MOORHEAD — The Minnesota State University Moorhead football team fell to No. 12 Augustana, 31-7 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday in Moorhead, Minn.

MSUM fell to 1-2 while Augustana improved to 3-0.

"Give credit to Augustana, they are a very good football team and they beat us in all three phases," MSUM head coach Steve Laqua said.

Sophomore linebacker Josiah Behm led the defense with 12 tackles, while sophomore defensive back Jared Kallenbach and junior defensive back Jake Bettcher had interceptions. Kallenbach also forced a fumble.

Senior linebacker James Eggert had eight tackles and two tackles for loss.

Redshirt freshman receiver Gage Florence had 105 receiving yards on eight catches while freshman receiver Brady Perryman had two catches for 43 yards for a touchdown.

Sophomore quarterback Tommy Falk was 22-of-40 for 174 yards. Freshman quarterback Jack Strand was 5-of-8 for 69 yards and his first collegiate touchdown.

Augustana outgained MSUM 465-244, including 219-38 on the ground. The Dragons did not commit a turnover on the day.

The Vikings led 21-0 at halftime but got on the board in the fourth when Strand hit Perryman from 28 yards out.

The Dragons will play at Winona State next Saturday.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game

Today's loss was the fifth time in program history (and the first time in the 53 years of recorded home and away), that the Dragons lost their season opener, won the following week, then fell. Below are the other four seasons this happened:

2007 (Damon Tomeo)

L 34-32 at Concordia (Moorhead)

W 21-7 vs Mayville St.

L 27-3 at Bemidji St.

1979 (Ross Fortier)

L 17-0 at North Dakota

W 13-10 at Concordia (Moorhead)

L 25-23 vs Pacific Lutheran

1965 (Dwaine Hoberg)

L 28-7 vs Concordia (Moorhead)

W 14-7 vs Minnesota Morris

L 14-7 vs Michigan Tech

1939 (Alex Nemzek)

L 6-0 vs Concordia (Moorhead)

W 6-0 vs Bemidji St.

L 20-7 vs South Dakota St.