MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead football team won the Paddle for a third straight year with a 51-19 rout of the University of Mary in action Saturday at

Scheels Field at Nemzek Stadium. Senior quarterback Demetrius Carr also became MSUM's all-time leader in career total offense in the win.
 
MSUM is now 4-5 overall and 2-3 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference with the win while Mary fell to 1-8 overall and 1-4 in the league.
 
"It was an all-around team effort," MSUM head coach Steve Laqua said. "The fast start we had was instrumental in the win."
 
Carr, already the school's all-time leader in passing yards with 7,564 yards, trailed all-time leader Jake Hodge by 50 yards going into the game. He had 76 yards of offense and is now at 8,634 yards for his career.
 
MSUM outgained the Marauders 528-346, including 260-76 through the air. MSUM rushed for a season-high 268 yards on 35 carries.
 
Freshman quarterback Jakup Sinani, making just his second start, led the Dragon offense once again. He was 12-of-19 passing for 205 yards and two scores, and also rushing for 94 yards and two scores on 12 carries.  Over the past two games Sinani has thrown for five touchdowns and rushed for three more.
 
"Jakup played a phenomenal game," Laqua said. "He managed the game well and converted some key third and longs."
 
Sophomore receiver Hayden Swartz caught five passes for 122 yards and two scores while senior wide receiver Hunter Braaten had four catches for 62 yards. Junior receiver Evan Moore caught a touchdown as well. Sophomore running back Herman Gray had 71 yards rushing on 11 carries.
 
Senior defensive lineman Jake Busse led the defense with 11 tackles and a fumble recovery. Sophomore defensive back Carson Zarak had an interception and a fumble recovery. Redshirt freshman Shad Vedaa and senior linebacker Abe Roehrich each had seven tackles. The Dragons finished with 10 tackles for loss in the game.
 
MSUM scored on its first six possessions on Saturday – five touchdowns and a field goal. That start allowed the Dragons to build a 37-6 halftime lead.
 
Sinani threw two touchdown passes to Swartz (24 and 18 yards) in the first half while rushing for 6 and 13 yard touchdowns. Senior kicker Ruan Albequerque kicked a 27-yard field goal while sophomore running back Jonathan Kabambi rushed for a score in helping the Dragons take a commanding lead.
 
After allowing a touchdown on Mary's first possession, the Dragon defense stepped up and held the Marauders to just 47 yards on 19 plays over the remainder of the first half.
 
"Most teams struggle early against them because that offense is unique," Laqua said. "It is hard to simulate in practice. After the first drive our defense adjusted and did a nice job containing their running game."
 
MSUM added 14 more points in the third to put the game away. Redshirt freshman running back Zach Simons scored from 4 yards out while Moore hauled in a 39-yard touchdown pass from Carr in the final minute of the third.
 
Mary scored twice in the fourth quarter but the game was out of reach at that point.
 
MSUM plays at Minot State on Nov. 4 for a 1 p.m. game.
 
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: MSUM surpassed 50 points in a home game for the first time since Nov. 15, 2014. The Dragons beat Minnesota Crookston 66-36 during that contest.