MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead football will look to pick up its third consecutive win on Saturday, October 28 as the Dragons play host to visiting Winona State. Kickoff between the two teams is slated for noon from SCHEELS Field at Nemzek Stadium.

Live video and stats will be available at msumdragons.com.

The Rundown

Series History...Winona State has claimed the last four match-ups in the series including a 40-7 win on September 24, 2022. MSUM last defeated the Warriors on September 3, 2015, a 42-17 win at Nemzek Stadium. The two programs first met during the 1932 season when Sliv Nemzek's Dragons defeated the Warriors 14-13 in week four of that season.

Go With The Flo...MSUM redshirt sophomore wide receiver Gage Florence is inching closer and closer to his own single-season receptions record following another eye-popping performance against Southwest Minnesota State last Saturday. Florence caught 15 passes, 13 of which in the first half, on Saturday to move his season total to 86 for 2023. Florence reset MSUM's single-season receptions record at 100 a season ago to go along with 996 yards and six touchdowns. The Sawyer, N.D., native is now 14 receptions shy of tying his own record as the sophomore has already racked up 834 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 2023. Florence leads the country in receptions per game (10.8) with his 86 receptions also the top mark in not only Division II this season, but the entire country across all football divisions.

Records Continue To Fall...Dragon sophomore quarterback Jack Strand reset MSUM's single-season and all-time completions mark last Saturday against Southwest Minnesota State. While Strand continues to build on his completions records, he also now sits 212 passing yards shy of the single-season school record (3,223). He also is five touchdown passes short of the single-season school record (34), set by Dustin Long in 2007. 

Mr. Do-It-All...Sophomore defensive back McKale Pierson has blossomed in an expanded role that began nearly a month ago against Northern State. In MSUM's 34-17 win over SMSU, Pierson made four tackles while nabbing one interception and breaking up a pair of Mustang passes. Pierson also forced and recovered a fumble on a Mustang punt, which he scooped up from the 10-yard line to score his first career touchdown.

Tackling Fuel...MSUM has four players ranking in the NSIC's top 10 in total tackles in 2023. Junior linebacker Josiah Behm leads the conference with 63 total tackles including 33 solo stops. Tate Gustafson is just behind Behm, ranking third in the NSIC with 60 tackles. Jack Bungarden (6th) and Jared Kallenbach (8th) round out the Dragon contingent in the top ten. 

Big Time Bettcher...Senior cornerback Jake Bettcher has flown all over the field in 2023 as the senior puts the finishing touches on a great career. Heading into week nine, Bettcher ranked 11th in the NSIC in total tackles with 51 while also leading the conference with three interceptions in 2023. 

No Time? No Problem...MSUM's opponents have possessed the ball for over an hour more than the Dragons across eight games this season. Despite that mark, MSUM, on average, scores 12 more points per game compared to opponents and racks up 58 more yards than their adversaries. The Dragons also convert on 46 percent of their third down chances, having scored 16 more touchdowns than their opponents in 2023. 

Steve Laqua is in his 13th season as head coach of the Dragons. 

Scouting Winona State

Winona State (4-4, 4-3 NSIC) is coming off a hard-fought win over Sioux Falls last Saturday by a final score of 42-35. The Warriors were led by running back Cair'ron Hendred, who had eight touches for a whopping 178 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Fellow running back Quentin Pringle also had a solid game for the Warriors on the ground, gaining 45 yards on nine touches and two scores. Defensively, Winona State surrendered 463 total yards to the Cougars including 281 yards through the air, but were able to force a fumble for the lone turnover of the contest. The Warriors gave up 23 first downs to Sioux Falls and would lose the time of possession battle by over 11 minutes. 

Hendred leads a sturdy Warrior backfield with 495 rush yards and five touchdowns. Ty Gavin is another feature back for the Warriors, as he has rushed for 265 yards and three touchdowns. Through the air, Cole Stenstrom has been Winona State's guy, throwing for 1,737 yards and 13 touchdowns on the year. However, Stenstrom has had some trouble with turnovers, throwing nine interceptions so far in 2023 while completing 57 percent of his passes. Stenstrom's top target so far has been Kaleb Skelly, who has made 35 grabs for 397 yards and four touchdowns. Receiver Sylvere Campbell has also been strong in the pass game for the Warriors with 19 receptions for 335 yards and three touchdowns. 

On the defensive side of the ball, Winona State is led by junior linebacker Clay Schueffner, who has made a team-high 58 tackles to go along with a sack and a forced fumble. Linebacker Enrique Deleon leads the team with 4.5 sacks in 2023, totaling 36 yards while safety Griffin Weigel has picked off a team-best two passes. 

Brian Bergstrom is in his second season at the helm of Winona State's football program.

Series History

Last Five Match-Ups
Sept. 24, 2022 - L, 40-7 (At Winona)
Sept. 11, 2021 - L, 27-13 (In Moorhead)
Oct. 15, 2019 - L, 28-26 (In Moorhead)
Sept. 6, 2017 - L, 42-14 (At Winona)
Sept. 3, 2015 - W, 42-17 (In Moorhead)