September 19th, 2026 3:30pm
MANKATO, Minn. – The No. 4 Minnesota State Maverick football team scored 28 points in the second quarter to take control against visiting Northern State, earning a 35-17 victory Saturday afternoon on a cool and rainy day in a battle between the final two unbeaten teams in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
The Mavericks improved to 4-0 overall and 3-0 in NSIC play, while Northern State fell to 3-1 on the season and 2-1 in league play.
The MSU defense forced three interceptions, while Maverick junior quarterback Mitchell Thompson completed 9-of-9 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. He also carried the ball 14 times for 65 yards and two touchdowns. The Mavericks finished with 396 yards of total offense, including 193 rushing and 203 passing.
Both Thompson and sophomore Maximus Sims finished 14-of-19 passing with one interception.
NSU was led by the nation's second-leading rusher, Hank Kraft, who carried 13 times for 154 yards and a touchdown. He also had five receptions for 32 yards and attempted one pass, which was intercepted in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Ty Englehart completed 11-of-17 passes for 84 yards, a touchdown and an interception, while Joey Dube-Garrett was 6-of-19 for 80 yards and an interception. Louie Schawbe had three receptions for 60 yards.
Defensively, sophomore Jefferson Mobry led the Mavericks with seven tackles, while Sam Bossman recorded four tackles and two sacks for 11 yards. Jason Dandridge, Emmanuel Spiyee and Mankato native Nathan Drumm each recorded an interception for MSU. The Mavericks finished with five tackles for loss and two sacks.
The Wolves moved down the field on the opening possession, converting both a third-and-short and a fourth-and-short. On second-and-10 from the MSU 25, Kraft broke a couple of tackles on a handoff and raced into the end zone for his eighth rushing touchdown of the season, giving NSU a 7-0 lead. It marked the first time MSU had trailed all season.
Sims connected with sophomore Hudson Dillon for 26 yards on third-and-14 to keep MSU's opening drive alive. On third-and-15, Sims' pass sailed high, forcing a fourth down and a punt. The Mavericks then forced the Wolves into a three-and-out on the ensuing possession.
MSU took over at its own 41 and moved to the Northern State 10 late in the opening quarter, highlighted by a strong run from junior Sam Backer for a first down. Thompson then carried the ball to the three as time expired in the first quarter.
On the first play of the second quarter, Thompson scored on a tush push from Backer to tie the game at 7-7 with 14:53 remaining in the first half.