LEBANON, Ill. – Costly turnovers were the difference maker for MSU Moorhead football as the Dragons fell to McKendree in non-conference action, 22-15.
Both defenses would begin the contest strong as the teams traded punts throughout the first quarter. MSUM would make it to the McKendree 39-yard line as part of their second drive, but the Dragons eventually turned the ball over on downs. The game's momentum would not shift until the midway point of the frame. McKendree would fall victim to a fumble that was recovered by senior defensive back
Cody Sorenson. The play would position the Dragon offense at the Bearcat 25-yard line.
Jack Strand would connect with
JD Czech to push MSUM into the redzone. Strand would link up with the tall frame of
Carson Elbert for a seven-yard score shortly thereafter. Elbert narrowly kept one foot in bounds, giving the Dragons the opening touchdown. McKendree's offense would settle in on the ensuing drive, traveling 75 yards on 13 plays to score on the Dragons. However, MSUM would block the point-after attempt, keeping the Dragons in front, 7-6.
A stellar return from
Brady Borgen on the following kickoff placed the Dragons at the McKendree 44-yard line. At the top of the second quarter, Strand would be intercepted to swing the game McKendree's way. The ball was tipped up and turned into a sitting duck for Bearcat safety Andrew Sherry. MSUM's defense would limit McKendree to a field goal despite the solid field position. Early in the second quarter, the Bearcats took a 9-7 lead.
On the ensuing Dragon drive, MSUM would be faced with another unneeded blunder. Strand found
Fynn Ridgeway on a pass over the middle with Ridgeway breaking a tackle for a nice gain of 28 yards. However, MSUM would fumble near the play's conclusion with McKendree gathering possession. The Bearcats only needed 53 seconds to strike again, scoring on two plays to take a 16-7 advantage. The Dragons would not answer on offense, punting following a seven-play drive.
McKendree would score again as part of a magnificent 13-play, 90-yard drive to push in front, 22-7. MSUM would disrupt the extra point again to keep the deficit at 15 points. McKendree would uphold that score through one half, totaling 308 yards through 30 minutes. The Bearcats doubled the Dragons in time of possession and earned nine more first downs.
Out of the locker room, lightning in the area would delay the game, stretching into the 2 o'clock hour.
The delay did not benefit either team initially as the teams would spend a majority of the third quarter punting back and forth. McKendree would pin the Dragons at their own five-yard line with MSUM piecing together a needed drive. The Dragons would campaign 95 yards on eight plays as Strand would scamper 36 yards for a rushing score. Strand would find
Kelly Johnson on a two-point conversion to make the score 22-15.
On the ensuing McKendree drive, MSUM's defense would earn a needed takeaway.
Tate Gustafson picked off a pass from Bearcat quarterback Ty Michael. While the play from Gustafson would put MSUM at the McKendree 45-yard line, the Dragons could not keep up their steam. MSUM's offense would stall out, turning the ball over on downs at the McKendree three-yard line. Early in the final frame, McKendree remained in front 22-15.
The Dragon defense would buckle down to force another Bearcat punt on the next possession. However, on the ensuing MSUM drive, Strand would be intercepted again on a pass that sailed on the junior. MSUM's defense would again hold true despite the momentum shift, stopping the Bearcats on their own 40-yard line.
Justice Noel jumped in and disrupted a fourth down attempt, forcing a turnover on downs. On the very next play, Strand would be picked off once again on a diving effort from McKendree's Logan Turbyfill.
MSUM would have another chance on offense just ahead of the two-minute timeout, trailing by seven points. The Dragons would move ahead 13 yards before the break as
Luke Imdieke made a catch and run on a third down to keep MSUM alive. Strand would connect with
Madden Thorson and
Gage Florence to gather another Dragon first down with time ticking. MSUM would move into Bearcat territory after Strand found Elbert again with just over 90 seconds to play. Florence would make back-to-back grabs to put MSUM in the red zone at McKendree's 15-yard line.
Unfortunately, Strand would be sacked on the ensuing play, which helped the Bearcat defense stall MSUM. McKendree would stop the Dragons on fourth and 10 with just over a minute to play. From there, the Bearcats would hang on for a 22-15 victory.
Credit must go to the Dragon defense, who held McKendree to just 91 yards in the final 30 minutes after allowing 308 in the first half.
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Up Next
MSUM (1-2, 1-1 NSIC) returns home next weekend for an NSIC clash with Augustana on Saturday, September 28. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
