Maverick football tackles UMary in record-breaking fashion
Andrew Neururer
Sports Editor
The Minnesota State football team broke the school’s record in points scored in a game after they rolled over the University of Mary Marauders 74-17.
The Mavericks got off to a quick start offensively and defensively, as junior Cade Johnson took it to the house with a pick-six interception, just 13 seconds into the game.
UMary would answer back with a touchdown of their own a few minutes later, bringing the score to a tie at 7-7.
Senior Ryan Schlichte would break the tie with a 32-yard pass to senior Shane Zylstra. After the two-point conversion, the Mavericks were sitting with 15 points.
Senior Justin Arnold had yet to reach the endzone this season, but that would soon come to an end. He would take it to the house with a 41-yard run. Despite this being a run and still without a receiving touchdown, Arnold would then find the end zone almost three minutes later on a 24-yard pass.
Arnold finished the day with three carries for 55 yards, 42 receiving yards and two touchdowns. This was his best game this season and should find more success this Saturday.
The Mavericks defense and offense were firing on all cylinders, but the special teams were just as good. Senior Parrish Marrow returned a punt for 92 yards and would give the team a comfortable 36-7 lead.
Zylstra would find the end zone for the second time on Saturday, but this time, it was on a six-yard rushing attempt. That was his only rushing attempt of the day but led MSU in receiving with 91 yards and a touchdown.
The passing attack of MSU would come to an end and the rest of the points came from runs and one field goal. Schlichte ended the day with 104 yards and two touchdowns. Whereas sophomore Brevin Kaiser connected with six of his seven passes for 67 yards. Junior JD Ekowa would only complete one of his four passes, but he made up for it with 42 passing yards.
Senior Nate Gunn would bring the Mavericks into the half with a 50-7 lead, after a 58-yard run.
Junior Justin Taormina would also break out for a large run to open things in the second half. He would score on a 41-yard run and would soon see his second touchdown of the day after UMary would get its second and final touchdown. Taormina’s second touchdown was a 26-yard touchdown. He finished with seven carries for 91 yards and two touchdowns.
MSU didn’t stop there, as they would get its fifth rushing touchdown from redshirt freshman, Kaleb Sleezer. He ended things with 10 carries for 68 yards.
Finally, the Mavericks reached the end of its scoring barrage after sophomore Ashton Garner would hit a 20-yard field goal.
By the end of things, MSU would win 74-17.
The defense gave up 17 points, ending their streak of stopping opponents from scoring more than 10 points. However, the defense came to play and performed against the Marauders.
Junior Cole Schroedermeier led the team with five tackles.
Junior Lukas Burrington would follow with four tackles, one of which was a sack. He would be joined by senior Garret Jansen (2) and redshirt freshmen Logan Josephson (1) and Nic Dahlke (1.5) in the sack department.
Jansen would also force a fumble, adding to his already big day on defense.
MSU will now play Minnesota Crookston on the road this Saturday.
Header photo: Minnesota State running back Nate Gunn (23) runs with the ball in the first half of a football game against the University of Mary at the Blakselee Stadium Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019 in Mankato, Minn. (Mansoor Ahmad/MSU Reporter)