MSU football finishes season 11-0, claims first round bye
De’Vonte Bradley
Staff Writer
The Minnesota State Mavericks football ran through the Iowa Peacocks to win its last regular season game on Nov. 16.
After the 73-21 win, the Mavericks are now 11-0 on the season, extending their NSIC win streak to 35 games.
The key to their success against the peacocks was they never let up.
On the third play of the game, junior Cole Schrodermeier caught an interception and returned it 41 yards for the Mavericks first touchdown.
Upper Iowa followed up with a touchdown of their own, scoring off a 46-yard pass and tying the score 7-7.
About three minutes after sophomore Ashton Garner connected on a 43-yard field goa, junior JD Ekowa found junior Justin Taormina for a 20-yard touchdown.
The Mavericks came back even stronger in the second quarter, following with two touchdown passes. Senior Ryan Schlichte connected with senior Shane Zylstra on a five-yard touchdown pass.
Ekowa also found senior Justin Arnold on a 43-yard touchdown pass. Upper Iowa was not able to match Minnesota State, only scoring on an eight-yard touchdown pass to Alexander Stevens. MSU went into halftime up 31-14 at halftime.
The Mavericks pulled away in the third quarter, adding three more touchdowns to extend the lead 52-14. Both Zylstra and sophomore Jalen Sample caught a touchdown pass. Taormina highlighted the end of scoring in the third with a two-yard touchdown carry.
MSU matched their third quarter performance in the fourth quarter adding three more touchdowns.
Some notable plays from junior Parker Gloudemans, who caught a 51-yard touchdown pass thrown by Ekowa. Both redshirt freshmen Kaleb Sleezer and Chase Devitt recorded a rushing touchdown. UIP was not able to keep up, only scoring on a five-yard touchdown from Brandyn Tulloch.
MSU put on a complete show as a team. They ended with 612 yards of total offense, including 349 passing yards. While the Peacocks tallied only 254 yards of offense, including 191 passing yards.
There was a ton of highlight plays and outstanding performances from the MSU players. Schlichte ended with 138 passing yards and three touchdowns. Ekowa threw for 211 yards and three touchdowns.
Senior Alex Goettl led the Mavericks defense with eight total tackles and seniors Destyn Woody and Jordan Bergren tallied five. MSU’s defense was very pivotal with three total interceptions from Schrodermeier, senior Spencer Hermus and freshman Greg Kohler.
MSU ended their regular season on a high note and will look to do the same in the playoffs. They have a bye this week and will play the winner of Colorado State-Pueblo and Augustana on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Header photo: Minnesota State head coach Todd Hoffner raises the NSIC Championship plaque after the football team defeated Wayne State College at the Blakeslee Stadium Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019 in Mankato, Minn. (Mansoor Ahmad/MSU Reporter)