MANKATO, Minn. - For third time in seven weeks, Concordia-St. Paul football (1-6 NSIC, 0-3 South) was faced with the task of playing a nationally-ranked opponent in hostile territory. Tonight, the Golden Bears were unable to keep up with #2 Minnesota State (7-0 NSIC, 3-0 South) with a 38-6 loss at Blakeslee Stadium in a rare Friday night college game.

Concordia returns home next Saturday, October 25 for a 1 p.m. kickoff against Upper Iowa at Sea Foam Stadium.

Despite the final outcome, Concordia played a much more competitive contest than the final score would indicate in the end. Concordia held MSU to 105 passing yards and picked up an interception and held the Mavericks to under 400 yards of total offense.

Concordia also held MSU to just 2-of-9 on third downs while the Golden Bears executed slightly better at 6-of-17. The Golden Bears held more clock (30:40 to 29:20) and were able to rush for 89 and pass for 198 yards behind redshirt freshman quarterback Ben Schramski who made his first collegiate start under center.

Schramski wasn't shy in his first start in a rough environment against one of the country's most feared pass rushing defenses, connecting with senior tight end Jermaine Clemon for a 35 yard gain on the opening play deep down the right sideline. Clemon finished with a career-high 99 receiving yards on six receptions.

The Golden Bears took the first lead, 3-0 with a 32-yard Tom Obarski field goal on the game's opening drive in which Concordia marched 59 yards in eight plays over 3:15.

The Mavericks countered with an impressive drive of their own, going 60 yards in nine plays with Concordia's defense holding the Mavericks in the red zone to a 22-yard field goal.

From there, the two teams went toe-to-toe as the two defenses proved to be the strength of the evening's competition. The score remained knotted at three at the end of the first quarter despite the two teams delivering field goals on the opening drives.

On Concordia's second drive, the Mavericks intercepted Schramski at the CU 47-yard line on a pass 20-yards down field. The Mavericks were stifled by Concordia's defense despite the ideal field position as Concordia stuffed MSU for a sack and a five yard loss on a run play for a 3-and-out.

But MSU pinned Concordia deep and the Golden Bears were forced to punt out of their own end zone with MSU once again getting good field position at the CU 41. This time, MSU marched back into the Concordia red zone in three plays to the eight yard line when senior free safety Marc St. Louis intercepted Nick Pieruccini in the end zone to end the scoring threat late in the first quarter.

In two trips to the red zone, Concordia had allowed just three points to the Mavericks on their home field after a quarter.

MSU continued to put the pressure on Concordia in the second quarter, driving down to the CU 22 yard line where the defense held strong. MSU kicker Alden Haffar missed a 39-yard field goal short just over midway through the quarter to stall a drive that lasted 7:15 (14-50) but came away with no points.

With MSU's defense continuing to stifle the Concordia offense, a 43-yard punt by Obarski put the Mavericks back at their own 29 yard line with 5:58 to play in the second quarter and the game still tied.

Minnesota State quickly turned the tides of the game, however as Connor Thomas took a 55-yard run up the middle for a touchdown on a two play, 39-second scoring drive.

After another 3-and-out by the offense, a special teams miscue led to Obarski scrambling for the ball near the goal line, scooping it up and punting on the run under pressure. The result was a punt that fell 10 yards shy of the original line of scrimmage.

Minnesota State capitalized and two plays later and led 17-3 with 3:39 to play in the half.

On the ensuing kickoff, a fumble by freshman phenom Uzziah Davis at Concordia's 8-yard line set-up the Mavericks with excellent field position, scoring on the next play.

The flurry gave Minnesota State a 24-3 lead, scoring three touchdowns in just over three minutes of game action.

Concordia responded with a quality two minute offense to end the half highlighted by a 30-yard Schramski run into MSU territory at the 49-yard line. After a couple of short completions and a first down, Schramski found Davis for a 31-yard post to the MSU 5-yard line to convert a 3rd and 10 with just 12 seconds to play in the half.

Although Concordia wasn't able to punch it in the end zone with time dwindling, Obarski hit his second field goal of the half, this time from 20-yards to bring Concordia within 18-points at the break , 24-6.

The Mavericks started with the ball in the second half and added cushion to the lead by scoring on the opening drive.

Concordia would move the ball into MSU territory three times in the third quarter, punting from the 44 and throwing an interception in the red zone from the 10-yard line in the end zone. The third drive carried over into the fourth quarter as Concordia advanced to the 20-yard line before a holding, false start, personal foul and sack had the team backed up for a 4th and 41 from the CU 49 yard line.

That would be the last time Concordia moved into MSU territory, as the Mavericks added a late touchdown on five consecutive Chad Zastrow running plays.

Schramski finished his debut start completing 13-of-33 for 198 yards with two interceptions. Nine of his 13 completions were good for first downs as Concordia had 17 first downs in the game.

The MSU defensive line disrupted Scrhamski for seven sacks. He was effective in rushing situations, with five attempts for 59 yards although the sacks hindered his final rushing yards to 20.

Senior Tre Spears did his best to bruise the MSU defensive front, rushing for 66 yards on 20 attempts.

The Mavericks piled up 274 rushing yards on 40 attempts including 12 first downs on the ground out of 19 for the game.

Concordia's defense was led by junior Jordan Halverson with 14 tackles, giving him 30 over the last two games, 77 on the year and 267 for his career (7th all time). He added 1.5 tackles for loss and a half sack. Junior Josh Trifunov added nine tackles and a tackle for loss and redshirt freshman JJ Przybylka contributed eight tackles in his first start at inside linebacker. Concordia's fourth starting linebacker, Nick Jauch also had seven tackles (0.5 for loss) as the four players had 38 of Concordia's 65 tackles.

Turnovers went in the Mavericks direction as well, as Concordia committed three and forced one while the special teams miscue also led to points.

After stopping MSU to three points in its first two trips to the red zone, the Mavericks would convert the next three chances to 21 points.