MANKATO –Despite trailing by one possession at halftime, Southwest Minnesota State University suffered a 48-7 loss to Minnesota State on Saturday in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play behind a 21-point third quarter for the Mavericks. The loss is the seventh straight defeat for the Mustangs.

Macloud Crowton ran the ball in for a 12-yard touchdown to cap off a 79-yard drive halfway through the second quarter. The touchdown sent SMSU into the locker room trailing 13-7, but the Mavericks outscored SMSU 35-0 for the remainder of the day.

Crowton completed 28 of his 39 attempts for 278 yards and three interceptions, and ran the ball seven times for a net-loss of 15 yards. Colin Maher led the team’s receiving corps with four catches for 86 yards while Tariq Parker led the ground game with six attempts for 12 yards.

Sam Backer scored the game’s first points for the Mavericks with a 52-yard run three minutes into the game. The Mavericks also hit a pair of field goals in the final minute of the first quarter and five minutes into the second to bring their lead to 13-0.

Holding on to a 6-point lead after halftime, the Mavericks bolstered their lead with a 48-yard touchdown run from Mitchell Thompson and a 46-yard touchdown pass from Thompson to Grant Guyett. Jefferson Mobry also intercepted the ball in the end zone for a pick 6, bringing the Mavericks’ lead to 34-7 at the end of the third.

Thompson completed nine of his 18 pass attempts for 156 yards and a touchdown while Backer and Carter Henderson ran for 103 and 76 yards, respectively. As a team, Minnesota State outrushed the Mustangs 342-8.

Parker Knutson picked off Thompson as time expired in the first half for his eighth interception of the year.

Josiah Hedensten finished the day with 18 total and 12 solo tackles while Kaden Lunsford added 14 total and nine solo tackles.

For the Mavericks, the win keeps their undefeated record against the Mustangs all-time intact. The Mavericks are 22-0 against SMSU.

The Mustangs fall to 1-8 overall and 1-7 in the NSIC with the loss. The Mustangs return to Mattke Field on Saturday, hosting Concordia-St. Paul at 1 p.m. for senior day. From there, the Mustangs will close the season on the road against Winona State on Nov. 15 in the Battle for the Sledge.