Football | 9/7/2022 3:53:00 PM
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The Minnesota State University Moorhead football team takes its first road trip of the 2022 season when it plays at Upper Iowa on Saturday.
Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. on Saturday at Harms-Eischeid Stadium in Fayette, Iowa
Live stats and video are available at msumdragons.com
An MSUM win over Upper would...
—give the Dragons their fourth straight win over Upper Iowa
--give the Dragons their second straight road win
--even the Dragons' record at 1-1 for the season.
Series History
MSUM and Upper Iowa will meet for a 10th time with the Dragons holding a slim 5-4 series lead. The Dragons have won the past three meetings.
Previous Meetings
2021-MSUM 33, Upper Iowa 28 (in Moorhead)
2018-MSUM 17, Upper Iowa 13 (in Fayette)
2016-MSUM 23, Upper Iowa 21 (in Moorhead)
2014-Upper Iowa 44, MSUM 36 (in Fayette)
2012-Upper Iowa 51, MSUM 33 (in Moorhead)
2011-Upper Iowa 45, MSUM 31 (in Fayette)
2010-MSUM 28, Upper Iowa 24 (in Moorhead)
2007-MSUM 31, Upper Iowa 28 (in Moorhead)
2006-Upper Iowa 36, MSUM 13 (in Fayette)
The Head Coaches
Steve Laqua is in his 10th season, and 11th year overall as MSUM's head coach with a record of 48-64 at the school. Jason Hoskins is in his second season as Upper Iowa's head coach with a record of 1-11.
About MSUM
MSUM fell to 0-1 on the season with a 27-14 home loss to Sioux Falls. Four turnovers were costly for the Dragons as they led to 21 Cougar points.
Sophomore quarterback Tommy Falk threw for 207 yards and a touchdown in the game.
Junior fullback Hayden Boll rushed for 31 yards and a touchdown in the game while redshirt freshman wide receiver Gage Florence caught five passes for 65 yards. Junior receiver Ryan Bieberdorf caught five passes for 62 yards and a touchdown.
On defense senior linebacker James Eggert had a team-high 11 tackles while junior defensive back Jake Bettcher had nine tackles.
Junior defensive lineman Jackson Faller and sophomore linebacker Marcus Gulley had interceptions in the game.
MSUM was outgained by the Cougars 484-209, including 175-2 on the ground. The Dragons committed four turnovers.
About Upper Iowa
The Peacocks are 0-1 on the year after losing at Northern State, 30-0 to open the season.
Willy Camacho rushed for 34 to lead the ground game.
Quarterback Marcus Orr threw for 132 yards on 8-of-17 passing to lead the offense. Desean Phillips had three catches for 50 yards.
On defense Zacarius Murray had nine tackles, including one for loss, while Cejai Parrish and Trevor Thompson had seven each.
Upper Iowa was outgained by Northern State 398-156.
More about the Dragons
Take Your Pick
MSUM finished 10th in all of Division II in 2021 with 17 interceptions, led by four each from Cody Sorenson and Jared Kallenbach. MSUM got off to a good start in that department against Sioux Falls with two picks, as Jackson Faller and Marcus Gulley recorded interceptions.
Falk Looks to Build Off Of 2021
Falk will be entering his second year as the Dragon starting quarterback. Lastr season he ranked 13th in completions per game (22.91), 19th in the nation in passing yards (2,874), 22nd in passing yards per game (261.3) and 37th in the nation in total offense (250.8). He threw for 204 yards and a touchdown in the opener.
Week 2 Under Laqua
MSUM is 1-9 in Week 2 games under Laqua. In 2011, MSUM lost to Winona State, 48-10 and lost to Sioux Falls, 45-10 in 2012. In 2013, at Nemzek Stadium, in a game-long downpour, the Dragons lost to Southwest Minnesota State, 27-20. In 2014 MSUM lost to No. 4-ranked Minnesota State, 69-13 at home. MSUM got its first Week 2 win under Laqua with a thrilling 30-28 last-second win over Concordia-St. Paul in 2015. In 2016 MSUM lost at nationally-ranked Sioux Falls, 42-21. In 2017 it was a 51-35 home loss to SMSU followed by back-to-back losses to nationally-ranked Minnesota Duluth. The Dragons lost to Winona State, 27-13 in Week 2 last season.
Not Seeing Yellow
After one game MSUM ranks fifth in the nation in fewest penalty yards per game with 15.0. The Dragons were ninth in fewest penalties with three.
Just for Kicks
Redshirt freshman punter Brian Knudslien made his collegiate debut on Sept. 1 and had a solid opening outing, averaging 44 yards per punt. That is 14th-best in all of Division II. Three of those punts were placed inside the 20.
Behm Anchors Defense
Sophomore linebacker Josiah Behm had a solid 2021 season and earned All-NSIC North honors as a result. He finished fifth in the NSIC at 7.8 tackles per game and led the Dragons with 86 tackles overall. Behm added three interceptions, second on the team, with 2.5 tackles for loss.
