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MANKATO, Minn. - The No. 7 Minnesota State University Mankato Mavericks made good use of their home field advantage on Saturday to keep the team's unbeaten record, as they faced a reinvigorated Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons football team.
"We ran a different defense and it went well," Interim Head Coach
Joel Beard said. "Our goal as a team was to play hard all four quarters and we did all while making some big steps in the right direction."
The Dragons put up 14 points, the most they have tallied against a ranked opponent this year. The Mavericks tallied 59 points, and are the highest ranked team among MSU Moorhead opponents this season. The Dragons' 14 points are tied for the second-most points the Mavericks have given up to an opponent in eight games in 2009.
The home team remains undefeated with a 8-0 record (7-0 NSIC) while MSU Moorhead moves to 2-6 overall and 1-6 in NSIC action.
The Mavericks took the lead early on a 53-yard pass from Steve Pachan to Chris Nowlin just fourteen seconds into the game. MSU Mankato would increase their lead to 21 on consecutive scores in their following two times down the field, both on runs by Jake Aberg.
The Dragons appeared to make a comeback in the second quarter as they cut the Mavericks lead to seven with six minutes remaining in the first half.
MSU Moorhead's scoring spurt was started by
Tyler Brody blocking a Mavericks punt that was picked up by
Brandon Larson and ran 25 yards for a Dragons touchdown. It was Larson's first touchdown of his career and was the first blocked punt by MSU Moorhead this season.
Max Pryor forced a fumble on the next Maverick possession that was recovered by
Jared Cross at the Maverick 35-yard line. The Dragons capitalized on two costly penalties by MSU Mankato on the drive, the first moving the ball to the 20-yard line and the second was given as the Mavericks were called off-sides while the Dragons had a field-goal kick in the air, which upon acceptance gave the visitors re-do on a fourth and six situation from the 16-yard line.
After a timeout, freshman quarterback
Zach Fry completed a 16-yard pass to
Alex Pearson to put the Dragons to within one possession of the Mavericks.
The top ranked team revved up the crowd of 3,735 fans on the next possession as they went up by two scores, on a one-yard run by Julian Phipps. They increased their lead to 35-14 at half by recovering a fumble on MSU Moorhead's following drive that was ran back 19-yards by Kelvin Rodgers.
The Mavericks quarterback, Pachan threw three more touchdowns in the second half to lead his team to a 59-14 win. He ended the day with 117 yards completing six of 11 attempts and four touchdowns.
The Mavericks split time between QB's with Ryan Fick going 8-for-14 with 109 yards. Placekicker, Sam Brockus made all seven of his attempts for extra points while kicking a 33-yard field goal on the last score of the game.
Dan Meyer, a freshman for the Dragons, led both teams with 7.5 tackles in the game. Larson as well as scoring the touchdown off the blocked punt, also picked up six tackles.
Fry, despite being held to a season low of 100 yards passing, completed 15 attempts with a long pass of 20 yard and threw two interceptions.
Enol Gilles and Pearson both had 21 yards receiving to lead the Dragons receivers.
MSU Moorhead will travel to Aberdeen, S.D. on Sat., Oct. 24 to face Northern State in NSIC action. The night game will begin at 6 p.m. at Swisher Field.
