> Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. - Southwest Minnesota State snapped a three-game losing streak and handed Upper Iowa its first loss of the season with a thrilling 28-25 homecoming victory on Saturday night at the Schwan Regional Event Center.

SMSU (2-4, 1-1 NSIC South) trailed 21-17 in the fourth quarter, but Mustang quarterback Charlie Kern tossed a pair of fourth quarter touchdown passes to Jordan Cross, to give SMSU a 28-17 lead.

UIU (5-1, 1-1 NSIC South) cut the lead to 28-25 and had one final chance to possibly tie the game in the final seconds, but its final drive ended at the SMSU 40-yard line.

Kern completed 18 of 32 pass attempts for 265 yards and three touchdowns, while Nathaniel Huot caught six passes for 113 yards and one touchdown. SMSU had a strong rushing attack with Davontay Stevens (90) and Tyler Tonderum (83) combining for 173 yards on 29 carries, while Tonderum also caught two passes for 57 yards.

SMSU limited UIU running back Chris Smith, who entered the game ranking second in Division II in rushing yards with 167 per game, to 104 yards on 24 carries. Smith broke free for a 55-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, but was held to just 49 yards on his other 23 attempts.

Cole Jaeschke completed 32 of 64 passes for 342 yards to pace the Peacocks, with receiver Derek Giesking catching a game-high 10 passes for 111 yards.

SMSU finished the game with 466 total yards, while UIU finished with 468 yards.

It was another tight game between the two teams with SMSU earning its seventh straight win over UIU dating back to 2008. Six of the victories have been decided by seven or less points, while the last four have been four or less points.

The Mustang defense was paced by Tyler Flud, who recorded 13 tackles and one force fumble. Jared Twedt added 12 tackles, while Andrew McReynolds had 11 tackles and one interception.The Mustang defense had three sacks and racked up 10 pass break-ups. The SMSU defense came up with several big plays in the redzone, stopping a an UIU team that entered the game as the only team in Division II to convert on 100 percentof its opportunities in the redzone. Tonight, the Mustangs held the Peacocks to just two conversions in five chances inside the 20-yard line.

SMSU snapped a scoreless game midway through the opening quarter taking advantage of an UIU turnover. McReynolds intercepted Jaeschke at the SMSU 25-yard line and returned it 40 yards to the UIU 35-yard line. Two penalties on the return forced SMSU to begin the drive at its own 40-yard line, but the Mustang offense wouldn't be denied on their ensuing drive to take the lead.

Stevens had the key play on the drive, ripping off a 41-yard run down to the UIU 7-yard line. Two plays later Kern broke free for a 7-yard touchdown run to make the score 7-0.

UIU tied the game just two minutes later as Trey MacTaggart returned a Mike Wenk punt 91 yards for a touchdown and tie the game at 7-7 with 5:07 left in the first quarter.

SMSU turned the ball over on downs on its next possession as UIU stuffed Kern on a fourth-and-one from the SMSU 45-yard line.

Despite gaining great field position, UIU had to settle for a Tim Rueb 31-yard field goal with 2:01 left in the quarter to take a 10-7 lead.

SMSU countered midway through the second quarter to regain the lead as Kern, facing second-and-27, connected with Huot on a 64-yard touchdown pass to give the Mustangs a 14-10 lead into halftime.

The Mustangs appeared to add to the margin on the first play of the second half as Tonderum ripped off a 63-yard touchdown run, but the score was nullified by an illegal block and was forced to punt three plays later.

Smith and the Peacocks answered on its first dive of the half, as the senior scored on a 55-yard touchdown run to make the score 17-14.

The teams exchanged several punts for the remainder of the quarter, before the SMSU defense came through with one of the biggest plays to start the fourth quarter. Facing third-and-five from the SMSU 12-yard line, Jaeschke completed a 10-yard pass to Shay Gutman down to the 2-yard line, but Gutman was stripped off the ball by Flud and Max Mattila recovered at the 2-yard line ending the scoring threat.

The Mustangs then put together its most impressive drive of the season. SMSU converted a pair of third downs, including a Kern to Tonderum 53-yard pass to push the ball down to the UIU 23-yard line. Kern closed the drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Cross on third-and-six, to cap an 11-play, 98-yard drive and put SMSU back in front at 21-17 with 8:37 remaining.

SMSU forced a three-and-out on UIU's next possession and then promptly extended the lead moments later as Kern found Cross open on a 24-yard touchdown pass to make the score 28-17 with 6:05 left in the game.

UIU wouldn't go away and cut into the lead with just over three minutes left as Vincent Otdoerfer scored on a 1-yard run and following the two-point conversion, the lead was 28-25.

SMSU picked up one first down on its next drive, but was forced to punt with 1:30 left on the clock, as Wenk pinned UIU at its own 5-yard line.

The Peacocks came through with four first downs and had first-and-10 from the SMSU 40-yard line with 21 second left, but three incomplete passes set up the game's final play with eight seconds left. Jacob Levtzow then busted through the UIU offensive line and sacked Jaeschke to close out SMSU's seventh straight win over UIU.

Alex Wahl had a standout game for UIU with 15 tackles, including three for loss and two sacks.

Southwest Minnesota State returns to the road next weekend playing undefeated University of Sioux Falls (6-0, 2-0 NSIC South) with kickoff set for 12 p.m. It's the third straight game and fourth time this season SMSU will be facing an undefeated team.