MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead football will suit up for their last home game of the season this weekend in a bout for the Battle Axe trophy. The Dragons will host the Bemidji State Beavers this weekend on senior day looking for one last win at home. The game will kickoff at 12 p.m. on Saturday from SCHEELS Field at Nemzek Stadium.

Live stats and video are available at msumdragons.com. Fans can also listen to the game on AM 1100/FM 92.3 with 'Big Game' James McCarty on the call.
 
The Rundown

The Dragons (5-4, 5-3 NSIC), pulled one out of the fire last week against Minot State in a score of 42-38. MSUM found themselves down 28-38 with five minutes left in the game, but as the Dragons have proven repeatedly this season, never count them out as they stormed back to stun Minot State. This game kept their winning streak alive which is now standing at three games in a row. This win also moved the Dragons into a tie for fourth place in the NSIC with Wayne State and this week's opponent Bemidji State. The Dragons finished last season with six conference victories, and a win this week against the rival Beavers would mean MSUM would equal last season's total.

The Dragons are led by 14th-year head coach Steve Laqua.

Last Time Around…

Last time these two squads faced off, it was the Beavers who came out on top (27-14) last season in Bemidji. At the time, the Beavers were 8-1 and were one of the best teams in the conference, but the Dragons battled on the road. MSUM tied the game 14-14 in the third quarter on a touchdown pass from Jack Strand to Gage Florence. However, Bemidji State would pull away late in the second half to take the win. Josiah Behm had himself a great game leading the defense, recording 12 tackles and one sack on the day.

Series History

The Dragons are currently looking to end a four-game skid to the Beavers that dates back to 2019. In the last 10 years the Dragons have managed to best the Beavers three times, but those three wins were all on the road. The last time MSUM came out on top at home was back in 2013 when they secured a 35-17 victory over Bemidji State.

Saturday's game will be the 75th installment of the Battle For The Axe with MSUM leading the 'Axe' series 38-33-3. One of the longest-standing rivalries in Division II, MSUM holds a 47-39-3 all-time record against the Beavers. The teams first met during the 1929 season. The Axe trophy was implemented in 1948 and is the second-oldest traveling trophy in Division II. The Dragons have not won the Axe since November 3, 2018 when MSUM defeated Bemidji State, 31-26. 

2023: 27-14 L (In Bemidji)
2022: 46-7 L (In Moorhead)
2021: 22-19 L (In Bemidji)
2019: 28-24 L (In Moorhead)
2018: 31-26 W (In Bemidji)

Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat

Last week the high-powered Dragon offense scored 14 points in the final five minutes to complete the comeback against Minot State. Junior quarterback Jack Strand is known for his rocket arm, but he did his best Lamar Jackson impression, running in a 13-yard score that brought the Dragons within three points. The Dragons got the ball back two plays later in plus territory thanks to the defense, and Strand and junior wide receiver Brady Perryman took it from there. A 31-yard completion brought the Dragons to the doorstep of the endzone, and then they finished it off with a four-yard connection for the go-ahead touchdown. This fourth quarter comeback marked the fourth time this season that the Dragons have had a go-ahead score with less than five minutes in the game and then hung on for the comeback victory. Cardiac Dragons indeed...

In Need of a TD? Call 1-800-BP

Dragon standout wide receiver Brady Perryman has made a big splash this season, and more often than not, the splash has come in the sweet nectar of the endzone. He scored the go-ahead touchdown last week against Bemidji State and that has been the norm for him this season. He caught the game-clinching two-point conversion against Minnesota Duluth, and the go-ahead touchdown against Concordia-St Paul in addition to last week. Perryman leads the NSIC in touchdown grabs with 12, three more than the next closest receiver, Brice Peters of Bemidji State, who the Dragons will see this week. Peters has tallied an impressive nine touchdown receptions. Perryman now also leads the Dragons in receiving yards totaling 671 yards so far this season.

Dragon Defense Comes Up Big

MSUM's defense would like to allow less than 38 points like they did last week to Minot State, however, they continued to make huge plays when needed most. Down by three points with less than five minutes to play, senior middle linebacker Josiah Behm forced a fumble that was recovered by redshirt freshman defensive back Jack Johnson to get the ball back to the offense. On the very next drive with the Dragons now in the lead, the defense made sure it stayed that way when junior middle linebacker Mitchell Jezierski forced another fumble that was recovered by Denver Sheets. The Dragons would make one last stop on the next drive to seal the comeback win for MSUM.

3K on the Horizon

The junior quarterback Jack Strand is on pace to break 3,000 yards in a season for back-to-back seasons. Strand threw for 3,914 yards during the 2023 campaign, and currently sits at 2,956 passing yards before this week's game against Bemidji State. The Dragon quarterback has completed 293 passes on 472 attempts for a completion rate of 62.08 percent. Strand's 328 yards per game through the air leads the NSIC, and is nearly 100 yards per game better than the next challenger. Strand also leads the NSIC in touchdown passes, racking up 27 scores through the air this season.

Scouting Bemidji State

The Beavers (6-3, 5-3 NSIC), are tied with the Dragons for the fourth spot in the NSIC standings. Last week they took down Wayne State at home (37-20) in a very impressive showing. The Beavers jumped on the Wildcats early as they led 27-7 at halftime, and they managed to hang on for the win in the second half. The Beavers bullied the Wildcats on the ground, rushing for an impressive 230 yards on the day. 

The Beavers boast the third-best rushing attack in the conference averaging 183 yards per game on the ground. They also have the third-best offense overall, gaining 394 yards per game. However, the Beavers only have the sixth-best scoring offense, scoring 27.7 points per game. Defense is BSU's strong suit, as they allow the least number of yards per game in the conference as opponents are managing 245 yards per game against them. Their pass defense is also leading the pack, only allowing an average of 153 yards per game through the air.

A player to watch out for on the Beavers is senior wide receiver Brice Peters. Peters has hauled in nine touchdowns this season, which puts him second in the NSIC only behind MSUM's Brady Perryman. Peters has made 47 receptions for a conference-best 792 receiving yards, giving him a great 16.9 yards per catch rate this season.

The Beavers are led by seventh-year head coach Brent Bolte.