Game Notes (pdf)

The Minnesota State University Moorhead football team opens the 2012 regular season at home Saturday against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foe Wayne State.  Game time is 1 p.m. at Alex Nemzek Field in Moorhead, Minn.

Game notes for Saturday's game can be accessed at the link above.

The Dragons, entering their second year under the direction of Head Coach Steve Laqua, will rely heavily on a group of talented young players as the embark on the 2012 season.

The team held a full-contact scrimmage last Saturday which helped finalize the team's depth chart heading into Week 1. It also gave the team's younger players a chance to continue to develop.

"It was another step forward for our young guys, especially offensively," Laqua said. "That group has made a lot of progress.

"We solidified our depth chart, especially at the quarterback position,"  Laqua said. "The defensive backs played really solid."

MSUM now turns its attention to Saturday, where it will face Wayne State for the first time since 2009. The series dates back to 1960, with the Dragons holding a 12-8 edge. Wayne State won the most recent meeting in 2009, 41-0.

The Dragons are 5-5 in their last 10 regular-season openers, including 1-0 under Laqua.  The team won at Robert Morris (Ill.) 28-17 to open the 2011 campaign.

"We've got to continue to get better," Laqua said. "We have to make sure we prep well this week. We feel like we accomplished our goal in fall camp, to be game ready with a young team. That was a success."

About the Dragons
MSUM will have a new, youthful look in 2012. The team returns 28 letterwinners after losing 25 from last year's squad. The team returns 10 starters from the 2011 team. The Dragons have 11 seniors and six juniors, with the rest of the squad being sophomores, redshirt freshmen or freshmen.

The team's young roster has led to many position battles during preseason camp. The team will also rely on a group of experienced players for the 2012 campaign.

The Dragon defense will be led by senior linebacker Tyler Brody, who was second on the team with 83 tackles a year ago. He also had two interceptions. Junior linebacker Brad Hauer is also back; he led the team with seven tackles for loss a year ago and was fourth on the team with 36.5 tackles. Senior defensive tackle Steve Parks, who appeared in nine games a year ago, is expected to step into a starting role. He had 14.5 tackles, including five for loss, in 2011.

Several new faces have emerged on the offensive side of the ball for MSUM. Redshirt freshman Myles Montplasir has emerged from a preseason quarterback battle as the opening-game starter. Sophomore Brandon Schell steps into the starting running back slot.  He rushed for 124 yards a year ago and also caught 11 passes for 74 yards. Senior receiver Barik Williams also is back after catching two passes a year ago and appearing in nine games.

Laqua is in his second season at MSUM.

About Wayne State
The Wildcats and veteran head coach Dan McLaughlin are coming off of a 7-4 season. They were 7-3 in the NSIC, which tied them for fourth.

They return seven starters on offense and eight on defense.  Their top returnee on offense is senior receiver Kevin Paulsen (38 catches, 509 yards, 3 TD) , who was honorable mention All-NSIC South Division a year ago. Also back is senior running back Nick Pulscher, who rushed for 581 yards and six touchdowns a year ago.

The team's top returning defensive player is senior defensive end Richard Daniel, who is a two-time first-team All-NSIC selection. Sophomore linebacker Nick Monzu, the team's leading tackler a year ago with 83, is also back.

Wayne State was picked to finish seventh in the NSIC with 139 points; the Wildcats were picked to finish fourth in the south division.

McLaughlin is in his eighth season at WSC with a record of 46-33 at the school.