MOORHEAD, Minn. — A strong performance by the defense helped the Minnesota State University Moorhead football team earn a 41-12 win over Minnesota Crookston in the Dragons' homecoming game Saturday night at Scheels Field at Nemzek Stadium in Moorhead, Minn. The win helped MSUM keep the Red River Valley Showdown Trophy from State Farm for a third straight year.

MSUM is now 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division while UMC fell to 0-6 overall and 0-2 in the north. It was MSUM's first homecoming win since 2011 and it was the Dragons' fourth consecutive win at home.

Junior receiver Damon Gibson tied a single-game MSUM record with four touchdown receptions.

MSUM's defense did not surrender a touchdown and held UMC to 140 yards of total offense, including just eight yards rushing on 44 carries. The Dragons recorded a season-high eight sacks and also forced three turnovers.

Senior defensive end Ryan Dahleen had eight tackles, two sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss for MSUM. Freshman defensive end Matthew Domek had two sacks, while senior linebacker Aaron Bohl and junior defensive end Jake Busse had 1.5 sacks each. Freshman defensive end Miles Baguette had eight tackles, a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Junior linebacker Abe Roehrich and sophomore cornerback Jerry Raye had interceptions.

"It was an impressive start by the defense, getting four straight three-and-outs," MSUM head coach Steve Laqua said. "Our third-down defense was great, we stopped 15 out of 18 third downs. We had eight sacks, and that was a tremendous job from the defensive line to put pressure on. Our defensive unit keeps getting better and better."

MSUM outgained UMC 441-140 and overcame several penalties and three turnovers to record the win. Gibson had four catches for 140 yards and four scores. Junior quarterback Demetrius Carr was 9-of-16 passing for 162 yards and four scores. Sophomore running back Austin Stone had 13 rushes for 79 yards and a score.

The Dragons struck quickly, going 46 yards on three plays, and scoring on a 29-yard pass from Carr to Gibson to give MSUM a 6-0 lead just 2:47 into the game.

The Golden Eagles battled back to tie the game at 6-6 with a pair of field goals. MSUM regained the lead in the second quarter as the Dragons covered 68 yards on nine plays and scored on a 1-yard plunge from Stone. With sophomore kicker Joe Tjosvold's extra point, MSUM led 13-6.

Roehrich intercepted UMC quarterback Taylor Spier and returned the ball into Golden Eagle territory on the next possession. On the next play, Carr connected with Gibson again, this time from 46 yards out, to push the lead to 20-6.

MSUM then attempted an onside kick and Roehrich recovered near midfield. Five plays later, Carr hit Gibson once again from 19 yards out, pushing the lead to 27-6, which was the halftime score.

"In the second quarter the offense finally got into a rhythm," Laqua said.

The Dragons struck quickly in the third. After a 23-yard run by Carr, Gibson hauled in his fourth touchdown of the game, a 46-yard strike, to make it 34-6 with 14:06 left in the third.

The Golden Eagles added two more field goals to make it 34-12 but got no closer.  Later in the fourth, MSUM took advantage of a fumble recovery by sophomore linebacker Joe Rademacher and converted the miscue into points, as senior Jack Bixler scored his first collegiate touchdown to make it 41-12 with 1:32 left.

"We played a lot of guys throughout the game," Laqua said. "It was fun to see so many different faces in the game and showing what they can do and building our depth."

MSUM hosts St. Cloud State on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 2 p.m.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game:  Damon Gibson became the fourth Dragon to catch four touchdowns in a game. Below is the exclusive list he joined:
- Rick Manke on Nov. 11, 1972 in a 49-0 win at Winona St.
- Chad Davison on Nov. 15, 2003 in a 45-21 win in Moorhead over Wayne St.
- Bruce Green on Nov. 4, 2006 in a 32-6 win at Minnesota Crookston
- Damon Gibson vs. UMC, Oct. 8, 2016 (4 rec. 140 yds. 4 TD)