Football
Football
NSIC Football: SCSU 26, MSU 21
Husky Football Upsets Undefeated Minnesota State University, 26-21
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Dante Steward |
St. Cloud, Minn. – The St. Cloud State football team capped the 2009 regular season by shocking the undefeated Minnesota State Mavericks 26-21 Saturday afternoon in front of 4,057 fans at Husky Stadium.
With 5:15 to go in the game and the scoreboard reading 21-20 in favor of Minnesota State, the Huskies put together a 10 play 95-yard scoring drive to stun the No. 4 nationally ranked Mavericks to take back the “Traveling Training Kit.”
After starting the season 0-3, the Huskies ended the season winning seven of its last eight games. With the win, the Huskies finished the season with a 7-4 overall record and finish up Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play with a 7-3 record.
St. Cloud State ended the Mavericks (10-1, 9-1 NSIC) regular season 15-game win streak, which dated back to October 4, 2008.
The Huskies jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead to start the game, after starting its first offensive series just 46 yards from the end zone.
On the fourth play of the drive, senior quarterback Derek Stripling (Wabasso, Minn.) broke through the Mavericks’ defensive line for a nine yard rushing touchdown. The extra point was then blocked.
The Mavericks answered with a 10-play 65-yard drive of their own to take its first lead at 7-6 with 6:34 to go in the first quarter.
After a 42-yard kick return from Fred Williams (Milwaukee, Wis.) on the ensuing kickoff the Huskies began its second drive at the Mavericks’ 38-yard line.
Eight plays later, Stripling scrambled out of the pocket and found Tyler Allery (Dunseith, N.D.) in the back corner of the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown pass to make it a 13-7 game.
Then just over six minutes later, Stripling added his second rushing touchdown of the game on a one-yard keeper to put the Huskies in front 20-7 with 12:51 to go in the half.
The Mavericks then took advantage of good field position and scored on a 15-yard run from Julian Phipps to cut the lead to six.
Both offenses cooled down in the second half, as both sides could not put up points in the third quarter, before Minnesota State took its final lead of the game on a seven yard run from Jake Aberg to take a 21-20 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter.
With one minute remaining in the game, Stripling handed off to junior Dante Steward (Milwaukee, Wis.) who capped the 95-yard game-winning drive with a three-yard rush.
The Huskies put together 327 yards of total offense on the No. 1 regionally ranked Mavericks, while Stripling connected on 11 of 22 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed 13 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns.
The Husky defense caused four Minnesota State turnovers, two of which were caused while the Mavericks were in the red zone.
Senior captain Brian Kampa (Sartell) made a game-high 10 tackles, forced a fumble and broke up one pass in the game.
The Mavericks Jake Aberg finished the game with 148 yards rushing and a touchdown. Julian Phipps gained 100 yards on the ground and scored two touchdowns.
The Huskies will now have to wait to see if the 2009 season will continue, as the Mineral Water Bowl participants will be announced Sunday night or Monday morning.
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