Mavericks and Wildcats set to clash
Only two games into the 2024 season and only four teams remain undefeated in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Two of them will face off this week as the No.11 Mavericks hit the road to Wayne State University in a battle to see who will remain undefeated.
The Mavericks are coming off a “gigantic” week as head coach Todd Hoffner said. They prevailed against nationally ranked Bemidiji State 31-29 in a back-and-forth thriller that was capped off by Matthew Jaeger who hit a walk-off 31-yard field goal to secure the win. In the game, the Mavs blocked two extra-point attempts and wide receiver TreShawn Watson caught three touchdown passes from Hayden Ekern which was good enough to earn Watson NSIC Offensive Player of the Week.
Ekern also won NSIC Offensive Player of the Week in week one against No.22 Northwest Missouri State. Both of the wins for the Mavs have come against the best of the best. Their trio of tough games to open the season will be capped off by a powerful Wildcat team.
The Wildcats are returning home after a blowout 44-17 victory against Minnesota State University, Moorhead. Through two games they are dominating. Averaging 46.5 points per game and 425 yards on offense has tallied them two wins on the season. They are teetering a national rank but have not quite broken into the top 25 just yet.
Before the Division II national rankings were updated, Hoffner felt as if the Wildcats deserved a place among the top 25.
“Wayne (State) will get nationally ranked,” Hoffner said. “If they are not, some people need to be questioned. They are very good and they have dominated the two teams they have played already.”
For WSC, Nick Bohn has thrown for 380 yards and six touchdowns this season. His main target has been Kendrick Watkins-Hogue who leads the Wildcat receiver core with 12 catches on 166 yards and two touchdowns. Latravious Boyd leads the WSC rushing attack with 190 yards and two touchdowns. Dawson Forgy has notched 144 rushing yards also.
Their defense has been sturdy holding opposing teams 17 points but have also given up 378 yards per game.
Historically, the Mavs have dictated their matchups between the Wildcats. In their 16 meetups, MSU leads the series 14-2. They have also won their last two meetings, last year winning 31-14 at Blakeslee Stadium. In the game, Hayden Ekern threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns against the Wildcats, while junior TreShawn Watson caught four passes for 111 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, Khai West recorded two interceptions, while Maven Kretche and Caleb Paulus each recorded a sack.
Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m. at Bob Cunningham Field.
Photo caption: The Minnesota State Mavericks are set to take on the Wayne State University Wildcats, both teams with a 2-0 record in the season so far. (Matt Miller/The Reporter)
Write to luke.jackson.2@mnsu.edu