MOORHEAD, Minn. -- The Minnesota State University Moorhead football team held a 20-12 lead in the fourth quarter, but Southwest Minnesota State scored 15 unanswered points, including the game-winning touchdown with three seconds left, to edge the Dragons, 27-20 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday in Moorhead, Minn.

MSUM fell to 0-2 overall and in the NSIC with the loss, while SMSU improved to 1-1 both overall and in league play. The game was played in a driving rain which caused both teams to stay on the ground for a majority of the day.

SMSU quarterback Charlie Kern hit receiver Anthony Dean for a 21-yard touchdown pass with three seconds left to break a 20-20 tie and give the Mustangs the win.

"Our kids competed hard. They kept their composure through the ups and downs of the game," MSUM head coach Steve Laqua said. "But this loss -- it hurts."

Mustang running back Tyler Tonderum set a school record with 343 rushing yards and three scores.

For MSUM, junior running back Brandon Schell had the best day of his Dragon career, rushing for a career-high 130 yards on 30 carries. Sophomore quarterback Jake Hodge, stepping into the starting spot with freshman Demetrius Carr injured, rushed for 60 yards and two scores and was 9-of-19 passing for 59 yards and a touchdown. Freshman tight end Shaun Hollenkamp caught his first collegiate touchdown pass.

On defense, redshirt freshman linebacker Aaron Bohl had the best day of his Dragon career with 15 total tackles, including one for loss. Senior defensive lineman Mike Mann had 11 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, while sophomore Chris Binford had eight tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and two breakups. Sophomore linebacker Chris Lee and senior tight end Tyler Barnes recovered fumbles.

The Dragons led 14-12 at halftime, and the game stayed that way until the fourth. The Dragons capped off a 13-play, 80-yard drive -- which included 26 yards from Schell and a big pass play from Hodge to sophomore Adam Jiskra -- with a 4-yard touchdown run with 14:02 left to push the lead to 20-12.  The snap was bad on the extra point, leaving the game at 20-12.

MSUM forced a three-and-out on the next possession, and a 14-yard pass play from Hodge to redshirt freshman back Korey Jacobson brought the Dragons to the Mustang 30-yard line. However the drive ended with an interception on fourth down.

The Mustangs answered with a quick six-play, 65-yard drive, capped off by a 13-yard run by Tonderum, and with the two-point conversion, tied the game at 20-20.

The Dragons had two other offensive possessions in the fourth quarter but were unable to muster a threat.

"We were in good position to win the game," Laqua said. "We didn't take advantage of the opportunities to put the game away."

The MSUM defense did force a turnover on downs inside their 20-yard line with less than four minutes left.

SMSU's final drive was eight plays, 65 yards and capped off by Kern's touchdown pass to Dean.

The Mustangs led early on a 71-yard touchdown run from Tonderum. MSUM then capitalized on a muffed punt by the Mustangs, which was recovered by Barnes, and scored on a 12-yard pass from Hodge to Hollenkamp. With senior Wes Kramer's extra point, MSUM led 7-6 with 9:46 left in the first quarter.

The Dragon lead grew to 14-6 in the second when Hodge broke free for a 21-yard scoring run, and Kramer added the extra point to make it an eight-point game. The Mustangs climbed within 14-12 on Tonderum's second touchdown run of the half. The score was 14-12 at the break.

Schell, who saw extended carries with sophomore Zayne Medhaug out with an injury, had 56 yards rushing at halftime.

"He got a lot more opportunities and stepped up to the plate," Laqua said. "Running backs love conditions like today when you can run the football."

The third quarter was scoreless before the teams combined for 21 fourth-quarter points.

MSUM is at Winona State on Saturday, Sept. 21 for a nonconference game.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Brandon Schell's 130 yards rushing was the most gained by a Dragon since Enol Gilles ran for 143 yards versus Winona State on October 6, 2007. The Dragon's hearts were also broken that day with three seconds left in the game as kicker Kyle Wilcox missed a 34 yard field goal giving the Warriors a 42-41 victory in Moorhead.

Notes: MSUM has lost the last five meetings to SMSU…Schell was MSUM's first 100-yard plus rusher since Medhaug did so against Minnesota-Crookston on Oct. 13, 2012…amidst the miserable weather conditions, Kramer had a solid day punting for MSUM with a 31.4 average, including two punts inside the 20-yard line.