BOX SCORE

FAYETTE, Iowa – Southwest Minnesota State used a defensive stand – stopping Upper Iowa on four plays inside the 14-yard line in the game's final two minutes - to earn a 52-48 victory over UIU on Saturday night in Fayette, Iowa.

SMSU improves to 4-4 NSIC, 2-2 NSIC South, while UIU drops to 4-4 NSIC, 1-3 NSIC South.

UIU blocked an SMSU punt with two minutes and 38 seconds left in the fourth quarter and then moved the ball down to the SMSU 14-yard three plays later. Following back-to-back 4-yard runs by Chris Smith moved the ball to the 6-yard line, the SMSU defense stuffed Smith for no gain setting up fourth down. After an UIU penalty moved the ball back to the 11-yard, SMSU's Donovan Woods intercepted Cole Jaeschke in the end zone to secure the victory. It was Woods' team-leading third interception of the season.

SMSU's Tyler Tonderum – who entered the game ranked second in Division II in rushing – piled up a game-high 282 yards rushing and two touchdowns on a school record 50 carries. The previous record was held by Zach Wysong, who rushed 46 times in a win at MSU Moorhead in 2008. Tonderum also set the program single-season record for rushing touchdown with 15, breaking the previous mark of 13 held by Robert Lipsey in 1988 and Gannon Moore in 2009.

Charlie Kern – who missed most of the second half last week due to an injury – completed 25 of 33 pass attempts for 248 yards and four touchdowns. Kern also rushed for 34 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. Britt Wickett caught a team-high eight passes for 68 yards and one touchdown, while Anthony Dean had six receptions for 89 yards and two touchdowns.

SMSU finished the game with 570 yards of offense, including 322 rushing yards. The Mustangs racked up 35 first downs and ran 97 offensive plays. The Mustang offense has now rushed for 2,068 yards on the season, setting a new school single-season record. The 1973 team held the previous record of 1,945 rushing yards.

UIU also had a big offensive game, rolling up 628 yards of offense and 31 first downs.

SMSU opened the game's scoring as Kern connected with Wickett on the Mustangs' opening drive of the game on a 16-yard touchdown pass to give SMSU a 7-0 lead with 9:51 on the clock.

Following punts by both teams, UIU tied the game late in the quarter on a Jaeschke 11-yard touchdown pass to Lucas Hefty.

The Mustangs countered with back-to-back touchdowns to build a two-touchdown lead as Kern fired a 23-yard touchdown pass to Dean late in the first quarter and then found Cody Condon for a 14-yard touchdown to make the score 21-7 with 12:04 left in the first half.

The Peacocks scored on a 2-yard run by Smith to make the score 21-13 and then tied the score on its next possession with Jaeschke firing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Derek Giesking to make 21-21 with 3:11 left following the two-point conversion.

SMSU answered quickly on its next possession with Tonderum completing a 71-yard, 11-play drive with a 1-yard run to make the score 28-21 with 27 seconds left in the half.

UIU wouldn't take a knee to end the half and in two plays tied the game as on the last play of the half Keaton Hosch took a pitch from Giesking on a perfect hook-and-ladder and ran the final 43 yards to tie the game at 28 heading into halftime.

SMSU regained the lead on the first drive of the second half with Lance Schuveiller booting a 26-yard field goal at the 12:42 mark of the third quarter.

The SMSU defense forced UIU to turn the ball over on downs on its next possession and the Mustang offense answered the call with a 79-yard drive as Kern broke free for a 9-yard run on third-and-five to push the lead to 38-28.

Following a 50-yard touchdown pass by Jaeschke to Hefty trimmed the lead to 38-35, SMSU had another big answer as Kern found Dean on a fourth-and-goal from the 27-yard line on the first play of the fourth quarter to extend the lead back to a 10-point margin at 45-35.

The teams then exchanged punts before UIU pulled to within 45-42 midway through the fourth quarter as Jaeschke found Giesking on a 1-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal.

SMSU then answered again with Tonderum breaking free on a 31-yard touchdown run to give SMSU a 52-42 advantage with just 3:41 remaining.

UIU wouldn't quit and made the score 52-48 just 26 seconds and three plays later as Jaeschke found Hefty for a 51-yard touchdown pass with 3:09 remaining. UIU missed the PAT, which proved to be a big factor minutes later.

SMSU took over at the 50-yard line following an on-side kick, but was forced to punt following three rushing attempts. On the ensuing punt attempt, Mike Wenk had his punt blocked and the Peacocks took over first-and-10 at the SMSU 33-yard line with 2:38. UIU earned one first down, before the SMSU defense held strong deep in its own end to seal the victory.

Smith led the UIU offense with 215 yards and one touchdown on 41 attempts, while Jaeschke passed for 396 yards and six touchdowns.

Dashawn Miller racked up a team-high 12 tackles with one for loss, while AJ Page had another strong game with 11 tackles, including two for loss, one sack and two pass break-ups.

Southwest Minnesota State returns home next Saturday, Nov. 2, taking on Winona State (5-3 NSIC, 3-1 NSIC South) for the final home game of the season.