WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota State University Moorhead football team fell to Winona State, 40-7 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday in Winona, Minn.

MSUM fell to 1-3 overall and in the NSIC with the loss while Winona State improved to 3-1 overall and in the league.

Sophomore linebacker Josiah Behm had 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks to lead the defense. Junior cornerback Jake Bettcher had nine tackles. Senior linebacker James Eggert added a sack.

Freshman quarterback Jack Strand made his first start for the Dragons and was 28-of-47 for 203 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted three times.

Sophomore running back Luke Imdieke hauled in seven passes for 47 yards while redshirt freshman Gage Florence had eight catches for 44 yards. Freshman receiver Brady Perryman had six catches for 42 yards and a touchdown.

Junior running back Tyson Powell led the ground game with 35 yards.

Winona State outgained the Dragons 439-260.

The Warriors built a 10-0 lead in the second quarter but Strand connected with Perryman for a 20-yard touchdown with 8:57 left in the half to make it 10-7. It was Perryman's second touchdown in as many weeks.

Winona State recorded two big plays — a blocked punt return for a touchdown and a pick six — to push the lead to 24-7. The game was 27-7 at halftime.

"I thought we were playing a solid first half of football, and then the momentum really flipped on us in the play sequence of the blocked punt and pick six," MSUM head coach Steve Laqua said. "Ultimately it was too tough to come back from. The third-quarter was a field position battle and we couldn't dig out of the hole. Give credit to Winona, they played a solid football game."

MSUM begins NSIC North play on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Minnesota Duluth.