Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. – No. 7 ranked Minnesota State scored 35 unanswered points in the second and third quarters to build a 35-3 lead and went on to earn a 55-17 victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday afternoon at the Schwan Regional Event Center.
 
MSU (8-1 NSIC, 4-1 NSIC South), ranked No. 6 in this week's NCAA region rankings, is now 14-0 all-time versus SMSU. SMSU (6-3 NSIC, 2-3 NSIC South) entered the game ranked No. 8 in the NCAA region rankings.
 
MSU quarterback Nick Pieruccini completed 22 of 28 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 53 yards and three touchdowns. Brent Esser caught six passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns for Mavericks.
 
SMSU quarterback Blake Gimbel, who entered the game completing 68 percent of his passes this season with just two interceptions, completed 24 of 40 pass attempts today for 253 yards and three interceptions with one touchdown pass.
 
SMSU's Nate Huot led all receivers with eight receptions for 104 yards and one touchdown. It was his third 100-yard receiving game this season. SMSU—which was held to 51 yards rushing through three quarters—finished the game with 133 yards on the ground. Divonte Beale led the team with a game-high 82 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries, all coming in the final quarter.
 
MSU finished the game with 460 yards of offense and 23 first downs. SMSU was limited to 389 yards of offense, marking just the second time this season it was held to less than 400 yards. The Mustangs entered the game ranking first in Division II in first downs, but was held to just 22 on Saturday.
 
The teams played to a scoreless first quarter as MSU was forced to punt on all three of its possessions, while SMSU punted on its first two drives.
 
SMSU was able to break through early in the second quarter with a pair of big pass plays. Facing third-and-two from their own 33-yard line, Gimbel connected on a 20-yard pass reception to Vernel Wingate to keep the drive alive. Later in the drive, SMSU converted a fourth-and-five from the MSU 30-yard line as Gimbel found Tommy Steidler for a 25-yard reception down to the Mavericks' 5-yard line. The drive stalled however and SMSU settled for a 21-yard field goal by Austin Wells to take a 3-0 lead.
 
MSU answered right back following a 24-yard kickoff return by Esser to set up the offense near midfield. A 45-yard pass reception from Pieruccini to Ty Dennis on the first play of the drive moved the ball to the SMSU 5-yard line. Two plays later Pieruccini scored on a 2-yard run to give MSU a 7-0 lead with 12 minutes and 35 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
 
SMSU turned the ball over on downs at the MSU 32-yard line on its next drive and the Mavericks countered with another score to add to the lead. Pieruccini capped the scoring drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Esser to make the score 14-3 with 6:12 remaining in the half.
 
Following another SMSU punt, MSU took over with 3:22 left in the half at its own 16-yard line. On the ensuing drive, the Mavericks converted three third-down conversions to move the ball to the SMSU 22-yard line. After an 8-yard run, Pieruccini tossed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Esser with 10 seconds left in the half to give MSU a 21-3 halftime advantage.
 
SMSU went three-and-out on its opening drive of the second half and MSU responded with a seven-play, 60-yard drive, including converting on a pair of third-down conversions. Pieruccini capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to make the score 28-3.
 
Gimbel was then intercepted by Josh Gordon on SMSU's next possession, setting up the MSU offense at the SMSU 15-yard line. One play later Pieruccini broke free for a 15-yard touchdown scamper to build a 35-3 lead.
 
SMSU cut into the lead later in the third as Gimbel found Huot for a 6-yard touchdown reception making the score 35-10.
 
Pieruccini added a touchdown pass on the final play of the third quarter, before the Mavericks added another touchdown run early in the fourth quarter pushing the lead to 48-10. MSU later in the quarter blocked an SMSU punt and recovered in the end zone for a touchdown to expand the margin to 55-10.
 
SMSU closed the scoring late in the game on a Beale 1-yard touchdown run to cap a 13-play, 86-yard drive.
 
MSU finished the game 9 of 14 on third-down conversions, while SMSU was 7 of 17.
 
Gordon led the MSU defense with seven tackles, including 2.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks to go along with his interception.
 
Caleb Leichtnam recorded a game-high 10 tackles to pace SMSU.
 
Southwest Minnesota State returns to action on Nov. 7 with a road contest versus Concordia-St. Paul (1-8 NSIC, 0-5 NSIC South) starting at 12 p.m.