MARSHALL, Minn. -- Minnesota State forced Southwest Minnesota State into eight turnovers and racked up 561 yards of offense in earning a 52-0 victory on Saturday afternoon in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football at the Schwan Regional Event Center.
 
MSU, which is now 19-0 all-time versus SMSU, recorded five interceptions and recovered three fumbles as SMSU tied a school record with eight turnovers. It's the first time SMSU has been shutout since losing to MSU 38-0 in 2011.
 
MSU, now 6-4 overall, 2-3 NSIC South, used a game-high 10 receptions for 183 yards and two touchdowns by Jalen Sample to earn the victory. MSU used three quarterbacks in the game with starter JD Ekowa completing 9 of 13 for 139 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Hayden Ekern passed for 128 yards on 11 of 19 pass attempts for 128 yards and two touchdowns.
 
SMSU, which closed the game with 362 yards of total offense, despite missing three starters on the offensive line and its top two running backs, falls to 2-8 overall, 1-4 NSIC South. True freshman Donald Austin rushed for a team-high 76 yards on 10 carries which included a 58-yard rush. Andrew Haidet completed 13 of 29 pass attempts for 150 yards and was intercepted three times. Steven Nava played in the second half and completed 12 of 24 passes for 114 yards and two interceptions. The SMSU offense finished the game 0 for 3 inside the red zone.
 
The Mustang defense was led by Onte Burns with nine tackles including six solo stops. Marshawn Reese had six solo tackles and finished with eight total. Adihia Bell forced a fumble, had one interception, and recorded four solo tackles.
 
MSU opened the game's scoring on the first drive of the game with Ekowa connecting with Sample on a 46-yard touchdown pass on the game's fifth play of the game.
 
MSU scored on its next drive with Ekern tossing an 11-yard pass to Sample midway through the first quarter to make the score 14-0.
 
Shaylar Burnell set-up the SMSU offense with a 39-yard kickoff return up to the SMSU 44-yard line. Following a Haidet third-down, 15-yard pass to Zeke Robinson for a first-down at the MSU 38-yard line, Blake Allen gained 11 yards via rush on the ensuing play but was stripped and the Mavericks recovered at the MSU 27-yard line.
 
Following an MSU punt, the SMSU offense moved to the MSU 43-yard line but Contae Cason was stripped and MSU recovered for its second turnover of the game.
 
The Mavericks converted a fourth-and-short from the SMSU 11-yard on the first play of the second quarter and one play later Ekowa found Tony Anger for a 7-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 21-0.
 
SMSU would go three-and-out on its next drive and MSU answered with Ekern completing a 10-yard scoring strike to Nyles Williams to push the lead to 28-0 with 9:31 left in the second.
 
Haidet would lead the Mustangs down the field on their next drive, including connecting on a 50-yard pass to BJ Phillips and a 9-yard pass to Dustin Pampel, down to the MSU 14-yard line. Disaster would strike for the Mustangs two plays later as Haidet was stripped sacked by Maven Kretche, who also recovered the loose ball to end the scoring threat.
 
The SMSU defense forced a punt following the turnover and the Mustang offense would rack up three first downs setting up first-and-10 from the MSU 25-yard line. But once again, the MSU defense would make a play as Terrell Jennings intercepted Haidet in the end-zone to keep the shutout in place.
 
MSU would move 74 yards on 12 plays to end the half with Luke Williams booting a 23-yard field goal to make the score 31-0 at halftime.
 
Austin opened the second half with a 58-yard run down to the MSU 20-yard line, but the Mustangs turned the ball over on downs to end the scoring threat.
 
The SMSU defense came through and forced its first turnover of the game as Bell hit the ball loose from Christian Vasser and SMSU's Anthony Sola recovered at the MSU 25-yard line. Unfortunately, three plays later Haidet was intercepted at the MSU 18-yard line.
 
MSU would extend the margin to 38-0 after three quarters of play following a Micah Cooper touchdown run.
 
Bell would intercept Ekowa on the second play of the fourth quarter at the SMSU 3-yard line, but two plays later Haidet was intercepted and MSU was set-up with firs-down at the SMSU 5-yard line. Ekern would score on a 1-yard run four plays later to make the lead 45-0. MSU ended the scoring with Nic Vinson intercepting Nava and returning the pass 87 yards for a pick-six touchdown.
 
SMSU turned the ball over one final time as Nava's final pass of the game was intercepted in the end-zone for the eighth turnover of the game.
 
Southwest Minnesota State closes the season next Saturday, Nov. 13, with a road match-up versus regionally ranked Augustana in Sioux Falls, S.D., with kickoff set for 1 p.m.