For the second time in eight days, Minnesota State Mankato used a dramatic fourth-quarter rally to advance in the NCAA Division II football playoffs.

Matt Jaeger’s 32-yard field goal with one second left gave the Mavericks a 26-23 victory over host Colorado State Pueblo on Saturday. The Mavericks – who beat Augustana 20-19 in the first round last week on Jaeger’s 34-yard field goal as time expired – will host Bemidji State in the third round next Saturday.

Trailing 16-6 after three quarters, the Mavericks pulled within three points with 9:36 left on Grant Guyett’s 36-yard touchdown catch from Hayden Ekern.

MSU Mankato then recovered an onside kick and Ekern’s 15-yard TD run gave the Mavericks a 20-16 lead.

The ThunderWolves responded with a six-play, 62-yard drive to take a 23-20 lead with four minutes left. Again, the Mavericks answered, tying the score on Jaeger’s 40-yard field goal with a minute left.

The Mavericks got the ball back when Cade Stingle intercepted a pass and returned it 9 yards to the ThunderWolves 22 with 42 seconds left. They gained seven yards and set up Jaeger’s game-winning drive, his fourth field goal of the game.

Ekern passed for 212 yards and a TD for the Mavericks, who outscored the ThunderWolves 387-355.

Bemidji State 20, Western Colorado 19: Gabe Ward returned a Mountaineers fumble 75 yards for a touchdown with 4:31 to play, and the Beavers advanced to the third round of the D-II playoffs for the first time with a come-from-behind victory in Gunnison, Colorado.