SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Minnesota State University Moorhead football team was within seven points in the fourth quarter against No. 17-ranked Sioux Falls but came up short on the road on Saturday, losing 42-21 to the Cougars at Bob Young Field in Sioux Falls, S.D.
MSUM is now 1-1 on the year while the Cougars are 2-0.
The game was closer than the final score indicated as MSUM trailed 28-21 midway through the fourth quarter. However, Sioux Falls struck for a 37-yard touchdown pass from Luke Papilion to Josh Angulo to make it 35-21 and after a Dragon turnover, scored again in the final four minutes to make it 42-21.
The Dragon defense forced five turnovers in the game, including four interceptions. Sophomore defensive back
Michael Strand led with 10 tackles and added an interception, while junior linebacker
Abe Roehrich had eight tackles and an interception. Sophomore defensive back
Aaron Doan and senior defensive back
Jimmy Roth had interceptions as well. Senior linebacker
Aaron Bohl had a sack and a pass breakup to go along with seven tackles.
Offensively, junior quarterback
Demetrius Carr was 20-of-41 passing for 252 yards and two scores. He was intercepted twice. Carr also rushed for a score. Junior receiver
Damon Gibson had another huge day with nine catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns. Junior receiver
Hunter Braaten had seven catches for 74 yards. Sophomore running back
Austin Stone rushed for 87 yards on 22 carries.
USF outgained the Dragons 604-370 but also committed five turnovers. MSUM had a 252-160 edge in passing yards but committed four turnovers in the game.
"We've got to build on the positives of the game," MSUM head coach
Steve Laqua said. "We forced turnovers and we played balanced football in the first half. Those are the things we have to build upon to have a good season. The building blocks are in place, but we have to make sure we get them all in place."
The Cougars struck with a touchdown less than three minutes into the game to take a 7-0 lead. The Dragons answered later in the quarter after a Strand interception set them up at the USF 30-yard line. Five plays later, Carr connected with Gibson from four yards out to tie the game at 7-7.
USF scored two touchdowns to make it 21-7. The defense came through with another turnover deep in Cougar territory as sophomore linebacker
Joe Rademacher forced a fumble and recovered it at the USF 3-yard line. On the next play, Carr scored from three yards out to make it 21-14.
The Cougars added another score to make it 28-14 in the second quarter. The Dragons responded again, as Carr connected with Gibson on the final play of the half from 24 yards out to bring them within 28-21.
After a first-half which produced 49 points, the third quarter was scoreless. Twice in the fourth quarter MSUM had the ball with a chance to tie but was unable to muster a drive to produce the tying score.
"We didn't connect and get it done," Laqua said. "We didn't get the rhythm in the second half offensively when we needed it. They made some good adjustments and it took us out of rhythm."
The Cougars found the end zone with 7:32 left in the game on the pass from Papilion to Angulo, and after that, the Dragons turned the ball over which led to the final Cougar touchdown.
"I was proud of of how hard our kids played," Laqua said. "We were opportunistic defensively but offensively we didn't capitalize. It's a tough order against a good team on the road but it's something we've got to get better at doing."
MSUM returns home on Sept. 17 to face Upper Iowa. Game time is 2 p.m. at Scheels Field at Nemzek Stadium.
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Today was the Dragons' 12th game in the state of South Dakota dating back to 2004. Their only win during this stretch was a 47-46 thriller in Aberdeen over Northern St. on Oct. 10, 2015. Below is the breakdown of Dragon games since 2004 in South Dakota:
Aberdeen 1-5 (all vs. Northern State)
Sioux Falls 0-4 (two vs. USF and two vs. Augustana)
Vermillion 0-2 (both vs. the University of South Dakota)
