Practice the way you play, that’s been the motto for the Minnesota State football team this season.

It’s also the reason that the Mavericks’ special teams have had so much success.

“We go game tempo in practice, which is different than what we’ve done in the past,” special teams coordinator Luke Schleusner said. “It’s more realistic. Every rep is 100 percent.”

The Mavericks host Concordia-St. Paul in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division football game at 1 p.m. today at Blakeslee Stadium. The Mavericks will be trying to extend some pretty impressive special teams streaks, having erased some erratic play by those units early in the season.

In the last three games, the Mavericks have blocked nine punts and kicks, and Kelvin Rodgers has two kick returns and one punt return for touchdowns in three straight games. Also, Grady Derheim has settled the Mavericks’ kicking position in the last two weeks, making 10 of 10 PATs and his only field goal in that stretch, and Gerard Dewet is averaging 38.9 yards per punt with none blocked since the season-opener.

“We use our best players on special teams,” Schleusner said. “We know how big those plays can be.”

The Mavericks take about a half-hour of every practice to work on punt return and coverage and kick return and coverage, and the results have been amazing the last three weeks.

“We’re on a roll,” sophomore defensive end Bryan Schmid said. “We work on that all week. We practice the way we play.”

Schmid leads the team with three blocked kicks, using his 6-foot-2 frame and 36-inch vertical jump to get a hand on the football.

“We just try to get a good push,” Schmid said. “You keep your head up, and when you see the kicker, get your hands up. I’ve been fortunate to get a couple.”

It seems to be more than good fortune. Matt McQuiston, Steve Robinson, Jesse Graves, Jesse Hamilton, Kevin Klug and Eric Taylor have blocked a punt or kick. Schmid said that when the Mavericks blocked a game-winning field-goal attempt at the end of the fourth quarter against Augustana, four or five guys were in position to snuff that one.

“Everybody expects to get one,” Schmid said. “I think we’re starting to affect (the kickers) and get in their heads. People know we’re serious.”

Opposing punt coverage teams have a dilemma: If they hold in extra blockers to stymie the Mavericks’ rush, they’re putting fewer tacklers on the coverage, where Rodgers is as dangerous as any kick returner in Minnesota State history. All three have come at key times in games, with two leading directly to victories.

Three consecutive games with a kick or punt return for a touchdown is likely unprecedented at Minnesota State, though records don’t go too far back on that. Schleusner said he’s never seen anything like it in his seven years of coaching.

“It’s had such a big impact on games,” Schleusner said. “Our goal every season is to get one kick return and one punt return (for touchdowns), which is difficult to do. To have three, in consecutive weeks, is very special.”