MOORHEAD, Minn. — A solid all-around effort helped the Minnesota State University Moorhead football team earn a 41-24 win over Wayne State (Neb.) in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Thursday night at Scheels Field at Nemzek Stadium in Moorhead, Minn.

MSUM is now 1-0 while Wayne State is 0-1.

"It was a great win," MSUM head coach Steve Laqua said. "I'm excited about the amount of guys we were able to play in the game. Our depth was tremendous."

Junior quarterback Demetrius Carr had a solid all-around game for MSUM. He completed 26-of-36 passes for 288 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for 63 yards and a touchdown.

Junior receiver Damon Gibson had a big game for the Dragons, catching eight passes for 156 yards and two scores. Junior receiver Hunter Braaten had nine catches for 64 yards while senior receiver Cory Ambrose had four catches for 34 yards and a score. Sophomore Evan Moore had three catches for 28 yards and a score.

Sophomore Austin Stone rushed 19 times for 97 yards and a score to lead a balanced ground game.

The Dragons outgained WSC 528-397 in total offense. The Dragons rushed for 233 yards on 47 carries and threw for 295 yards.

"Our offensive line played good football," Laqua said. "They were physical and assignment-solid."

Sophomore cornerback Jerry Raye led the offense with eight tackles, three pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Freshman cornerback Deiondre Taylor and sophomore safety Grant Reuer had eight tackles each. Sophomore defensive lineman Jeff Stith and freshman defensive lineman Miles Baggett had sacks.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game:  With tonight's win, the Dragons have now won nine of their last 10 games where they have opened up a season with a home game. The only loss during this stretch dating back to 1994 was when Wayne State drubbed the Dragons 49-6 exactly four years ago today, Sept. 1, 2012.

MSUM scored first at the 9:50 mark of the opening quarter, capping off an 11-play, 69-yard drive with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Carr to Ambrose. Wayne State cut the lead to 7-3 with a field goal early in the second quarter.

The Dragons answered with another solid drive, capped off by an 8-yard run from Carr, giving the Dragons a 14-3 lead.

"His ability to move the chains with his feet was crucial, especially early," Laqua said. "He executed the gameplan well."

The Wildcats answered with a touchdown pass to cut the lead to 14-10, but MSUM pushed the lead back to 11 when Gibson caught a 37-yard touchdown from Carr to make it 21-10 with 3:01 left in the first half.

MSUM's lead grew in the third quarter. Carr hit Moore for a 9-yard touchdown on the first drive of the third quarter, and nearly six minutes later, Stone scored from one yard out to make it 35-10 midway through the frame.

The Wildcats battled back to cut the lead to 35-24 with a pair of touchdowns late in the third with the wind at their back.

The Dragons responded with a crucial drive, going 74 yards on 12 plays, and scoring when Carr hit Gibson from 11-yards out to make it 41-24.

The defense delivered at crucial moments. In the first half, MSUM stopped the Wildcats inside the 20 on a fourth-and-short, and in the third, after a muffed punt inside the Dragon 5, forced a fumble at the 1-yard line when Reuer stripped Houston Huss and senior linebacker Aaron Bohl recovered in a pivotal momentum.

"The defense made some critical plays," Laqua said. "They had a goal-line stand, forced turnovers…I was really impressed with our depth on that side of the ball."

The Dragons will hit the road for a test next week, playing at No. 23-ranked Sioux Falls. Game time is 6 p.m. in Sioux Falls, S.D.

"We've got to clean up the penalties," Laqua said. "We'll enjoy the first win, but we want to make sure we let it go and focus on one game at a time. It's a long season."