The Peacock football team headed to the locker room at halftime with a 10-7 lead over the #1 Mavericks of Minnesota State University, Mankato in Fayette tonight.  However, the second half belonged to the visitors.  The Mavericks came out of the break and controlled the ­­third and fourth quarters picking off four Peacock passes while scoring 31 unanswered points en route to a 38-10 win.  Minnesota State improved to 5-0 on the season, while UIU dropped to 3-2 after back-to-back losses against nationally-ranked opponents.

Tristan Beyer came up with an interception on a tipped pass that touched a few players; his diving grab handed the Peacock offense the ball at the Maverick 40-yard line midway through the first quarter.  Seven plays later, quarterback Dimitri Morales threw a deep out to the pylon and David Esswein outjumped his opponent and came down with the ball in the endzone for a 25-yard touchdown reception.

Minnesota State answered on their ensuing posession highlighted by a 55 yard rush for Connor Thomas on fourth down.  The big run set up the Mavericks with a first and goal at the UIU 5-yard line.  Thomas finished what he started with an 8-yard touchdown run to tie the game.  

Upper Iowa put the only points on the scoreboard in the second quarter after a 13-play, 51-yard drive that ended with a Brady Beuschel 45-yard field goal, his new career long.  The Peacocks recorded three first downs on the drive and all three came on passing plays from Morales.

The Peacocks opened the second half with the ball, but on a third and long Morales was intercepted by Marcus Gooden inside the 15-yard line.  The interception was the first of the season for the Peacocks, but wouldn't be the last of the night.  MSU converted three of the four interceptions they recorded into touchdowns for 21 of their second half points.  The Mavericks second interception was claimed by Josh Gordon, who pulled down a tipped pass and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown.  The final turnover came in UIU's final posession when Justin Otto stepped in front of a Peacock receiver as UIU was pushing for a touchdown on a fourth and goal from the 2-yard line.

Minnesota State rushed for 200 yards behind Thomas' 120 yards and two scores, while Upper Iowa only accounted for 45 yards on the ground.  The Peacocks also game into the game as the top team in the Northern Sun Conference in turnover margin but came out of the ball game at a -2 after giving it away four times and only coming up with the Beyer pick and a Nate Roemer fumble recovery after Alex Wahl jarred a ball loose.

Cole Stephen played well in the middle of UIU's defense posting 14 tackles including 2 for loss, while Tate Thompson recorded 9 stops and Jevell Rollins tallied 8 with 3.5 tackles for loss.  

Morales threw for 190 yards on 23 completions with one touchdown.  Jalen Amis pulled in 8 passes for 65 yards, while Derrick Portis and Trey MacTaggart each snagged 5 catches.  Esswein caught 3 passes including the lone Peacock touchdown on the evening.

The Peacocks will remain at home next Saturday with a game against the Golden Bears of Concordia University, St. Paul for Upper Iowa University's Homecoming Weekend.  The game will kick off at 6 p.m. under the lights at Harms-Eischeid Stadium.