Minnesota State Turns Coaching Mess Into Perfect Year

MANKATO (AP) — One day after their exiled football coach was cleared from child pornography charges and lobbied to return to work, the Minnesota State, Mankato Mavericks advanced to the Division II semifinals with a 17-10 victory over Missouri Western.

Todd Hoffner has been on administrative leave all season after being charged in August with possession of child pornography. Prosecutors alleged that a video he took on his cellphone of his children playing in a bath amounted to child porn. But a judge threw out the charges Friday.

Hoffner was not on the field Saturday when his team won; the school says it's still conducting an internal investigation.

Connor Thomas rushed for 159 yards and a touchdown in the victory, moving the 13-0 Mavericks to one win away from the national title game.