#22 Wayne State was limited to just 177 yards of total offense and suffered its first true road shutout since the second week of the 1991 season as the Wildcats fell at #5 Minnesota State Saturday afternoon 35-0 in a matchup of the top two teams in Northern Sun Conference football at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato, Minnesota. WSC slips to 6-2 on the season and 5-2 in the NSIC (2-1 NSIC South) while the host Mavericks remain unbeaten at 8-0 and 7-0 in the NSIC (4-0 NSIC South). The last time WSC was shut out in a true road game was September 7, 1991 in a 28-0 loss at Nebraska-Omaha. (WSC was shut out 24-0 by Bemidji State at the NSIC Metrodome Classic in Minneapolis on November 6, 2004).
The first half was controlled by both defenses, but Minnesota State took advantage of an interception return for touchdown and used a pair of field goals to take a 13-0 lead.
Offensively, WSC struggled in the opening half with just one drive over 10 yards while punting four times including a trio of three-and-out series.
The Wildcat defense forced a turnover late in the first quarter when senior
Mitchell Andersen intercepted a Maverick pass at the WSC 9. But on the first play from scrimmage, Wildcat junior quarterback
Brady McGill was intercepted by Minnesota State's Jason Dandridge who ran 15 yards for the touchdown giving MSU a 7-0 led with 2:55 to play in the first quarter.
Minnesota State took advantage of great field position on a pair of drives in the second quarter to post a pair of field goals for the lone scoring in the quarter. Starting at the WSC 40, the Mavericks gained just nine yards and settled for a Matt Maldonado 48-yard field goal giving MSU a 10-0 lead with 13:36 left in the first half.
On the next drive, WSC went for it on 4
th and 1 at their own 34 but was stopped giving MSU the ball at the WSC 32. Again, the Wildcat defense limited Minnesota State to a field goal as Connor Fournier made a 28-yard field goal at the 7:42 mark of the second quarter to close first half scoring as Minnesota State held a 13-0 lead at intermission.
Midway through the third quarter Minnesota State scored the first offensive touchdown of the game as the Mavericks used a one-yard TD run by quarterback Mitchell Thompson followed by a two-point pass conversion to take a 21-0 lead with 7:51 to go in the third quarter.
Wayne State put together its longest drive of the game late third quarter, covering 62 yards on six plays moving the ball to the MSU 28 but turned the ball over on downs.
Minnesota State added two insurance scores in the fourth quarter on a Thompson 22-yard run and a 63-yard scamper from running back Carter Henderson pushing the lead to 35-0.
Late in the fourth quarter the Wildcats moved the ball from their own 25 to the MSU 18 and had a 35-yard field goal attempt by
Boston Hensley blocked as Minnesota State preserved the 35-0 shutout win.
Minnesota State outgained Wayne State 388-177. The 'Cats were held to 61 yards on the ground and 116 passing.
Dawson Forgy had 47 yards on 16 carries. Throwing the ball,
Brady McGill was 11-22 for 116 yards with one interception.
Keaten Bonderson was the top Wildcat receiver with three receptions for 33 yards.
Defensively, sophomore safety
Hayden Kelley and senior linebacker
Clyde Hinton each recorded 10 tackles. Senior defensive back
Mitchell Andersen had an interception.
The Wildcats will be at home next Saturday hosting Concordia-St. Paul in an NSIC South Division contest with kickoff set for 1 p.m. at Bob Cunningham Field in Wayne.
