MOORHEAD, Minn. — The Minnesota State University Moorhead football team team fell to Bemidji State, 46-7 in the Battle for the Axe on Saturday at Scheels Field in Moorhead, Minn.

MSUM fell to 2-5 while Bemidji State improved to 5-2.

Freshman quarterback Jack Strand was 23-of-36 passing for 152 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted once. Sophomore quarterback Tommy Falk was 5-of-9 passing for 60 yards.


"They played a great game and beat us in all three phases," MSUM head coach Steve Laqua said. "We've got to start better. We have to quickly move on from it and get ready for another rivalry game next week."

Junior wide receiver Ryan Bieberdorf had four catches for 59 yards while freshman receiver Brady Perryman had seven catches for 53 yards. Redshirt freshman Gage Florence hauled in a touchdown.

Junior defensive back Jared Kallenbach had 12 tackles to lead the defense while sophomore linebacker Josiah Behm had 11 including two tackles for loss. Sophomore defensive back Joey Hughes had an interception while sophomore defensive back Cody Sorenson had two pass breakups.

Redshirt freshman punter Brian Knudslien averaged 43.7 yards per punt with three punts over 50 yards. He placed one inside the 20.

The Dragons got on the board in the second quarter when Strand hit Florence for a 5-yard touchdown to cut the Bemidji State lead to 29-7.

MSUM is at UMary for a 2 p.m. game on Oct. 22.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game

Today marked just the third time in the history of this rivalry that the Dragons played a Bemidji State squad that was on at least a four-game winning streak. The Dragons and the 4-0 Beavers played to a 20-20 draw in Bemidji on Oct. 12, 1963, and the 5-0 Beavers posted their sixth straight shutout (25-0) on Oct. 18, 1941 to begin that campaign that ended 6-2.