Mavericks take their record to 5-0
The undefeated No.7 undefeated Mavericks moved to 5-0 after a 33-20 victory against Concordia-St.Paul Saturday.
In the first quarter, the ball moved slowly. It was low-action and smashmouth football. CSP opened the game with an 11-play drive that took six minutes off the clock. It ended on a 29-yard field goal to allow the Golden Bears to take their first, and only lead at 3-0.
As the Mavs got the ball on their first drive of the game, they answered back with their own 11-play drive. The only difference being they put up seven points, not three. Their 68-yard opening drive was capped off with a rushing touchdown from Tony Anger on the goal line.
Thirteen more points came from the Mavs before halftime while CSP only found three more points. Hayden Ekern notched a two-yard touchdown run to cap off an 11-play scoring drive, before senior Christian Vasser finished an eight-play drive with a one-yard touchdown of his own. CSP’s lone score of the second quarter came via a 51-yard field goal from Jeff Isotalo-McGuire.
Mankato came out of the half looking to end the game early. They marched down the field with ease going 75 yards. Ekern hit wide receiver Gabe Hagen twice, the second being a 10-yard touchdown.
On the kickoff, the Mavs wanted the ball right back as they opted to attempt a very unusual onside kick. Successfully, the ball was recovered on the Golden Bears’ 41-yard line by MSU’s Richard Agyekum. Vasser scored once again bringing the game to 33-6.
In garbage time, the Bears found the endzone twice but they ran out of time to bring the game any closer.
Ekern capped off his performance with 169 passing yards and a touchdown. On the ground, he added 52 rushing yards and another score. Vasser contributed 42 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Anger chipped in with 43 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Hagen led the Maverick receivers, tallying 76 receiving yards and a touchdown, with Grant Guyett adding three receptions for 48 yards.
The Mavericks return home to try and keep the undefeated streak alive versus Sioux Falls for homecoming weekend. The 3-2 Cougars have beaten Division I St. Thomas University but fell to both Minot State and Bemidji State, both teams bested by the Mavs. It will be the 14th matchup between the two teams, the Mavericks loom large with a 10-3 record against them and a two-game win streak.
For homecoming, students can expect a high-scoring game. Ever since the two teams first matched up in 1936, the Mavs have averaged 32 points per game while in their last meeting, they scored 54. Kick-off at Blakeslee Stadium will be at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Photo caption: The Mavericks defeated Concordia-St. Paul Saturday in a 33-20 victory, taking them to a 5-0 record. (Matt Miller/The Reporter)
Write to luke.jackson.2@mnsu.edu