Football wins on road
Aaron Young
Staff Writer
It looks to be that no one can stop the Minnesota State Maverick football team, as the Mavs defeated Bemidji State 47-20 this past weekend to continue their unbeaten season.
The game started out slow for the Mavs with a field goal from each team, but then the Mavericks began stomping their way to victory soon after.
Senior kicker Casey Bednarski kicked a pair of field goals for the Mavs, making it a 6-3 lead for the Mavs early on in the half.
Junior wideout Shane Zylstra had another impressive showing, catching the first touchdown of the game after an 18-yard pass from QB Ryan Schlichte in the 2nd quarter.
Zylstra now has 10 TD on the year, 741 yards and almost 40 receptions on the season.
The only response the Beavers had the rest of the half was a field goal, making it 20-6 at halftime.
In the 3rd quarter, the Mavericks exploded, scoring three touchdowns.
Junior tailback Nate Gunn had the first touchdown of the half for the Mavs, rushing the ball in from three yards out, putting the Mavs up, 27-6.
WR Justin Arnold caught a 75-yard pass from Ryan Schlichte, on the first play of the following drive to increase the Mavs lead, 34-6.
Later, backup J.D Ekowa caught connected with sophomore wideout Parker Gloudemans to put the Mavericks up 41-13.
After an explosive third quarter, the Mavs slowed down the pace.
The only points put up on the board for the team the rest of the way were from the leg of Bednarski. He kicked the ball through the uprights twice to increase the Mavericks lead to 47-13.
One last gasp for Bemidji State came with 3:56 left in the game.
Bemidji St. QB Alec Ogden threw to wideout Jacob Anderson for a Beavers touchdown in the 4th to settle the score at 47-20.
Schlichte had another impressive game for the Mavs, passing for 176 yards on 10 passes and throwing for 3 TD’s on the day, with backup QB J.D Ekowa also having a passing TD of his own on the day.
The running game for the Mavericks continues to be a driving force towards the Mavericks success, as Nate Gunn ran for 187 yards and a TD on the day.
With three games left in the season, the Mavericks came into the year to prove they are the team to beat. Now at 8-0, they look to Wayne State to become 9-0.
Feature photo by Mansoor Ahmad | MSU Reporter.