Spartan Passing Attack Leads Spartans to Homecoming Victory

Nate Hayden threw for 377 yards and completed touchdown passes to four different receivers on Saturday afternoon as the Spartans recorded a 38-28 victory over Mesabi Range.  M State had 489 yards of total offense on the day.

Jallah Zeze hauled in an 18 yard pass from Hayden in the first quarter and Carsen McKnight booted the extra point to give M State a 7-0 lead.  Hayden then connected with Fred Brown on a 30 yard pass and a McKnight PAT kick gave the Spartans a 14-0 lead after one quarter of play.

M State extended their lead to 21-0 early in the second quarter on a 12 yard run by Eric Williams and a third extra point kick by McKnight.  Mesabi Range answered with a 13-play, 71-yard scoring drive, capped by a one yard touchdown run by Joseph Turay.  A Hunter Pierce extra point kick made the score 21-7.  A 74-yard interception return by Montrellis Wilson and a Pierce extra point closed the gap even further, bringing the Norse to within 7 points at 21-14.  M State increased the lead to 28-14 when Hayden hit Rick Groce for a 15 yard touchdown and McKnight added the extra point.   Aundreus Griffin's 93 yard kick-off return and a Pierce PAT kick cut the halftime lead for M State to 28-21.

In the third quarter, McKnight drilled a 31 yard field goal for a 31-21 M State lead.  Isaac Freitag then caught a 41-yard pass from Hayden for the final Spartan touchdown of the game.   McKnight added the extra point for a 38-21 lead.

The only points of the fourth quarter came on a 29 yard TD pass from Charles Fiuza Jr. to Griffin.  The Pierce PAT kick put the final at 38-28.

Hayden completed 28-of-47 passes for 377 yards.  Brown (7 receptions, 76 yards), Zeze (4 receptions, 74 yards), Freitag (3 receptions, 73 yards), Jonathan Griffin (3 receptions, 66 yards) and Groce (4 receptions, 66 yards) were the leading receivers for M State.  Joel Dorjuste was the leading rusher with 65 yards on 12 carries.

Mesabi Range split quarterback duties between Isaiah Malone (14 -30, 103 yards) and Charles Fiuza Jr. (11-18, 106 yards, TD).  Aundreus Griffin caught 7 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown.

The Spartan defense held Mesabi Range to just 14 yards on the ground.  Deshawn Carter and AJ Conteh each intercepted a pass for the Spartans.  Cheo Trotter led the team with 11 tackles and Carter had 8.  The two teams combined for over 200 yards in penalties.

M State (4-3) will play Minnesota West in Worthington next Saturday. Kick off is scheduled for 1:30 PM.