Article

Blowout at Blakeslee

By Chad Courrier
The Free Press
9/2/2005
MANKATO

Soloni Taumalolo caused the fumble and recovered the football, getting up and eyeing the end zone just 32 yards away. As he broke from the pack, he started to high-step, looking for a lineman's dream score, but the whistle was blowing, the play was dead.

"I think they blew that whistle late," he said.

Taumalolo led an inspired defensive performance, combined with a record-breaking offense, that pushed Minnesota State to a 63-7 nonconference victory over Oklahoma Panhandle State in front of 3,458 fans Thursday at Blakeslee Stadium.

Taumalolo said the defense sets goals before every game, signing a "business" contract that outlines what the unit hopes to accomplish.

"We fulfilled all the requirements but one," said Taumalolo, who made six tackles, with three for loss and a half-sack. "That was a shutout."

The Mavericks held the Aggies to just two yards of total offense on 30 plays and used four turnovers and three sacks to work a short field to score 42 points in the first half.

"The defense played outstanding," Mavericks coach Jeff Jamrog said. "A lot of props go to the scout team. That's a tough offense to defend, it takes a lot of discipline."

Sean Treasure scored three touchdowns in the first half, two on short runs and another when he recovered Jamie VanDenElzen's fumble in the end zone. Danny Nichols and backup quarterback Joshua Bryant also had touchdown runs, and freshman linebacker returned an interception 24 yards for a touchdown that made it 42-0 at halftime.

Bryant scored on a 31-yard run in the third quarter, then was about to go in on a 24-yard run when he fumbled into the end zone. However, for the second time, one of the Mavericks recovered for the touchdown, this time it was Brad Skrukrud.

"I felt good," Bryant said. "I have the most respect for (the scout team), they did a great job in practice. The offensive line did a heckuva job. A lot of guys stepped up."

The Aggies finally crossed midfield late in the third quarter, and it took a fumbled punt to get there.

Bryant scored his third touchdown on a 1-yard sneak early in the fourth quarter as the Mavericks broke a single-game scoring record. The previous high in points was a 60-0 victory against Illinois Chicago Circle in 1972.

Oklahoma Panhandle State broke the shutout when linebacker Kendrick Bevil returned a fumble 76 yards for a touchdown with 5:24, making the 56-point victory the second-most lopsided outcome in program history behind that victory against Illinois Chicago Circle.

"The great thing is we got to play a lot of players, everyone with eligibility got in there, and got in there early," Jamrog said. "And we got out of there without any injuries."

The Mavericks rolled up 436 yards of total offense, 234 on the ground. Treasure finished with 80 yards rushing in the first half, and Bryant added 74 yards, most of which came in the second half.

The Aggies gained just 66 yards of total offense in 59 plays, rushing for 34 yards and passing for 32. The Mavericks recovered five fumbles, made two interceptions and had three sacks.

"It fills my heart, I feel good," Taumalolo said. "The brothers I play with bust their butts every day, and I'd like to give everybody on the team a chance to play every game."

The Mavericks (1-1) play their first road game Saturday, Sept. 10, at Bemidji State. The Beavers won 42-35 in the season-opener last year at Blakeslee Stadium.

"Last year, we beat (Oklahoma Panhandle State), and hopefully this is indicative of how far this program has come in a short time," Jamrog said. "We'll get a chance to see if we've made progress again this week."

 

Pat Christman

Minnesota State Soloni Taumalolo crushes through on his way to the end zone.