MOORHEAD, Minn. — The Minnesota State University Moorhead football team used a record-setting day to earn a 48-33 win over Northern State in the Dragons' season-finale Saturday at Scheels Field at Nemzek Stadium.

MSUM finished the year at 7-4 overall and 5-2 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division while Northern State ended 6-5 overall and 4-3 in the north.

It was truly a record-setting day for MSUM:
—junior quarterback Demetrius Carr threw for 507 yards to set a new MSUM single-game record, which was previously 472 set by Jake Hodge. Carr is the first-ever Dragon quarterback to surpass 500 yards passing in a game.

—junior receiver Damon Gibson caught 12 passes for 237 yards and two scores. He tied the single-season MSUM record with 90 receptions and tied the single-game receiving record with 237 yards. Gibson finishes the season with 90 catches for 1,549 yards and 17 touchdowns. He entered the game already single-season receiving yards and receiving touchdown school records.

"It was eye-popping to look at the season he had statistically," MSUM head coach Steve Laqua said. "I didn't think see a wide receiver put up the type of numbers he did. It was a huge step for him this season. He has put up All-American numbers."

The Dragons' seventh victory was significant for several reasons:
—It gave MSUM its first seven-win season since 1999 and best record in the Steve Laqua era.
—gave MSUM second place in the NSIC North Division.
—Today's win was the Dragons' fourth win in a row and it marks the first time that the Dragons have won four straight in the same season since winning five in a row starting with a 29-17 triumph at the University of Crookston on Sept. 25, 1999 and ending with a 41-12 thrashing of the University of Minnesota Morris in Moorhead on Oct. 23, 1999.
—Today's win was the Dragons' fourth win in a row and it marks the first time that the Dragons have ended the season on a four game winning streak starting a 30-21 home triumph over Southwest State. on Oct. 8, 1983 and ending with a 22-21 win in the Metrodome over St. Cloud State on Nov. 20, 1983.

Quotes from Coach Laqua:
On reaching seven wins for the first time in 17 years: "There are really good things going on right now.  Seven wins are something to be extremely proud of. We feel moved us into the next echelon of teams in our conference."

On the records set: "There was a lot of great individual performances, but it centers back that our offensive line had a dominating performance. They created big holes to run and gave Demetrius a lot of time to throw."

On Demetrius Carr's performance: "It was an unbelievably mature performance. That was the most coverage looks and blitz looks we have seen from a team all season. To perform like he performed today says so much about his growth."

On sending out the 12 seniors with a win in their last game: "I'm proud of them and I am extremely happy to go out on such a high note. They left the program at a 17-year high. That's got to be a pretty satisfying senior season."

How it Happened
MSUM built a 20-14 halftime lead on its way to a 48-33 win over Northern. The Dragons led 13-7 after one quarter as Carr connected with Gibson (57 yards) and senior Cory Ambrose (21 yards) on scores.

Northern came back to take a 14-13 lead, but a 2-yard touchdown run by Zach Sweep pushed MSUM back in front at halftime.

In the third quarter, Sweep's 1-yard score capped off a 12-play, 83-yard drive to push the Dragon lead to 27-14. The Wolves answered to cut the lead to 27-21 but the Dragons responded as junior receiver Hunter Braaten hauled in a 10-yard pass from Carr. Northern again cut the lead to a touchdown on an end around run by Zech Culbreath but missed the extra point and trailed 34-27.

MSUM's offense had an answer. Gibson caught a 3-yard touchdown pass with 1:33 left in the third to make it 41-27, and early in the fourth, Ambrose hauled in a 51-yard bomb from Carr to make it 48-27 with 12:53 left. The Wolves added a touchdown with 7:17 left but got no closer.

Highlight Performers
The Dragons compiled a season-high 663 yards on offense, led by a 507-yard passing day from junior quarterback Demetrius Carr.  Junior receiver Damon Gibson had 14 catches for 237 yards and two scores while junior receiver Hunter Braaten had 13 catches for 154 yards and a score. Senior receiver Cory Ambrose had three catches for 74 yards and two scores in his final game as a Dragon.

Freshman running back Zach Sweep rushed for a season-high 154 yards and two touchdowns in place of the injured Austin Stone.

The defense recorded six sacks and a turnover and held the Wolves to just 132 rushing yards on 37 carries. Senior defensive end Ryan Dahleen had 10 tackles, a forced fumble, three sacks and a blocked kick. Sophomore safety Michael Strand had nine tackles, while sophomore safety Aaron Doan had eight tackles and an interception. Junior defensive tackle Jake Busse had 2.5 sacks.

Senior Day
The 12 seniors honored prior to the game included Ambrose, Dahleen, linebacker Aaron Bohl, linebacker Dylan Hall, center Jack Bixler, defensive end Nick Ecklund, receiver Daniel Grande, defensive tackle Jake Antolak, quarterback Jake Hodge, cornerback Jeremiah Ary, defensive back Jimmy Roth and defensive lineman Zach Drevlow. Student coach Lane Puckett was also honored.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: The Dragons scored 48 points today, 42 last week at Bemidji State, 42 two weeks ago at home vs. Minot State and 47 at the University of Mary three weeks ago making today the first time in the 117-year history of the program that a Dragon team has scored at least 40 points in four consecutive games.