ST. PAUL, Minn. – A pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns weren't enough to complete a comeback as the Minnesota State University Moorhead football team suffered a 24-17 defeat to Concordia-St. Paul in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play Saturday in St. Paul.
MSUM fell to 3-3 overall and in the league while Concordia is now 4-2 overall and in the NSIC.
It was a tough day for the Dragon offense, which managed just 121 yards total including -97 on the ground, much of which came as a result of the 14 sacks MSUM surrendered. The Dragons also had two fumbled snaps on punts which led to good field position for CSP.
"We're disappointed in how we played," MSUM head coach
Steve Laqua said. "I believe in the resiliency of our players and fully expect we will bounce back and be ready to go next week."
Freshman quarterback
Matthew Plasterer was 23-of-41 passing for 218 yards and a score. He was intercepted once and sacked 14 times, which tied an NCAA Division II national record for most in a single game. Plasterer did rush for a touchdown late.
Junior receiver
Grady Bresnahan finished with five catches for 48 yards while sophomore receiver
Trent Marquart had four for 49. Sophomore receiver
Ryan Harvey-Turner had three catches for 22 yards and a score.
The Dragon defense kept MSUM in the game, forcing two turnovers and holding CSP to 198 yards of total offense.
Junior linebacker
Matt Schoh had 10 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble for MSUM. Junior safety
Shad Vedaa had eight tackles. Junior defensive end
Darius Woods-Steichen had three tackles for loss, including a sack.
MSUM was down 14-3 at half and scored in the final minute when junior
Hobet Diaz connected on a 26-yard field goal.
CSP pushed the lead to 17-3 in the fourth with a field goal, and MSUM finally found the end zone at the 7:24 mark when Plasterer hit Harvey-Turner from 17 yards out. With the extra point, MSUM was down 17-10.
MSUM had the ball back with 6:10 left with a chance to tie, but sacks on three straight plays wiped out that threat. CSP would score moments later to make it 24-10. Plasterer rushed in from seven yards out to make it 24-17 with 14 seconds left, but the Dragons' onside kick attempt was unsuccessful and the game ended 24-17.
The Dragons host Augustana on Oct. 19 in their next action.
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: The Dragons defense has allowed only three of 22 third down conversions in the past two games.
