Box Score
MOORHEAD, Minn. -- A 28-point fourth quarter explosion helped the Minnesota State University Moorhead football team surge past Bemidji State, 35-17, in the Battle for the Axe Saturday afternoon at Alex Nemzek Stadium in Moorhead, Minn. The Dragons trailed 17-7 heading into the fourth quarter before outscoring Bemidji State 28-0 in the final quarter.

The win helped MSUM claimed the Axe -- a traveling trophy that has existed since 1929 -- for the first time since the 2008 season.  It was also the third straight win for MSUM (4-6, 4-2 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division), which is the first time since 2006 the Dragons have won three games in a row. Bemidji State fell to 2-8 overall and 0-6 in the NSIC North Division.

The four wins for the Dragons are the most since the 2007 season.

"It's an exciting step for our program," MSUM head coach Steve Laqua said. "We respect what their program has been able to achieve. We set our sights on trying to climb to the top half of the north division and we knew this is one of the teams that has been there. It's exciting that we've done something that hasn't been done in a long time and to see the confidence and enthusiasm about the direction the program is heading. We're not over the hump, but we're a lot closer than we've been in a while."

The Dragon defense delivered big in the game, holding the Beavers to just 280 yards of total offense. It is the fewest yards MSUM has surrendered in a game this season. MSUM held the Beavers to just 62 passing yards and held senior running back Avery Walker, who entered the game with more than 1,000 yards rushing, to 92 yards on 28 carries. Redshirt freshman safety Jesse Beilke paced MSUM with 10 tackles, including one for loss, while sophomore cornerback Chris Binford had an interception and senior Mike Mann had a key fumble recovery.

"The way our defense played gave us a shot to win," Laqua said. "Had our defense not played well today, we would not have won the football game."

Despite missing some first-half scoring opportunities, MSUM gained 518 yards of total offense, marking the fourth time this season the Dragons have surpassed 500 yards of total offense in a game. MSUM finished with 286 yards through the air and 232 yards on the ground, led by a big day from sophomore Jake Hodge, who threw for 286 yards and two scores and also rushed for 144 yards and two scores.

"Jake really got things going with his legs. Because of that it opened up things in the passing game," Laqua said. "He was crafty escaping the pocket a few times and made some great gains doing that."

Sophomore wide receiver Adam Jiskra had seven catches for 119 yards and a score, while sophomore running back Zayne Medhaug had six catches for 38 yards and also rushed for 39 yards and a score. Redshirt freshman Cory Ambrose had five catches for 50 yards.

Trailing 17-7 entering the fourth quarter, MSUM started its rally. The Dragons went on a five-play, 75 yards drive to start the fourth quarter -- keyed by a 15-yard personal foul penalty on Bemidji State -- and scored when Hodge broke free for a 37-yard touchdown run. The extra point by senior Wes Kramer was good, bringing MSUM within 17-14 with 14:01 left.

After solid coverage on a kick return, MSUM's defense then forced a three-and-out, and the Dragons took over at their own 31-yard line.

"That five-play sequence -- the touchdown run by Jake, great kick coverage afterward and the three-and-out from the defense solidified the momentum for us," Laqua said. "The turning point was Jake's touchdown run."

After the three-and-out, MSUM marched 69 yards on 10 plays, and scored when Medhaug flew high over the pile into the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown, putting the Dragons out in front 21-17 with 8:52 left in the contest.

Once again, MSUM forced a three-and-out, and after a punt return by Medhaug brought the Dragons into Bemidji State territory, they went on the move again. Hodge hit freshman tight end Shaun Hollenkamp for a 28-yard touchdown to cap of a quick four-play, 48-yard drive to push the Dragon lead to 28-17 with 6:27 left.

In a span of less than nine minutes, MSUM went from down 10 points to up 11. And the Dragons weren't done.

Sophomore linebacker Chris Lee forced a fumble of Bemidji State's Juwaan Richard with 6:21 left, and Mann recovered to give the Dragons the ball at the Beaver 34-yard line.  Moments later, Hodge found the end zone again on a 19-yard touchdown, and with Kramer's extra point, MSUM had pushed the lead to 35-17 with 4:04 left.

Binford helped MSUM finish off the win with an interception of Bemidji State's Alex Hass in the final minutes to clinch an 18-point win, which was the Dragons' largest margin of victory since beating Minnesota Crookston by 22 in 2012.

"Our defense has gotten better and better the last three weeks," Laqua said. "I am proud of how that group has jelled."

Bemidji State led 10-0 in the first half. MSUM had a drive inside the 5-yard line on its initial possession but turned the ball on downs. The Dragons also fumbled on another possession in Bemidji State territory and had another drive stall with penalties.

Still, the Dragons were down only 10 late in the first half when they broke through for their first score. Hodge hit Jiskra from 10 yards out with 1:03 left in the half, and with Kramer's extra point, MSUM was within 10-7, which was the halftime score.

Senior Brandon Schell rushed for 43 yards for MSUM, while freshman Austin Stone had six carries for 29 yards. Lee finished with nine tackles and a forced fumble.

MSUM wraps up the 2013 season at nationally-ranked St. Cloud State on Nov. 16. Game time is 1 p.m. in St. Cloud, Minn.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: With their 518 yards of total offense today giving them a total of 4644 plus today, the Dragons broke the team record for total offense in a season previously held by the 2007 Dragon squad that amassed 4465 total yards…Jake Hodge now has 11 rushing touchdowns this season, which is more than any Dragon team has rushed for in any year since 2003, when the team rushed for 24 touchdowns. Hodge also has more rushing touchdown than any Dragon since Brad Duerr rushed for 16 scores in the 2002 season.