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MSU Moorhead Athletics

zayne medhaug vs. UMC
Beth Nelson
36
Minnesota Crookston UMC 0-11 , 0-7
66
Winner MSU Moorhead MSUM 4-7 , 3-4
Minnesota Crookston UMC
0-11 , 0-7
36
Final
66
MSU Moorhead MSUM
4-7 , 3-4
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UMC Minnesota Crookston 6 10 7 13 36
MSUM MSU Moorhead 17 14 21 14 66

Game Recap: Football | | Tom Berg, MSUM Assistant AD for Media Relations

Medhaug, Offense Set Records in Dragon Football Team's 66-36 Rout of UMC

MOORHEAD, Minn. -- A record-setting day from junior Zayne Medhaug and the Dragon offense propelled the Minnesota State University Moorhead football team to a 66-36 win over Minnesota Crookston in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday at Nemzek Stadium in Moorhead, Minn.

MSUM, which finished the year with three straight wins, improved to 4-7 overall and 3-4 in the NSIC North Division while UMC fell to 0-11 overall and 0-7 in the north.

Medhaug had the best day of his Dragon career. He set a new MSUM record with six touchdowns scored in the game -- five rushing and one receiving. He rushed for 221 yards and five scores on just 17 carries and also caught five passes for 95 yards.  The five rushing touchdowns tied a record. Medhaug also finished with 1,127 yards rushing this season, the first time MSUM has had a 1,000-yard rusher since 1999 when Tony Duerr accomplished the feat.

"Zayne Medhaug had a phenomenal day," MSUM head coach Steve Laqua said. "The offensive line was a huge part of that. It was fun to see us put up another 300-yard plus rushing performance today."

MSUM also set school records for total yards (711), first downs (35) and plays run (102). The Dragons rushed for 475 yards, the most they have rushed for in the Laqua era. On special teams, sophomore Michael Schwichtenberg set new school records for PAT conversions and attempts by going 9-of-9 on extra points.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Demetrius Carr rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown and threw for 236 yards and a score. Freshman receiver Damon Gibson had a career-high five catches for 46 yards, while junior receiver Adam Jiskra caught a touchdown.

Junior defensive lineman Steve Schutz had a team-best seven tackles, including a sack and two for loss. Redshirt freshman Abe Roehrich had five tackles and an interception while freshman defensive tackle Jake Busse had three tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Sophomore kicker/punter Michael Schwichtenberg was a perfect 9-of-9 on extra points and added a 22-yard field goal.

On the 20-degree day, MSUM scored at least 14 points in each quarter. The Dragons scored on their first possession when Schwichtenberg hit a 22-yard field goal with 11:09 left in the first half. Later in the quarter, Medhaug scored from three yards out to give MSUM a 10-0 lead with 5:08 left in the first.

The Dragon defense forced a three-and-out and after an 18-yard punt return by junior Preston Prince, took over at the UMC 42-yard line. Carr hit Gibson for gains of 12 and 15 yards on the drive, which was capped off by a 15-yard scoring strike from Carr to Jiskra. With the extra point, MSUM led 17-0 with 2:45 left in the first quarter.

"Demetrius orchestrated the offense well," Laqua said. "He was getting different guys involved and putting them in position to be successful."

The Golden Eagles fought back to within 17-9, but MSUM went on a 13-play, 60-yard scoring drive on the ensuing possession and scored when Carr found the end zone from six yards out. With the extra point, MSUM's lead was at 24-16 with 9:05 left in the half.

A long touchdown pass brought UMC with 24-16, but again the Dragons answered with a big play of their own, a 65-yard run from Medhaug, to push the lead to 31-16, which was the halftime score.

MSUM extended the lead to 38-16 in the third when Medhaug scored from seven yards out with 7:54 left.

The Golden Eagles scored again to cut the lead to 38-23 but got no closer. Carr hit Medhaug for a 63-yard touchdown pass moments later to push the lead to 45-23 with 5:43 left in the third.

The Dragons added another score late in the third as Medhaug found the end zone from 20 yards out to push the lead to 52-23.

Medhaug's 57-yard run in the fourth put the game away for MSUM at 59-30, and later in the quarter, senior Bryce Jorgenson rushed in from one yard out to make it 66-30 with 2:53 left. The Golden Eagles scored late to make the final count 66-36.

Sophomore defensive end Ryan Dahleen and freshman defensive tackle Jeff Cesario each had tackles for the Dragons. Redshirt freshman Jeff Mueller had a fumble recovery.

It was the final game for seven Dragon senior players: Kasey Groettum, Antonio Hardy-Dundy, Lomumba Ismail, Jorgenson, Chris Kroeten Ross Montgomery and Andrew Pittman. It was also the final game for three senior student coaches: Mike Anderson, Nick Seedorff and Brock Wieber.

MSUM recorded a three-game winning streak for the second straight year.

"It's exciting to head into the offseason on a winning streak and finish the season on a positive note," Laqua said.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: The Dragons have now rushed for at least 300 yards in four consecutive games (378 at Mary, 360 vs. Minot St., 312 at Bemidji St. and 480 today). Before this streak, the Dragons had not rushed for at least 300 yards in a single game since accumulating 347, in a 44-0 win at Waldorf College on Oct. 11, 2003 and it hadn't been done against an NSIC opponent, since the Dragons racked up 465 yards on the ground in their 49-35 win at Northern St. on Nov. 16, 2002.   Jiskra (1,039 receiving yards) and Medhaug (1,127 rushing yards) also gave MSUM a 1,000-yard rusher and a 1,000-yard receiver in the same season for the first time in school history.
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