Something unfamiliar awaits MSU Mankato, and more to know about Minnesota college football

For the second consecutive week, the Minnesota State Mankato football team will go on the road to face an opponent for the first time.

The Mavericks, who defeated host Findlay (Ohio) 37-14 in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs last week, will play at the University of Indianapolis on Saturday.

A victory would advance the Mavericks to the Division II quarterfinals for the second consecutive season. The Mavericks lost to Valdosta State in the semifinals last season.

Indianapolis is in the postseason for the first time since 2018. The Greyhounds defeated Truman State 57-14 last week to advance to the second round. Saturday will be the first time the Greyhounds have played host to a second-round playoff game.

On offense, the Mavericks (9-3) have been led by sophomores Sam Backer and Mitchell Thompson. Backer has rushed for 817 yards and 17 touchdowns, while Thompson has passed for 1,394 yards and 12 TDs and rushed for 623 yards and eight TDs.

The Greyhounds (11-1) have a potent offense. They are averaging 47.6 points and 509.4 offensive yards per game.

In their first-round victory, they scored on the first play from scrimmage when Gavin Sukup completed a 59-yard TD pass to Kaleb Carver.

The Greyhounds are 39-7 over the past four seasons while winning four consecutive Great Lakes Valley Conference titles.

MIAC champion Bethel, which had a first-round bye in the Division III playoffs, will be host to Coe on Saturday.

Last year, the Royals defeated Coe 31-26 in Arden Hills in the first round. The Royals went on to defeat Lake Forest and Wartburg before losing to Susquehanna in the quarterfinals.

The Royals (10-0) have been boosted by three offensive players — QB Cooper Drews, RB Taye Manns and WR Albert Rundell — and defensive back Devin Williams.

Drews, a junior, has passed for 2,615 yards and is second in Division III with 35 TD passes. He has thrown just three interceptions in 323 passing attempts. Manns, named the MIAC Rookie of the Year, has rushed for 815 yards (averaging 6.2 yards per carry in 131 attempts) and 13 TDs. Rundell, a junior, leads Division III in receptions (99) and receiving yards (1,354) and is second in TD receptions (19).

Coe (9-2), the American Rivers Conference runner-up to Wartburg, defeated host Concordia (Wis.) 44-7 last Saturday in Mequon, Wis. It was the Kohawks’ first playoff victory since 2016.

MIAC runner-up St. John’s will play Monmouth on Saturday in Collegeville, Minn. Both teams had first-round byes last week.

It will be the second meeting between the programs. The Johnnies defeated Monmouth 62-3 in Collegeville in the first round of the 2005 playoffs.

The Johnnies (9-1) have allowed only 27 points in the first half this year as they outscored opponents 505-88. The Johnnies defense has been anchored by lineman Zach Frank, a senior from Centennial who was named the MIAC’s outstanding lineman this season. He led the MIAC in sacks (10) and was second in tackles for loss (14) in MIAC play.

Monmouth (9-1), making its first playoff appearance since 2019, has won nine straight since a 21-7 loss to Wartburg in its season opener. The Scots went 9-0 in the Midwest Conference to win their second conference title in the past four seasons.

After a first-round bye, WIAC champion Wisconsin-River Falls will make its first appearance in the Division III playoffs since 1996 when it plays at home against Chapman on Saturday.

The Falcons, led by QB Kaleb Blaha, the WIAC Offensive Player of the Year, have the top offense in Division III, averaging 583.3 yards and 31.5 first downs per game.

Blaha, a senior from Fridley High School, passed for 3,281 yards and led Division III in total offense (415.6 yards per game).

Chapman, from Orange, Calif., reached the second round with an 18-16 first-round victory over Whitworth on Saturday in Spokane, Wash.