Mavericks eliminated
Walker runs for 135 yard and two touchdowns in MSU's playoff loss
by Nick Seipel
Issue date: 11/18/08
Here's the scene: You are up 16-13 in the fourth quarter on a cold, windy and rainy day with the option of A) your opponent having a third-and-20 from its 34 or B) fourth-and-five from midfield and going for it. What do you do?
If you picked the more logical option of A, the Minnesota State football team feels your pain.
On third-and-20, Ashland took the lead for good with 11:56 remaining in the fourth quarter when quarterback Billy Cundiff hooked up with wide receiver Joe Horn for a 66-yard touchdown to make it 20-16. Ashland went on to win, 27-16, ending the Mavericks' first postseason appearance since 1993.
"Based on the situations I thought it was too close for them not to go for it," said MSU head coach Todd Hoffner.
The Eagles had already gone for it on fourth down three times, once in formation and twice with fake punts.
"The whole third quarter, our offensive was down in their end," Hoffner said. "There were a number of things that could have happened [on third-and-20]. First, they could force the ball and make a bad decision."
Cundiff did already throw an interception to defensive back Jesse Graves.
"Second, an incomplete pass," Hoffner said.
Cundiff did only complete eight passes the whole day.
"Third, we stop them and force them to punt, giving us good field possession," Hoffner said.
Eagles punter Derek Riedel had two punts for a total of 11 yards.
"Ultimately," Hoffner said, "we didn't get what we wanted."
A 66-yard touchdown pass.
Despite outgaining their opponent 334-314, the Mavericks (9-3), weren't able to capitalize on drives in the second half in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.
MSU missed two field goal attempts - a 42-yarder that went right and a 35-yarder that was blocked.
The defense stuffed a fourth-and-one and got the ball back at Ashland's 29, but the offense was unable to complete a fourth down pass, giving back the ball.
MSU got on the scoreboard first as junior running back Ernest Walker scored on a 2-yard run that capped off an 11-play drive, but Grady Derheim missed the PAT to keep it at 6-0.
Walker ended with 135 yards on 28 carries, the first 100-yard game of his career, and Donte Shackelford finished with 19 rushes for 90 yards. Quarterback Ryan Fick completed 8 of 19 passes for 78 yards.
After Cundiff opened the game with an interception, he led Ashland on two drives totaling 21 plays and 149 yards which ended with a 3-yard pass to D'Marris McCoy on the first and a 5-yard run around the end for himself.
After the second missed PAT, the Mavericks drove 66 yards on six plays, scoring on Walker's 19-yard run with 43 seconds left in the half, knotting the score at 13 at half.
MSU opened the fourth with Derheim's 28-yard field goal to give the Mavericks a 16-13 lead before the Ashland 66-yard touchdown pass and McCoy's 7-yard touchdown run.
"The team did outstanding," Hoffner said. "To go from 5-6 to 9-3, and to do all these things that we haven't done in years. I'm so proud of our coaches and players."
Nick Seipel is a Reporter staff writer