MARSHALL, Minn. – A key defensive stand in the fourth quarter and a game-clinching field goal in the final two minutes helped the Minnesota State University Moorhead football team earn a 23-14 win over Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday in Marshall, Minn.

MSUM, which ended a three-game losing streak, improved to 4-4 overall and in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference while SMSU fell to 3-5. It was the first Dragon win over an NSIC South foe this season and ended a losing streak in the series against the Mustangs.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Today was the first time the Dragons beat Southwest Minnesota State since posting a 41-27 win in the last Metrodome Classic game ever on Nov. 10, 2007 ending a seven-game losing streak. It also ends an eight-game losing streak in Marshall dating back to the Dragons' 28-21 victory on Oct. 19, 1996.

 

Junior defensive tackle Jordan Magnuson had a big day to lead the Dragon defense, recording six tackles for loss, including three sacks.  He had a career-high 14 tackles.  Senior cornerback Deiondre Taylor had 12 tackles, a tackle for loss and a recovered fumble while sophomore linebacker James Eggert had 11 tackles, including two for loss.  Junior linebacker Matt Schoh had 1.5 sacks. Junior defensive back Brock Harris recovered a fumble.

Freshman quarterback Matthew Plasterer was solid for MSUM, completing 16-of-24 passes for 171 yards and a score. He was sacked only once and didn't throw an interception.

Ty Jochim rushed 19 times for 98 yards while freshman quarterback Max Carter had 55 rushing yards and a score.  MSUM rushed for a season-best 214 yards on 40 carries. MSUM did not commit a turnover on the day.

"Our offensive line established the run game extremely well," MSUM head coach Steve Laqua said. "We took care of the ball as a unit with no turnovers. We were able to mix things up. Overall, I'm proud of how hard the guys played."

Freshman receiver Ryan Bieberdorf caught four passes for 43 yards to lead the receivers.

A big defensive stand in the fourth quarter proved crucial for MSUM. The Dragons led 20-14 before the Mustangs went on a 13-play, 77-yard drive to get to the MSUM 8-yard line. After a holding penalty and incompletion, Magnuson recorded a sack of Boyer Bouman to make it a third and goal from the 27, and after a dropped pass, the Dragons got the stop on downs.

"We played some great situational defense. We had some bend-but-don't-break moments," Laqua said. "That was a gut check down the stretch and the guys found a way."

From there, MSUM responded with a 12-play, 79-yard drive that was capped off by a 23-yard field goal from junior kicker Hobet Diaz to put the Dragons up 23-14 with 1:53 left.

"That was a pretty big drive for us. We wanted to put ourselves in a position to make it a 2-score game. Ty ran hard on that drive and Herman had a couple of outside runs," Laqua said.

SMSU mounted a desperation drive in the final two minutes into Dragon territory but that was ended by a fumble recovered by senior cornerback Deiondre Taylor.

MSUM scored first as Plasterer found the end zone from one yard out with 10:29 left in the first quarter. The extra point failed leaving the game at 6-0. Later in the quarter, Plasterer hit senior receiver Zach Sweep for a 65-yard touchdown to build the Dragon lead to 13-0.

Harris recovered a fumble at the Mustang 6-yard line late in the half and Carter scored from six yards out on the next play to make it 20-0 with 1:54 left in the half. The Mustangs scored a touchdown in the final seconds of the half to make it 20-7.

SMSU scored in the third quarter to make it 20-14, and the game stayed that way until the Dragons' key stop in the fourth.

Senior running back Herman Gray rushed for 50 yards on seven carries for MSUM.
MSUM is on the road next week at Minot State.