Box Score
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - -  The Minnesota State University Moorhead football team dropped its NSIC road opener on Saturday, falling to the University of Sioux Falls, 45-10, at Bob Young Field in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Dragons fell to 0-2 on the year with the loss, while USF improved to 2-0.

The young Dragons were outgained 472-238 in the game against the Cougars, who were receiving votes in the latest NCAA Division II Coaches Poll.

Freshman quarterback Jake Hodge, seeing his most extensive action of his young Dragon career, was 10-of-23 passing for 124 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 40 yards. Redshirt freshman quarterback Myles Montplaisir rushed for 38 yards, while freshman receiver Tyler Rivard had four catches for 42 yards and a score.

Freshman safety Shea DeJong led the Dragons with eight tackles and a fumble recovery, while sophomore linebacker Nick Seedorff had six tackles. Sophomore Lomumba Ismail had a blocked punt and two tackles for loss for MSUM. Freshman Sheldon Jones had five tackles and a forced fumble for the Dragon defense.

USF scored quickly on a four-play, 59-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead just 2:05 into the contest. After the two teams exchanged punts, the Dragons were moving into USF territory after an 18-yard run by Montplaisir and a 15-yard facemask penalty on the Cougars. However, USF's defense came up with the turnover when John Tidwell intercepted a Montplaisir pass at the Cougar 33-yard line.

The Cougars converted the turnover into a touchdown after a 10-play, 67-yard march to make it 14-0, which was the score after one quarter.

The lead grew to 21-0 after the Dragons fumbled deep in their own territory early in the second quarter. Two plays later, Kristian Porter rushed in from two yards out to push the Cougar lead to three touchdowns.

The Dragons moved into USF territory again midway through the second quarter but turned the ball over on downs after a fourth-down incompletion. Moments later, USF struck for the big play, as Taylor Perkins hit Carrington Hanna for a 61-yard touchdown, giving the Cougars a 28-0 lead.

MSUM's defense came up with a big turnover late in the first half, as Jones forced a fumbled that was recovered by DeJong near midfield. The score stood at 28-0 at halftime.
With a gusty wind at its back, USF pulled away in the third quarter with 17 points to build a 45-0 lead.

The Dragon special teams then came up big when Ismail blocked a Braden Wieking punt inside the Cougar 30-yard line.  The ball bounced out of bounds at the Cougar 29-yard line, giving the Dragons their best field position of the day.

Eight plays later, Hodge threw his first collegiate touchdown – connecting with Rivard on a fourth-and-12 – to get the Dragons on the board.  The 17-yard score, which was also Rivard's first collegiate touchdown, make it 45-7 with 8:15 left.

MSUM also put together a solid drive late, going 55 yards on 10 plays, capped off by a 21-yard field goal from junior Wes Kramer to cut the gap to 45-10.

Senior Matt Birr had a solid day with three catches for 51 yards. Freshman Zayne Medhaug rushed for 28 yards on 10 carries for MSUM.

The Dragons return home on Sept. 15 to face Upper Iowa in an NSIC matchup.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: The University of Sioux Falls became the seventh different school from the state of South Dakota the Dragons have played, and MSU Moorhead now has a combined 27-34-1 record versus those teams. Here is the list and the Dragon's record against those schools: Huron College (3-0); Yankton College (2-0); Northern St. (21-26-1); South Dakota St. (1-3); Augustana (0-2); Univ. of South Dakota  (0-2); Univ. of Sioux Falls (0-1).