MINOT, N.D. – A late defensive stand inside its own 10-yard line was the difference as the Minnesota State University Moorhead football team held off Minot State, 22-16 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday in Minot, N.D.
MSUM has won three in a row and is now 5-5 overall and 3-3 in the NSIC North. Minot State fell to 2-8 overall and 2-4 in the north.
The Dragons trailed 13-0 at halftime but came back with 22 second-half points to earn the win.
"I was proud of the grit our kids showed, especially in the second half coming from behind," MSUM head coach
Steve Laqua said.
Senior running back Herman Gray had 16 carries for 78 yards and two scores. Sophomore running back Jonathan Kabambi had a team-high 90 yards on 19 carries, while freshman quarterback Jakup Sinani had 34 rushing yards and a score.
Sinani was 26-of-32 for 242 yards throwing the ball. He had no touchdowns but no interceptions. He is now 3-0 as a starter.
Senior receiver Hunter Braaten had nine catches for 95 yards, while sophomore receiver Hayden Swartz had five catches for 64 yards.
Junior linebacker Carter Thiel and sophomore cornerback Zach Sweep had interceptions for the Dragon defense. Senior defensive lineman Jake Busse had seven tackles while senior linebacker Abe Roehrich, junior defensive back Michael Strand and Thiel had five each.
MSUM outgained Minot State 439-325 and overcame two fumbles to record the win. MSUM had a 35:37-24:23 edge in time of possession.
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Today's win marks the fifth straight season that the Dragons have had at least a three-game winning streak.
The Beavers had taken a 16-14 lead with 5:55 left in the game. The Dragons answered with a 10-play, 71-yard touchdown drive, culminated by a 4-yard touchdown run by Gray with 2:20 left. The two-point play was good, giving MSUM a 22-16 lead.
"I was really impressed with how our offense responded," Laqua said. "Sinani was poised and kept the chains moving. We put a nice drive together when we needed it."
Thiel intercepted Minot quarterback Zac Cunha with 1:24 left, and the Dragons turned the ball over on downs. Minot State then marched down the field inside the Dragon 10-yard line, but three incompletions ended the Beavers' hopes as time ran out.
"Defensively, we bent but didn't break," Laqua said. "We were opportunistic and got a couple of big plays."
The Dragons got on the board in the third, going 38 yards on four plays. A big 25-yard pass from Sinani to junior receiver Evan Moore set up an 8-yard run by the freshman quarterback. With the extra point, MSUM trailed 13-7 with 7:51 left in the third.
The MSUM defense forced a three-and-out, and MSUM went on a long 13-play, 80-yard drive, which was capped off by a 7-yard run by Gray. Senior Ruan Albuquerque's extra point put MSUM up 14-13. That drive was pivotal as MSUM converted two third down and a fourth down when Sinani hit Swartz for 33 yards.
MSUM's defense got a big play as Sweep intercepted Cunha at the Dragon 4-yard line early in the fourth quarter.
Minot State drove down the field and kicked the field goal with 5:55 left, and that set up the heroics by the Dragon offense.
The Dragons wrap up the 2017 season on Saturday at home against Bemidji State. The game, which is the Battle Axe game, begins at 1 p.m. at Scheels Field in Moorhead, Minn.
"We've got some momentum going," Laqua said. "We want to build on the positives and hopefully finish strong."
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Today's win marks the fifth straight season that the Dragons have had at least a three-game winning streak.
