MOORHEAD, Minn. - At last.

After three weeks of pre-season drills, Minnesota State University Moorhead and new head coach Steve Laqua officially christen the 2011 season on Saturday, September 3, at a noon non-conference date with Robert Morris University at Arlington Heights, Ill.

Laqua joined the Dragons last spring following a marvelous run at Fargo Shanley High School where he fashioned a 20-game winning streak and guided the Deacons to back-to-back North Dakota State High School Championships.

Laqua and his new staff were greeted by 15 seniors for the opening of fall camp, including noseguard Ben Condon, cornerback Travis Davidson, center/offensive guard Tommy Gochis, wide receiver Kendall Hendon, tight end Phil Herkenhoff, linebacker Tyler Hewson, quarterback Kevin Koch, runningback E'boni Lucious-West, wide receiver Alex Pearson, holder Bryson Pluta,  noseguard Max Pryor, linebacker Jeff Schuette,  runningback Brandon Thompson, offensive tackle Zack Tourangeau and safety Logan Werlinger. Koch, Pryor, Schuette and Thompson have been elected captains for 2011.

While some rebuilding is certainly necessary, the Dragons retain several offensive weapons. Koch completed 160 of 316 passes for 1,760 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2010 while Thompson caught 47 passes for 436 yards and one touchdown.  Lucious-West rushed for a club high 557 yards on 162 carries with three touchdowns while Schuette was third on the club defensive chart with 55 tackles.

The Dragons, 2-9 overall and 2-8 in the NSIC a year ago, fell at Missouri Southern 30-0 on opening day. MSUM defeated Valley City State 16-6 on opening day in 2009 at Alex Nemzek Stadium.

Minnesota State Moorhead hosts Winona State University on Saturday, September 10 in the 2011 NSIC Opener.

Click here for full 2011 Dragons football schedule