Reusse: Well-traveled Mankato QB enjoying Mavericks' ride

MANKATO – Ricky Lloyd put up spectacular passing numbers as a senior at Concord (Calif.) High School in the fall of 2010. He led California, a state with a lot of quarterbacks, with 301 completions and 4,451 yards.

Lloyd also threw 52 touchdown passes in leading Concord to its first North Coast Division II championship.

Four years later, Lloyd is involved in another attempt at Division II glory. This involves Minnesota State Mankato, as the Mavericks are seeking to become the champions of NCAA Division II for the first time.

On Saturday, there was an impressive crowd announced at 3,378 paid customers at Blakeslee Stadium, and the No. 1-rated Mavericks played a marvelous second half to defeat No. 2 Minnesota Duluth 44-17.

The Mavericks and Bulldogs share a conference, but they had not played during the regular season because …

Well, because the Northern Sun is an unwieldy mess with 16 teams and two divisions, and much imbalance in strength of football programs. MSU had seven victories of 28 points or more, and UMD had five, but those cakewalks were long-forgotten at noon Saturday, as two large, physical teams settled in for a test of toughness.

And then the Mavericks threw UMD a curve. They came out throwing with Lloyd, who has taken a circuitous journey to become the No. 1 quarterback for this playoff effort.

"We knew going into the game that we were going to throw early, because they have such a good run defense," Lloyd said.

Soon, UMD was down 10-0, and it could have been 17-0 without the Bulldogs stopping MSU on fourth-and-1 at their 12. Inspired by that defensive stand, UMD forged a 10-10 tie at halftime.

How did the Mavericks handle frittering away the early advantage?

"The chatter was good from the players in the locker room," coach Todd Hoffner said. "They were talking about dominating the second half."

The words became action to start the second half. Starting from the 20, Lloyd hit a 15-yarder to Bryce Duncan, and then Dorian Buford for a 51-yard romp.

UMD receiver Aaron Roth, a two-time captain, was playing despite a painful rib injury suffered in last weekend's playoff victory over Quachita (Ark.) Baptist. He was hit on those ribs, fumbled, and this put MSU at the Bulldogs 46.

Now, the Mavericks turned to tailback Connor Thomas, a 5-11, 205-pounder with flowing hair and a maniacal running style. Thomas banged at UMD's stout front five times, and then Lloyd threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Duncan.

That was with 8:34 left in the third quarter. UMD punted. Immediately, Lloyd threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Buford, and it was 27-10 with 7:12 left.

UMD gave it a shot with one more touchdown drive, but this battle of D-II heavyweights had two decisive factors: The Bulldogs' four turnovers to MSU's none, and the Mavericks' ability to throw.

Lloyd wound up 14 for 24 for 277 yards and three touchdowns. The Mavericks are 13-0 and in the national semifinals, which is quite an improvement on Lloyd's previous collegiate season: 0-12 at Southern Mississippi in 2012.

Lloyd was injured and didn't play last season, and went home to California. He still was looking for a place where he might be able to play at the start of summer. He was made aware that Jason Eck, the offensive coordinator at a Division II school in Minnesota, had been on Twitter, publicizing the need for a quarterback.

"I was getting a little antsy [about finding a school]," Lloyd said. "I sent a message to Coach Eck, we arranged a visit in early July, and I liked everything about Mankato when I got here."

Are being unbeaten and in the national semifinals more enjoyable than zero-and-12?

"I'm very happy with my decision to come here," Lloyd said, smiling at his understatement.