MANKATO, Minn. — With Minnesota State’s 20-19 win over Augustana last weekend, the Mavericks advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where they will face the CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. (CT) at the CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl in Pueblo, Colorado.

Our story: The 2024 season marks the school’s 97th football season. The Mavericks have posted a record of 515-403-27 (.559) in 945 games since their inception as a varsity sport in 1922. Minnesota State is in its 16th season in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and holds a record of 146-25 (.853). League action. Throughout its history, MSU has won 25 conference championships, including 14 NIC titles and eight NSIC championships. The Mavericks are making their 15th appearance in the NCAA Tournament this season. MSU holds a 16-14 overall record in NCAA postseason play.

Take the reins: The 2024 season marks the 14th season with head coach Todd Hoffner on the edge. During his 14 seasons at Minnesota State, Hoffner compiled a record of 140-36 (.795), including seven NSIC championships and ten trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 , 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Hoffner was named the 2019 AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year. This was the third time he received this award, with the first two awards coming in the 2014 and 2018 seasons. He was later named the AFCA Division II National Coach of the Year when the Mavericks made their second NCAA Championship game in 2019.

Hoffner’s 140 coaching wins at Minnesota State are the most in program history. Hoffner surpassed Dan Runkle’s record of 108 career coaching wins following MSU’s 68-10 victory over Minot State on September 25, 2021.

Series vs. CSU Pueblo: Saturday’s game between Minnesota State and CSU Pueblo marks their fifth meeting, with MSU leading the all-time series 3-1. All four meetings between Minnesota State and CSU Pueblo took place during the NCAA Tournament.

CSU Pueblo defeated MSU 13-0 in the 2014 NCAA championship game in Kansas City. The next three matches all took place at Blakeslee Stadium. MSU defeated the ThunderWolves 16-13 in overtime in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament and 24-10 in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament. In their last meeting in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament, Minnesota State defeated CSU Pueblo 35-7.

MSU head coach Todd Hoffner has a 3-1 record against CSU Pueblo. CSU Pueblo head coach Phillip Vigil has not yet played against Minnesota State.

Regarding the Mavericks: Minnesota State enters the weekend with an overall record of 9-3, including an NSIC record of 7-3. Last weekend on the road, MSU rallied in the final minutes of the game to defeat Augustana 20-19 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

As a team, MSU is averaging 30.0 points and 391.7 yards of offense per game this season. The Mavericks are averaging 166.9 rushing yards and 224.7 passing yards per game.

Freshmen Sam Backer leads the Maverick rushing attack with 764 rushing yards and four touchdowns. senior Christian Vasser also had 386 rushing yards and five touchdowns as a senior Hayden Ekern posted 362 rushing yards and 11 touchdown carries.

Ekern has thrown for 2,648 yards and 21 touchdowns this season. Junior TreShawn Watson Leads the Maverick receiving corps with 670 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior Gabe Hagen rushed for 457 yards and six touchdowns.

The Maverick defense has allowed 23.5 points and 349.8 yards of total offense per game this season. MSU has allowed 139.1 rushing yards per game this season.

senior Antonio Alzheimer Leads the Maverick defense with 94 tackles as a junior Karson Dunn recorded 49 tackles and two interceptions. senior Cody Brown leads the team with 13.5 tackles for a loss and 6.0 sacks while a senior Max Lommel has fixed two bugs.

Head coach Todd Hoffner is in his 14th season with the Mavericks. He owns a record of 140-36 (.795).

Regarding the ThunderWolves: CSU Pueblo enters the weekend with an overall record of 10-1, including an RMAC record of 9-0. CSU Pueblo has won its last eight games, including a 38-21 win over Chadron State on Nov. 16. The ThunderWolves received a first-round bye last weekend.

As a team, CSU Pueblo is averaging 41.7 points and 472.0 yards of total offense per game this season. The ThunderWolves are averaging 160.3 rushing yards and 311.7 passing yards per game this season.

Howard Russell V leads CSU Pueblo’s rushing attack with 1,115 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Emanuel Fincher has 289 yards and four touchdown carries.

Devin Larsen has thrown for 1,705 yards and 16 touchdowns but has not played since CSU Pueblo’s game against Black Hills State on Oct. 19. Roman Fuller has thrown for 1,569 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Reggie Retzlaff leads the ThunderWolves with 64 catches for 1,169 yards and 12 touchdowns. Taylor Tosches also had 769 yards and eight touchdown catches.

As a unit, CSU Pueblo’s defense has allowed 19.8 points and 326.7 yards of total offense per game this season, including 131.3 rushing yards and 195.4 passing yards.

Gary Seidenberger recorded 73 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss, while Makeah Scippio recorded 28 tackles, including 12.0 for a loss and 9.0 sacks. Kahden Rullo also recorded 33 tackles and three interceptions.

CSU Pueblo is coached by Phillip Vigil, who is in his second season as head coach of the ThunderWolves. He owns a record of 18-4 (.818) at CSU Pueblo and a record of 25-19 (.568) in his career.