MSUM Dragons football returns to Scheels Field at Alex Nemzek Stadium for a homecoming matchup against the Minot State Beavers this Saturday at noon.
An MSUM win over Minot State would...
- Extend the Dragon's win streak over the Beavers to nine games.
- Give MSUM their first win at home for 2022 season.
- Be the Dragon's fourth home win against the Beavers.
- Improve MSUM's record to 2-4.
Series History
MSUM and Minot State meet for the 17th time with the Dragons leading the series 12-4. The Dragons have won the past eight matchups.
- 2021: MSUM 29, Minot State 17 (in Minot)
- 2019: MSUM 49, Minot State 20 (in Minot)
- 2018: MSUM 51, Minot State 26 (in Moorhead)
- 2017: MSUM 22, Minot State 16 (in Minot)
- 2016: MSUM 42, Minot State 24 (in Moorhead)
- Last Minot win: Minot 31, MSUM 10 (2012)
The Head Coaches
Steve Laqua is in his tenth season, and 11th year overall as MSUM's head coach with a record of 49-67 at the school.
Mike Aldrich is in his sixth season as Minot head coach with a record of 9-35.
About MSUM
The Dragons fell to 1-4 on the season and 1-4 against NSIC opponents after falling to Minnesota Duluth University last Saturday. Freshman quarterback Jack Strand leads the passing attack for the Dragons and is 63-of-95 for 612 passing yards and 5 touchdowns.
Redshirt Freshman Gage Florence has 43 receptions for 474 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. Redshirt Freshman Carter Birrenkott has 15 receptions for 175 receiving yards and 1 touchdown. Sophomore Luke Imdieke has 23 receptions for 122 receiving yards.
Imdieke also leads the rushing game for the Dragons with 102 rushing yards on 40 attempts. Junior Tyson Powell adds 61 rushing yards on 15 attempts.
On defense, Sophomore linebacker Josiah Behm leads the Dragons with 49 tackles. Sophomore Defensive Back Marcus Galley has 35 tackles, a sack, and an interception. Senior linebacker James Eggert and Junior Defensive Back Jared Kallenbach have 34 tackles each. Junior Defensive Lineman Hayden Carr leads at 2.5 sacks.
The Dragons averages 261.2 yards per game and allows 413.4 yards per game.
About Minot State
The Beavers fell to 0-5 on the season and 0-5 against NSIC opponents after falling to Bemidji State University last Saturday. Sophomore quarterback Dawson Macleary leads the passing attack for the Beavers and is 76-of-139 for 794 passing yards and 5 touchdowns.
Sophomore Nathan Young has 19 receptions for 202 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Senior Peyton Lamoureux has 14 receptions for 235 receiving yards and a touchdown. Sophomore Running Back Erik Palmquist has 14 receptions for 164 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Junior Running Back Ali Mohamed leads the rushing attack for the Beavers with 83 rushing attempts for 268 rushing yards and 1 touchdown.
Sophomore Defensive Back Isaiah Bigby leads the Beavers' defense with 35 tackles and 1 interception. Sophomore Linebacker Carson Cayko has 28 tackles and 1 interception, while Sophomore Kyle VanBerkom has 24 tackles. Senior Defensive Lineman Caleb Ness and Sophomore Defensive Lineman Jonathan Leon lead the team in sacks with 1 apiece.
The Beavers average 10.80 points per game and allow 38.60 points per game.
More About the Dragons
Not Seeing Yellow
MSUM is off to a good start at not drawing penalties. After 5 games, the Dragons have had 19 penalties for a total of 172 yards. That is an average of only 34.4 yards per game.
Young Receivers Emerge
Redshirt Freshmen receivers Gage Florence and Carter Birrenkott have combined for 58 receptions for 649 receiving yards and three touchdowns through five games. Florence hauled in a 70-yard pass against Minnesota Duluth for the Dragons' longest play this season.
Take Your Pick
MSUM finished 10th in all of Division II in 2021 with 17 interceptions and the Dragons have started off with 5 interceptions through 5 games. Marcus Galley, Jake Bettcher, Jared Kallenbach, Cody Sorenson, and Jackson Faller have 1 interception apiece.
Homecoming in the Laqua Era
MSUM is 2-8 in homecoming games under Laqua, with both wins coming over Minnesota Crookston. The Dragons beat the Golden Eagles, 29-22 in 2011 and 41-12 in 2016. From 2012-15 MSUM lost four straight homecoming games. In 2018 MSUM lost to No. 1-ranked Minnesota State 42-20 and in 2019 lost a heartbreaker to Winona State, 28-26. In 2021, MSUM lost to #22 ranked Minnesota Duluth, 26-21.
