Let's be honest: The first seven games of the Minnesota State football season didn't tell us much.

This was not the usual, powerful Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Too many elite quarterbacks graduated after last season that a step down was predictable for many of the teams. Some of the programs just seem to be stuck in a perennial state of "yuck," while others had plenty of uncertainty.

That win at Minnesota Duluth was significant, even though the Bulldogs were down to their third-string quarterback because of injuries. However, any win at Duluth is impressive, given how rare it is that the visitor leaves town with a victory.

But the other six victories — Mary, Minnesota Crookston, Northern State, Concordia-St. Paul, Augustana, Upper Iowa, Southwest Minnesota State — were impressive only in margin.

The victory over Winona State, both impressive and thorough, was the first sign that this might be a special season at Minnesota State. The victory over Wayne State wasn't as dominant as it should have been, but coming off an emotional victory over Winona State, there was likely to be something of a letdown.

These last two weeks have been much more telling. Sioux Falls and Colorado State-Pueblo were the best teams Minnesota State has faced this season. They each had tough, physical athletes that were the equal of the Mavericks, who needed everything in the arsenal to pull out hard-fought victories.

Sioux Falls seemed to be the better team for three quarters, but the Mavericks took advantage of their opportunities to rally. A couple of turnovers, some breaks and two touchdowns in the final five minutes, and Minnesota State was celebrating an undefeated regular season and another Northern Sun championship.

它已经三年小牛和科罗拉多州rado State-Pueblo faced each other, but a shady seeding system brought together a rematch of the 2014 national-championship game. Back then, the ThunderWolves were physical and tough, and that's the same style of football they brought to Blakeslee Stadium last weekend.

这是一个严肃的游戏,部分原因是the wind, but the teams kept taking shots at each other, with each defense yielding little. The Mavericks took their first lead in the third quarter, and the defense defended their end, despite being put in some short-field situations. Finally, a field goal into the wind was the difference, and the Mavericks moved on, again going 1-0 in that game.

In each of the last two games, there were times when it didn't look like the Mavericks would win. Teams didn't rally much against the Sioux Falls and CSU-Pueblo defenses this season, but Minnesota State did.

Was it luck? Some of it.

Was it skill and work ethic? Certainly.

Was it self-confidence and faith in each other? Absolutely.

In every championship season, there will be moments you can look back on to see where a good team became great and starters became stars.

The win at Minnesota Duluth, the rally against Sioux Falls, the overtime kick against CSU-Pueblo ... if one of those don't happen, the Mavericks may have already turned in their jerseys.

But they did, and Minnesota State is one of 16 teams still standing, four victories away from the national championship. It's starting to feel like a very good season is about to turn into something special.

Chad Courrier is a Free Press staff writer. To contact him, call 507-344-6353, e-mail atccourrier@mankatofreepress.comor follow his Twitter feed @ChadCourrier.

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