Top-ranked Minnesota State erupted for 28 points in the third quarter and the Mavericks used a balanced offensive attack to gain 485 yards in a 55-2 blowout over Wayne State in the 30th annual Egg Bowl Game played Saturday at Bob Cunningham Field in Wayne.
Minnesota State took the opening kickoff and scored on a 28-yard pass from Ryan Schlichte to Shane Zylstra to put the Mavericks in front 7-0.
Wayne State’s first drive was the longest of the game, covering 49 yards, as the Wildcats moved from their own 25 to the MSU 26 until the drive ended on downs.
The Wildcats then stopped the Mavericks on the next two drives with a blocked field goal followed by an interception on the next drive with freshman Donte Brooks intercepting a Ryan Schlichte pass at the Wildcat 44.
Wayne State drove from their own 44 to the MSU 28 when the drive again ended on downs.
Minnesota State scored twice in the second quarter to give the Mavericks a 21-0 lead at intermission. JD Ekowa fired a 59-yard scoring strike to Vance Barnes for the first score with running back Nate Gunn adding a five-yard touchdown.
The Mavericks put the game out of reach with a 28-point third quarter.
Gunn started the second half with a two-yard run. Jack Curtis then interception an Aaron Bleil pass and ran 47 yards for another score. Justin Taormina scored on an eight-yard run with Schlichte throwing a three-yard TD pass to Tyler Schmidt for the final score of the quarter putting the Mavericks in front 49-0.
Both teams scored at the same time in the fourth quarter as quarterback Brevin Kaiser threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Parker Gloudemans. On the PAT kick, Wayne State’s Kevin Ransom blocked the attempt and Donte Brooks grabbed the loose ball and ran to the end zone for the two-point conversion making the final score 55-2.
Minnesota State outgained Wayne State in the game 485-189. Wayne State was held to just 24 yards rushing and gained 165 yards through the air while the Mavericks recorded 229 yards rushing and 256 passing.
Maliki Wilson led the Wildcats on the ground with 34 yards on 18 attempts. Aaron Bleil completed 9-of-27 passes for 139 yards with three interceptions. Alex Thramer was 4-of-10 for 26 yards. Nate Rogers hauled in four catches for 73 yards while sophomore tight end Conner Paxton had three receptions for 44 yards. Wayne native Mason Lee added three catches for 36 yards.
Defensively, linebacker Tyler Thomsen recorded a game-high nine tackles with one blocked kick to earn Egg Bowl MVP honors for Wayne State. Ben Elznic added seven tackles with Aaron Wright and Kevin Ranson each accounting for six. Donte Brooks had two stops with one interception and a blocked PAT kick return for two points.
Minnesota State’s Egg Bowl MVP was wide receiver Shane Zylstra, who recorded six catches for 113 yards and one touchdown.
The Wildcats (2-7, 1-4 NSIC South) will be on the road next weekend playing at Upper Iowa in a 12:05 p.m. contest.
