Box Score

MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State snapped a 14-14 game scoring 21 points in the final 15 minutes to earn a 35-20 victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Thursday night at Blakeslee Stadium in NSIC football.
 
MSU (6-2, 3-1 NSIC South) took advantage of several SMSU missed opportunities in the second half to improve to 15-0 all-time in the series. SMSU dropped its third straight game and falls to 4-4, 1-3 NSIC South.
 
SMSU's 20-point was its lowest of the season and lowest since scoring 17 last season versus Minnesota State on Oct. 31.
 
With the game tied 14-14 at halftime, SMSU had the ball three times deep in MSU territory in the third quarter, including twice inside the red-zone, but failed to score each time. SMSU entered the game scoring on 28 of 30 possessions in the red-zone through seven games.
 
SMSU finished tonight with 358 yards of offense with 24 first downs, while MSU closed game with 410 total yards and 23 first downs. Both teams committed three turnovers. The SMSU defense has now forced 20 turnovers on the season and for the fifth time forced three or more turnovers.
 
Max Simmons led SMSU with a career-high 140 yards and two touchdowns on a career-high 28 carries. It was his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season.
 
SMSU quarterback Blake Gimbel finished the game completing 30 of 45 passes for 245 yards and one touchdown, but was intercepted once and fumbled twice. Gabriel Galamue finished with a game-high nine receptions for 86 yards and one touchdown.
 
MSU scored the game's first points, taking the opening kickoff and moving 65 yards on eight plays, as Ricky Lloyd found Erik Fuller for an 8-yard touchdown pass with 12 minutes and three seconds left in the first quarter.
 
It remained 7-0 until late in the first quarter as when SMSU's Wes Bednar intercepted Lloyd at the SMSU 21-yard line. The Mustang offense answered, picking up five first downs, moving the ball down to the MSU 3-yard line following a pass interference call on the Mavericks. One play later, Gimbel found Galamue open in the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7, following Gimbel's PAT. The 15-play drive was the second longest for SMSU—for plays—this season.
 
MSU came right back on its next drive as back-up quarterback Ryan Schlichte found Ty Dennis open for a 28-yard touchdown pass on third-and-12 to put the Mavericks back on top, 14-7, with 11:21 left in the second quarter.
 
SMSU answered with another impressive drive, moving 68 yards on seven plays, with Simmons capping the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run at the 8:46 mark.
 
SMSU had several chances to take the lead in the third quarter, but failed to score on three possessions inside the MSU 27-yard line. The Mustangs turned the ball over on downs on at the MSU 14-yard line on their first drive of the half. Following a three-and-out by MSU, SMSU moved the ball to the 11-yard line, but Gimbel was stripped at MSU 19-yard line to end the drive. After another three-and-out by MSU, the Mustangs picked up one first down, but later would turn the ball on downs at the MSU 27-yard line.
 
MSU was finally able to break through on its third drive of the half moving the ball 73 yards on nine plays with Lloyd closing the drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Shane Zylstra on third-and-nine to put MSU ahead 21-14 after three quarters.
 
Following punts by both squads, SMSU had great field position again, taking over near midfield with 11 minutes remaining, but was stopped moments later on fourth-and-1 at the MSU 41-yard line. Just two plays later, Lloyd connected with Brent Esser on a 23-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 28-14 at the 8:35 mark.
 
Gimbel was stripped sack on the ensuing SMSU drive and MSU recovered at the Mustang 19-yard line. Just four plays later the Mavericks made the score 35-14 on a Lloyd 6-yard touchdown pass to Erik Fuller.
 
SMSU would come back with another scoring drive as Simmons sprinted free for a 27-yard touchdown run to make the score 35-20 after a blocked PAT. Simmons now has 13 touchdowns in seven games this season.
 
Tyler Flud had a team-high 11 tackles and one fumble recovery for the Mustangs, while Bednar and Alex Ney each had eight stops.
 
Lloyd finished 19 of 26 passing for 229 yards and four touchdowns to pace the Mavericks offense.
 
Southwest Minnesota State returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 29, taking on Concordia-St. Paul with kickoff slated for 1 p.m. at the Schwan Regional Event Center in Marshall.