MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State, ranked No. 13 nationally, used a strong rushing attack and strong defense in the red zone to earn a 30-12 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in NSIC football on Saturday afternoon at Blakeslee Stadium.
MSU, which is ranked among the top 10 in this week's region rankings, improves to 8-1 overall, 7-1 NSIC, while SMSU drops it 1-8, 1-7 NSIC. MSU is now 21-0 all-time versus SMSU.
SMSU closed the game with 353 yards of offense and 21 first downs with
Marcus Martin completing 22 of 45 pass attempts for a season-high 277 yards. The 21 first downs are the second highest total of the season for the Mustangs.
Eric Lira caught a career-high nine passes for 87 yards for the Mustangs with teammate
Peter Osman closing with six receptions for a game-high 96 yards.
Colin Maher caught three passes for a career-high 48 yards.
SMSU had pair of great scoring chances in the opening half with first-and-goal on two occasions, however the Mustangs had to settle for a pair of field goals. The Mustangs ended the game 3 of 5 in the red-zone, while the Mavericks were a perfect 5 of 5 in the red-zone.
MSU finished with 400 yards and 23 first downs with Shen Butler Lawson pacing the club with 115 yards rushing on 21 carries. He also caught a touchdown pass from Hayden Ekern, who completed 19 of 32 passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns.
Josiah Hedensten led the Mustang defense with a game-high 11 tackles with
Tate Gaul,
Gideon Ervasti and
Thomas Mergen each recording six tackles.
Jalani Jefferson also had a strong game with four tackles and five pass break-ups.
SMSU started the game strong and scored the game's first points on its second possession as
Carter Dicker booted a 31-yard field goal to cap an 11-play, 44-yard drive. It was a missed chance for the Mustang offense as they had first-and-goal at the 4-yard line, but had to settle for the field goal.
MSU would answer with 16 straight points in the second quarter to build a 16-3 advantage. The Mavericks converted a huge third-and-goal from the 11-yard line on its second touchdown of the half with 1:57 left to take the 13-point lead.
SMSU would answer on its final drive of the half picking up three first downs to set-up first and goal from the 10-yard line with under a minute left, but a sack pushed the Mustangs back to the 21-yard line. SMSU came away with points as Dicker drilled a 38-yard field goal with 14 seconds on the clock to cut the deficit to 16-6 at the break.
MSU added to the lead in the third quarter with Butler Lawson catching a 1-yard touchdown pass with 5:51 remaining. MSU would later put together an 80-yard, 12-play drive that consumed nearly six minutes to seal the victory as Isaiah Emanuel caught an 11-yard touchdown pass on third-and-goal to make the score 30-6 at the 9:28 mark of the fourth quarter. Emanuel led the Mavericks with six receptions for 94 yards.
SMSU would put together its lone touchdown drive of the game later in the fourth as Martin capped off an 11-play, 83-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown sneak on fourth-and-goal.
SMSU will have it final road trip of the season next Saturday, Nov. 4, facing UMary (1-8, 1-7 NSIC) in Bismarck, N.D., with kickoff slated for 12 p.m.
