November 23rd, 2024 4:45pm
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. --- Minnesota State staged a late-game comeback Saturday afternoon in Sioux Falls as the Mavericks rallied for 10 points in the final minutes of the game to best Augustana 20-19 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
With the win, MSU improves to 9-3 on the season. With the loss, AU finishes its season with an 8-4 record.
The first quarter saw both defenses locked in as the Mavericks and Vikings combined for seven first downs through the first 15 minutes. Augustana ended the scoreless deadlock early in the second quarter. Starting from their own 46, the Vikings drove down to within the MSU five yard line, but the Maverick defense limited Augustana to a 20-yard field goal by Jake Pecina as the Vikings led 3-0 with 10:34 to go in the second quarter.
An interception from Junior Richard Agyekum gave the Mavericks some momentum as MSU took over on the Augustana 29. Three plays later, senior Hayden Ekern connected with junior TreShawn Watson on a 40-yard touchdown pass to put MSU up 7-3 with 6:54 to go in the second quarter.
Augustana managed to get two more field goals to close out the half as Pecina connected from 37 and 25 yards out to give the Vikings a 9-7 lead at halftime.
An interception by Joey Goettl on Augustana's opening drive of the third quarter set the Mavericks up on their own 45. MSU moved 37 yards down field, before junior Matthew Jaeger connected on a 35-yard field goal to put MSU back in front by the score of 10-9.
Augustana answered on its following drive as the Vikings drove 83 yards down field before Jarod Epperson forced his way into the end zone from one yard out to put AU up 16-10 with 6:22 to go in the third.
With just under eight minutes to go in the game, Augustana took over on its own 41. The Vikings would move36 yards down field before Pecina notched his fourth field goal of the game, this time from 40 yards out, to put the Vikings up 19-10 with 3:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.
With just over three minutes to go the Mavericks worked their way down field quickly as they drove 88 yards in 1:32. The drive culminated with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Ekern to senior Grant Guyett that brought the score to 19-17 with 1:35 to go. With his second touchdown pass, Ekern became the third Maverick quarterback in team history to reach 70 career touchdown passes, trailing Ben King (72) and John Hebgen (71).
On the following kickoff, senior Lorenzo Jones recovered the onside kick on the MSU 48. Seven plays later, MSU found itself on the Augustana 17 with three seconds left. Jaeger's following kick split the uprights from 34 yards out as time expired giving the Mavericks the 20-19 win.
Minnesota State continues its season on Saturday, Nov. 30, as it travels to Pueblo, Colo., to take on CSU-Pueblo in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.