Minnesota State Mankato advances to third round of Division II playoffs with victory at Indianapolis

Minnesota State Mankato held on for a 35-27 victory over host Indianapolis in the second round of the Division II playoffs on Saturday.

The Mavericks led 28-14 midway through the fourth quarter, but the Greyhounds scored the next two touchdowns, pulling within 28-27 with 1:50 to play on Garrett Sherrell’s 34-yard TD catch. But their two-point conversion run for the lead was stuffed.

The Mavericks recovered the ensuing onside kick, and two plays later Sam Backer scored on a 28-yard TD run. Edmund Ocansey intercepted a pass with 30 seconds left to clinch the victory for the Mavericks.

Backer rushed for 116 yards and two TDs and caught a TD pass and Mitchell Thompson threw for 159 yards and two TDs and ran for a TD for the Mavericks, who will play defending champion Ferris State in the quarterfinals. Ferris State beat Ashland 56-24 on Saturday.

Bethel 51, Coe 26: Cooper Drews threw for 250 yards and three TDs and rushed for three TDs to lead host Royals (11-0) to a second-round victory over the Kohawks (9-3).

Drews’ 55-yard TD pass to Albert Rundell, the leading receiver in Division III, gave the Royals a 30-7 lead in the second quarter. The two later connected for a 47-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter to put Bethel up 36-20.

David Geebli rushed for 98 yards and a TD for the Royals, who outgained the Kohawks 506-286.

St. John’s 49, Monmouth (Ill.) 15: Trey Feeney passed for 387 yards and six touchdowns to pace the host Johnnies past the Scots.

Feeney threw TD passes on each of St. John’s first four possessions of the second half as the Johnnies extended their 21-9 halftime lead to 48-9.