MOORHEAD, Minn. -- The Minnesota State University Moorhead football team piled up 613 yards of offense and held Minot State to 212 total yards in a 52-7 rout of the Beavers on Saturday at Nemzek Stadium in Moorhead, Minn. Junior quarterback Jake Hodge also became MSUM's career passing yards leader in the win.

MSUM improved to 2-7 overall and 1-4 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division in the win, while Minot State fell to 1-8 overall and 1-4 in the division.

"It was a solid performance in all three phases of the game," MSUM head coach Steve Laqua said.

Hodge, who entered the game needing 158 yards to tie Dustin Long's career record of 5,748 yards. Hodge finished the game 18-of-35 passing for 253 yards and three scores and now has 5,843 passing yards for his Dragon career.

"Jake has been a teammate that everybody really respects," Laqua said. "That makes individual awards a lot more exciting. when your teammates value the teammate that you are."

MSUM also tied a school record with 33 first downs. The Dragons rushed for 360 yards on 60 carries and threw for 253.

Hodge also rushed for 101 yards and a score on 16 carries. Junior running back Zayne Medhaug rushed for 86 yards and two scores and caught five passes for 65 yards and a score. Junior wide receiver Adam Jiskra caught nine passes for 113 yards. Senior running back Chris Kroeten rushed for a touchdown while freshman wide receiver Hunter Braaten caught a 19-yard touchdown for MSUM.

Redshirt freshman Abe Roehrich led the Dragons with seven tackles. Junior defensive lineman Steve Schutz had six tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and a forced fumble, while sophomore Jesse Beilke had five tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Freshman defensive tackle Jake Busse had 1.5 sacks.  

Sophomore Michael Schwichtenberg had a 29-yard field goal and also was a perfect 7-of-7 on extra points. He added a 52-yard punt.

Facing a stiff 30 mph wind, MSUM took the opening drive down the field, traveling 75 yards on 14 plays, and scored when Hodge found the end zone from eight yards out. With the extra point, the Dragons were up 7-0 with 10:11 left in the first.

Minot State drove into Dragon territory and had a second down at the 3-yard line. Quarterback Zac Cunha fumbled and Beilke landed on the ball in the end zone for a touchback. The turnover proved to be a key momentum swing in the first quarter.

"The defensive coaches came up with an aggressive game plan," Laqua said. "The players bought in and executed it well. I liked the aggressive mentality the defense played with today."

MSUM drove to the Minot State 2-yard line as the quarter wound down, but the Beaver defense stopped Medhaug at the 1-yard line on a fourth down. However, that drive ended the first quarter and forced Minot State into the wind to start the second.

The Dragons forced a three-and-out and the offense converted the drive into points moments later when Hodge hit Medhaug from 7 yards out. With 12:05 left in the second, MSUM led 14-0.
Later in the quarter, the lead grew to 21-0 when Hodge hit Braaten on a 19-yard strike with 3:43 left in the half.

MSUM's defense forced a punt on the ensuing possession and the Dragons went on a 9-play, 75-yard march to close the half. Medhaug scored from three yards out with 22 seconds left to push the lead to 28-0, which was the halftime score.

The Dragons took the wind to start the third quarter. Cunha was sacked by Beilke and fumbled, with the fumble being recovered by redshirt freshman Jeff Mueller. The Dragons converted the turnover into points when Schwichtenberg connected from 29 yards out to push the lead to 31-0.

Later in the quarter, MSUM's defense forced a punt. The short 20-yard punt into the wind would have given MSUM the ball at the Beavers' 47, but Minot was whistled for a 15-yard fair-catch interference penalty. On a third and 10, Medhaug broke free for a 32-yard touchdown run, and with the extra point, MSUM's lead grew to 38-0.

"It was a good sign of a maturing football team to come out in the second half and put the game away," Laqua said.  "It was a good sign of growth in our program."

Hodge hit Jiskra for a 1-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to push the lead to 45-0. After Minot State scored to make it 45-7, the Dragons went on an 11-play, 75-yard march, and scored when Kroeten found the end zone from three yards out with 6:31 left.  Kroeten, who has fought several injuries during his career, scored a touchdown for the first time in collegiate career to make the score 52-7.

A crucial factor for MSUM was third down. The Dragons held Minot State to 3-of-12 on third downs while converting 10-of-17 themselves.

"Our third-down production was really a key piece for us offensively," Laqua said. "That, and not turning the ball over."

MSUM is back in action on Nov. 8 at Bemidji State (3-6) in the Battle for the Axe.

"It's a good momentum builder heading into a rivalry game," Laqua said. "I'm encouraged by the rushing output we've had the last two weeks. We've got the running game going and that's something we've got to continue doing."

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Today was the first time the Dragons held an NSIC opponent scoreless for the first three quarters of a ballgame since their 26-15 home victory over Northern St. on Oct. 28, 2006. It was also the first time the Dragons hit the 50 point mark since defeating Wisconsin-Oshkosh 56-7 in the Metrodome on Nov. 13, 1999.