MARSHALL, Minn. – Minot State forced six turnovers and scored four defensive touchdowns to spoil Southwest Minnesota State's season opener earning a 42-9 victory at The Schwan Regional Event Center on Saturday night.
 
MSU, now 2-0 overall, scored its first defensive touchdown on a fumble recovery early in the first quarter and then returned three interceptions for touchdowns, including two in the second half to seal the victory.
 
SMSU, 0-1, finished the game with 360 yards of offense, including 241 yards rushing, but closed the game converting just 1 on 9 on third-down. Jacob Honstetter rushed for a game-high 94 yards on 13 carries for the Mustangs, while teammate Zander Wolf added 65 yards on nine carries.
 
Wyatt Oak started at quarterback for SMSU and closed the game completing 5 of 13 for 88 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions. Kendon Krogman entered the game late in the third quarter and complete 5 of 8 pass attempts for 31 yards with two interceptions.
 
Jake Anderson and Erik Vedoy each had two receptions for the Mustangs.
 
Gideon Ervasti racked up a game-high 11 tackles for the Mustangs, while Thomas Mergen added 10 tackles.
 
MSU punted on the first drive of the game, but its defense came through moments later. Following a first down during SMSU's opening drive, Oak was stripped following a 2-yard gain with MSU's Ike Mikaele scooping up the ball and returning it 43 yards for the game's first touchdown.
 
SMSU answered on its next possession with three first downs, but had to settle for a 42-yard field goal by Nathan Stearns at the 4:08 mark of the opening quarter.
 
MSU added to the lead on its next drive with Erik Palmquist scoring on a 14-yard run on the first play of the second quarter.
 
Honstetter broke off a 55-yard run on the first play of SMSU's next drive moving the ball to the MSU 20-yard line, but on third and six from the 16-yard line, Oak was intercepted by Nalu Cordeiro, who returned the turnover 92 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 21-3.
 
SMSU cut the deficit on its next drive as Oak connected on a 55-yard touchdown pass to Colin Maher with 10:06 left in the half to make the score 21-9 following a missed PAT.
 
Trailing 21-9 at halftime, SMSU started its second drive of the third quarter at midfield, but on second down, Oak fumbled with MSU recovering at the SMSU 45-yard line. The Beavers would later miss a 33-yard field goal to keep the score at 21-9, but on the Mustangs' next play, Oak was intercepted at the 29-yard line with Cordeiro sprinting into the end zone for his second pick-six of the game.
 
Palmquist would add a 29-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter before MSU added another interception return for a touchdown late in the game with Deuce Carr returning Krogman pass 65 yards for a score.
 
SMSU hits the road next Saturday, Sept. 14, with a match-up versus Bemidji State with kickoff slated for 2 p.m.