Wayne State College football is looking to continue the early momentum against the 11th ranked Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks. 

The Wildcats have a tough challenge against Mankato brewing from last season when the Mavericks beat the Wildcats 31-14 in Mankato. The Maverick win was led by quarterback Hayden Ekern’s 288 passing yards and three touchdowns. The Maverick receiving core had over 100 receiving yards each led by TreShawn Watson and Mason Perich. They also dominated on the ground, as the Wildcat defense couldn’t stop then halfback Shen Butler-Lawson, who had 157 rushing yards and a touchdown.  

By coming off a win to MSU Moorhead 44-17, the Wildcats like to rebound from last year’s loss to Mankato and come into this game with a newfound energy throughout the team. They are undefeated at 2-0 heading into this matchup. WSC will be looking to make a statement against a Maverick squad that has already knocked off two top 25 opponents. 

“Putting our guys and positions to succeed is really all it is,” Coach Masters said. “Making things look like other things. It’s kind of how you build offense, the game plan, and defensively, finding out what they’re good at, how we can fit it up, how we can match it up, and if they do have some personal spots where we can take advantage of then creating, like in those matchups, just like on offense.”  

Masters is looking for his team to bring their A-game and deliver a more spirited effort than last season.  

“I think last year the biggest thing and with so many returners is no one played very well,” Masters said. “I mean just it wasn’t it was just didn’t matter playing mistake Minnesota State Mankato or Wayne High you make mistakes we made it’s going to be tough to win and so when we did things right. We were all right defense got three and outs got some stops offense then moved the ball, but it was just few and far between. So, that’s the biggest thing going off last year a new team new year, but for us with so many guys back we simply played very well and still with I think seven minutes left in the third quarter I had a chance inside the five-yard line to make it a one score game and so there’s hope that we play well to flip the script this Saturday.” 

The Wildcats faces off against Minnesota State University Mankato Mavericks on Saturday, September 14. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. for Family Day at Bob Cunningham Field.