MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead football will look to create its first winning streak of the 2024 season this Saturday as the Dragons play host to Southwest Minnesota State. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. at SCHEELS Field at Alex Nemzek Stadium.
Live video and stats will be available at msumdragons.com. Fans can also listen to the game live on AM 1100/FM 92.3 with Jace Denman and 'Big Game' James McCarty on the call.
Matchup History...The Dragons enter Saturday on a three-game winning streak over the Mustangs. Most recently, MSUM defeated SMSU 34-17 on October 21, 2023. A fumble return touchdown from
McKale Pierson following an errant punt jumpstarted the Dragon effort in Marshall. MSUM holds the all-time series against the Mustangs, having won 30 games to SMSU's 19. The programs first met on October 24, 1970 when MSUM topped the Mustangs, 45-13. The Dragons won the first 16 meetings in the series before the Mustangs beat MSUM on October 4, 1986, 13-7.
The Strand Man Can...Junior quarterback
Jack Strand was named the NSIC's Offensive Player of the Week for the second time on Monday following a stellar showing against Concordia, St. Paul. Strand threw for an NSIC-best 357 yards against the Golden Bears, including five passing scores. It is the fourth game of Strand's career where he has passed for five or more touchdowns. All of those performances resulted in Dragon victories. The Bloomer, Wis., native tossed the game-winning touchdown to
Brady Perryman to sink the Golden Bears with 19 seconds to play.
Conference Records In Play...Heading into this week's game, junior wide receiver
Gage Florence is 22 receptions shy of the NSIC record. Florence has made 247 receptions in league games as the record stands at 269 by former Southwest Minnesota State great Nate Huot. Senior linebacker
Josiah Behm continues to move up the conference's all-time list in tackles, eclipsing his 300th career NSIC stop last Saturday. Behm has made 312 total tackles in league games over his career, the ninth-highest tally in NSIC history.
It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Big Play BP...Junior wide receiver
Brady Perryman was electric once again in MSUM's 34-31 win over Concordia, St. Paul. Perryman made 10 catches, tying his career high, for 113 yards and three touchdowns. It is Perryman's fifth career game with two or more receiving touchdowns. On the season, Perryman is tied for the sixth-most receiving touchdowns in Division II with eight.
Keep An Eye On 20...Redshirt freshman
Jack Johnson is experiencing a breakout campaign for the Dragons in 2024. The Blaine, Minn., native made a career-high eight tackles, including five solo stops against CSP on Saturday. Johnson also added in a pair of pass breakups and recovered a fumble for MSUM in the victory.
Ironing The Sheets...Senior defensive lineman
Denver Sheets was instrumental in the Dragon victory last week. The Williston, N.D., product made six tackles and tied a bow on the Dragon win with a sack on the final play. Sheets sat back in spy coverage before descending on CSP quarterback Jackson Compton for a 10-yard loss. The sack was Sheets' second and half quarterback takedown of 2024.
Mustang Chatter...SMSU will come into Alex Nemzek Stadium on Saturday searching for its first win of the season. So far in 2024, the Mustangs have been guided on the ground by junior back Jacob Honstetter. The Fenton, Mich., native has rushed for 266 yards on 83 attempts for a respectable 3.2 yard per carry mark.
Steve Laqua is in his 14th season leading the Dragon football program.
