Minnesota State (Mankato) beats Concord 47-13 in D II semi

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) The first seven times that Minnesota State Mankato touched the football, there were points.

Driven by a substantial size advantage on the offensive line, the Mavericks defeated Concord University 47-13 in a semifinal game of the NCAA Division II football playoffs Saturday.

The Mavericks had nine possessions in the game and scored touchdowns on the first six, adding a field goal on the seventh.

The Mavericks gained 498 yards of offense, with 268 yards rushing on 46 carries. Minnesota State Mankato had more than 15 minutes more in possession time.

With a ball-control, physical offense early. Minnesota State Mankato had only four possessions in the first half but scored touchdowns on each.

The first drive went 83 yards in 12 plays, with Ricky Lloyd's 21-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Burns completing the possession. The next drive was 10 plays and 56 yards, with Lloyd hitting Kyle Riggott with a 20-yard score. The third possession went 80 yards in 11 plays, and Lloyd's third touchdown pass covered 7 yards to Connor Thomas for a 22-0 lead.

Concord (13-1), of Athens, West Virginia, got on the board late in the second quarter on a 6-yard run by Ben Nester to make it 22-7 at halftime, but the Mavericks added another score with a 10-play, 80-yard drive, with backup quarterback Nick Pieruccini scoring on an 11-yard run.

The second half was much the same. The Mavericks scored touchdowns on the first two possessions, with Connor Thomas rushing in from 5 yards and Lloyd passing 8 yards to Bryce Duncan. Alden Haffar added a 28-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter that made it 47-7.

Concord added a late touchdown on Nester's 2-yard run, but the PAT was blocked.

Lloyd completed 14 of 18 passes for 177 yards and four touchdowns. Thomas rushed for 123 yards and scored twice, becoming the Mavericks' career touchdown leader with 33.

Minnesota State Mankato will play Colorado-Pueblo (a 10-7 victor over West Georgia) in the national championship game on Saturday, Dec. 20, at Kansas City.