MANKATO — Matthew Jaeger was on the sideline, watching his Minnesota State teammates driving down the field in the final minutes.
Jaeger, a junior, who kicked a last-second field in a win against Minnesota State-Moorhead last season, was taking some practice kicks, loosening his muscles and focusing on the situation. With about 1:40 to play, coach Todd Hoffner walked by and shook his hands, giving him the “let’s go.”
On the last play of the game Saturday, Jaeger kicked a 31-yard field goal to lift the Mavericks to a 31-29 victory over Bemidji State in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football game at Blakeslee Stadium.
“It’s just another kick,” said Jaeger, who said he feels comfortable from up to 60 yards if necessary. “I trust our process. I trust my teammates. I just focus on one thing.”
The game, which featured nine lead changes and zero turnovers, drew 6,874 fans, the third-largest crowd in stadium history, boosted by two large tailgating gatherings and a good turnout from students.
“There was a buzz out there,” Hoffner said.
Both teams wore out their punters in the first quarter before the Beavers struck first on a 32-yard field goal early in the second quarter.
The Mavericks responded on the next drive, and on fourth-and-2, Tony Anger broke through the line of scrimmage and raced 36 yards for the touchdown. Jaeger’s PAT put Minnesota State on top.
Before fans could sit back down, the Beavers scored on a 69-yard pass, with the PAT blocked.
The Mavericks’ best drive of the first half went 59 yards in seven plays, with TreShawn Watson making an acrobatic touchdown catch from Hayden Ekern along right sideline of the end zone from 6 yards out that made it 14-9. However, Bemidji State was able to score again before halftime, though another PAT was blocked to keep it at 15-14.
The second half was equally a grind between teams that wanted to play bully ball. Late in the third quarter, on fourth-and-nine, Ekern found Watson behind the defense for a 33-yard score and another lead.
” I have faith and trust in (Ekern), and he has faith and trust in me,” Watson said. “He’s going to throw it up there, and I’m going to make the play.”
The Beavers answered with a 16-play drive and a touchdown to go up, but Ekern hit Watson with a 50-yard scoring pass as Minnesota State went up 28-22 with 7:32 to play.
The Beavers broke a long run and regained the lead with 1:53 to go.
The Mavericks’ final drive started at the 28. Ekern ran twice to get the ball at midfield, and he connected with Watson, who finished with five receptions for 107 yards and three scores, on a short pass. A couple of short runs and a penalty on Bemidji State moved the ball to the 14, where holder Joey Goettl grabbed a high snap and got it in place for Jaeger to hit the winner.
” I think their offense responded exceptionally well tonight, and I thought our offense responded exceptionally well,” Hoffner said. “It was a game where the team with the ball last was going to win, and Bemidji just ran out of time.”
The Beavers outgained the Mavericks 452-397 in total yards with 303 yard rushing and several big runs.
Ekern passed for 278 yards, completing 20 of 37 passes, and Gabe Hagen made six receptions for 69 yards.
The Mavericks (2-0, 1-0 in Northern Sun) go on the road Saturday to face Wayne State (2-0, 1-0).
“I made it pretty clear to people before the season that I challenge you to find a tougher schedule to start the season,” Hoffner said. “We’ve now got two wins over nationally rated teams, and Wayne should be ranked next week. We’re going to celebrate this one for 24 hours because I think what we’ve done so far is gigantic.”
Follow Chad Courrier on X @ChadCourrier.