Article

A Quick Night

King throws six first-quarter touchdowns in Mavs' rout of Peru State

by Dan Myers
Issue date: 9/11/07 Section: Mens Sports

Forty-two points over the course of a game is great.

But 42 points in a quarter? Record breaking.

Minnesota State defeated Peru State 70-0 in nonconference football action last Thursday at Blakeslee Stadium, powered by 42 first quarter points.

All six touchdowns came on the right arm of Ben King, a new NCAA Division II record. And following his seventh touchdown pass of the night just seconds into the second quarter, the remainder of the game was played with running time.

"I've never been part of a game like that," said Mavericks head coach Jeff Jamrog. "I thought we could have had a nice win, but I wasn't anticipating that."

King was the obvious winner for the North Central Conference's Offensive Player of the Week award, going 15-of-22 for 299 yards and seven touchdowns in just over a quarter of action.

A Maverick has won an NCC Player of the Week award each week so far this season. Donte Shackelford - who scored a pair of touchdowns Thursday - won Offensive Player of the Week following the Central Missouri game and Melvin Matlock won Special Teams Player of the Week following Northern Iowa.

King tied the Division II record with a 15-yard pass to Chris Nowlin - his second TD catch of the night - with 4:11 remaining in the opening quarter. The last player to throw five scores in a single quarter was Kevin Russell of California (Pa.) in November of 2003.

King's 4-yard pass to Shackelford with 32 seconds left in the first secured the record.

"It starts up front and they did an amazing job," King said. "I've never felt like I could just sit back there like I did [Thursday]. I had a pocket, I could move around and I could see easily.

"That's where it starts and I'll give them all the credit."

Omaar Balton, Ryan Cross and Jeff Fielder also caught first quarter touchdowns for the Mavericks. Shackelford took a screen pass 39-yards for a score just 23 seconds into the second. King appeared for one play on the next drive - a run up the middle - before being replaced by Ryan Fick.

His seven touchdowns established a new school record.

"It is what it is," King said of his new records. " I don't think its that big of a deal.

"When I'm 65 years old and talking to my grandkids, I'm not going to say 'Well, I did this.'"

The real challenge for Minnesota State begins this week as the team opens its final season of NCC play with a home contest against Augustana.

Can 70 points establish a little bit of confidence heading into the game?

"There's some positive coming out of it," King said. "Guys worked on some things, ran great routes, but we know we've got work to do."

Kickoff Saturday at Blakeslee Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Dan Myers is the Reporter Sports Editor