall the drive and force NSU to attempt a field goal. Despite the sac, NSU's Felipe Alfaia came through and booted a 39-yard field goal with 1:18 left in the half to make the score 17-10.

The Mustang offense put together another solid drive in the final minute, moving the ball down to the NSU 12-yard line, but three straight incomplete passes ended the drive and Wenk ended the half missing a 29-yard field goal.

SMSU finished the first half moving the ball inside the NSU 20-yard line four times, but scored just 10 points, while racking up 279 yards of offense.

SMSU turned the ball over twice to open the second half and the Wolves took advantage. Peschong's second interception of the third quarter set up NSU at the SMSU 11-yard line and Wanner lofted a perfect 11-yard pass to Morton to give NSU a 24-10 lead with 7:29 on the clock.

NSU maintained the lead until late in the third quarter when the SMSU special teams stepped up with a big play. Redshirt freshman Tyler Tonderum stormed through and blocked an NSU punt to give SMSU the ball at the NSU 34-yard line. Peschong, who missed one drive in the third quarter with an injury and was replaced by Charlie Kern, then moved the team down the field and capped the drive with a 5-yard touchdown strike to Anthony Dean with 14:55 left in the fourth quarter to make the score 24-17.

Northern State, as they did most of the night, had an answer of its own and put together a key 80-yard, 7-play drive finished off with an 11-yard touchdown run by Aaron Mayo to push the lead to 30-17 with 11:16 remaining following a missed PAT.

SMSU moved the ball past the 50-yard line twice in the fourth quarter but was unable to score, turning the ball over on downs both times.

SMSU will open the 2011 home season on Saturday, Sept. 10, taking on the University of Mary at the Regional Event Center starting at 5 p.m. The game will close out 2011 Ag Bowl activities.