Mav football beats Wayne State, 55-2
John Laforest
Staff Writer
The No. 1 ranked Mavs continued their winning ways when the football team defeated the Wayne State Wildcats Saturday afternoon at Wayne State.
The Wildcats could simply not matchup with the Mavs on either side of the ball. The Mavericks won the game and with the win, Minnesota State goes to 9-0 on the season, including a 5-0 record in NSIC South Division play. The Wildcats dropped to 2-7 with the loss.
The game started off a little slower than what the score would suggest.
The only score of the first quarter came on Mavs opening drive. The Mavs’ had 65-yard drive in which the team scored off on a 28 yard touchdown pass thrown by Ryan Schlichte to junior Shane Zylstra.
Minnesota State managed to score twice before the end of the half bolstering their lead to 21-0.
Quarterback JD Ekowa connected with Vance Barnes on a 59-yard touchdown pass with 9:32 to go in the second quarter.
Ekowa then connected with sophomore Parker Gloudemans on the two-point conversion attempt.
The Mavericks’ other score came upon a 14-play, 94-yard drive that saw the Mavericks chew up 7:14 on the game clock.
Nate Gunn finished off the drive with a five-yard touchdown.
The Mavs came out the gate strong from the half. Scoring four times in the third quarter and also once in the fourth quarter.
As a team, Minnesota State accumulated 485 yards of offense against the Wildcats. Wayne State was limited to 189 yards of offense, including 24 rushing yards. The Mavs also converted on 8-of-13 attempts on third down, while the Wildcats converted on 3-of-16 attempts on third down and 0-of-4 attempts on fourth down.
The defense deserves strong credit and recognition for shutting the Wildcats down and not allowing an offensive score. Wayne states only score coming on a PAT return in the fourth quarter during garbage time.
As a unit, the Mavs defense notched four sacks and 12 tackles for losses. The Maverick defense picked off three passes two from Cole Schroedermeier.
Keyshawn Davis notched a team-best five tackles and blocked a punt.
Bedale Naba also notched a team-leading three tackles for a loss.
The win was a good one for the Mavs as they look to close the season strong with just two home games remaining in the regular season before the postseason. The team has an overall record of 9-0 and a conference record of 5-0.
Minnesota State returns to Blakeslee Stadium this Saturday, as it hosts the Sioux Falls Cougars. The Cougars are 6-3 on the season and are coming off back-to-back wins. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
Feature photo by Mansoor Ahmad | MSU Reporter.