MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Minnesota State Moorhead football summoned its patented 'clutch gene' in a Saturday afternoon slobberknocker against visiting Minot State. The Dragons earned a 40-37 Homecoming win after
Jack Strand connected with
Brady Perryman (again) for a game-winning touchdown in overtime.
Perryman made two touchdowns catches on Saturday, resetting the MSUM career record. Entering the contest, Perryman was tied for the record with Adam Jiskra (31 receiving touchdowns).
Minot State would hold possession first and would not waste much time in establishing their noted option offense. On their second play from scrimmage, the Beavers would race 72 yards for the game's first score. Minot State would use some trickery to convert on a two-point try to lead 8-0. The Dragons were quick to respond as
Tyson Brandt helped establish a strong Dragon rush attack. Moorhead would use 10 plays to travel 69 yards before
Jack Strand found Perryman for a four-yard score. The touchdown for Perryman broke the aforementioned career receiving touchdown record.
Trailing 8-7, the Moorhead defense would force a Beaver punt on the ensuing possession. MSUM would continue to implement a slow, methodical pace to the offense as the Dragons traveled 61 yards on 13 plays following the punt. The end result was a 24-yard field goal from
Max Watson to give MSUM its first lead, 10-8. Moorhead would keep momentum as the Beavers would muff the kickoff, placing the Dragons at the Minot State 20-yard line. Unfortunately for the Dragons, they would fumble the back to the Beavers to keep the score as is. Minot State would convert on a field goal try to regain the lead, 11-10 with 10 minutes to play in the first half. Strand would be picked off on the ensuing Dragon possession, just as Moorhead was moving the ball downfield. The turnover helped provide the Beavers another field goal as they now led, 14-10.
Turnover woes would continue to plague the Dragons as the first half neared an end with Strand being intercepted again on the next MSUM possession. Credit to the Dragon defense, however, who stalled the next Minot State series. Moorhead would get the ball back with just over three minutes to play in the second quarter, but would need to travel 98 yards following a strong Beaver punt. Strand and the Dragons would respond after the two turnovers, moving down the field with an impressive combination of run and pass looks. The senior quarterback would find Perryman,
Gage Florence and
Madden Thorson on the drive with Brandt running hard as well. Strand would even use his legs to get Moorhead into the red zone with 25 seconds to go. From there, Strand would deliver a lovely back shoulder throw to
Carson Elbert for a Dragon score. At the break, MSUM would lead 17-14 despite the two turnovers.
The teams would trade punts to open the second half before Moorhead got the ball back with 12 minutes to go in the third frame. Brandt paced the drive with several strong rushes. The sophomore was also vital to the Dragon passing attack all afternoon as he would make three of his nine receptions on the drive. With the Dragons on the Beaver nine-yard line, Strand dumped the ball down to Brandt, who rumbled across the goal line for a touchdown. The score provided the Dragons a 24-14 advantage. Minot State would be quickly forced to punt and the Dragons would convert on a 22-yard field goal from Watson on the ensuing possession. After three quarters, Moorhead led, 27-14.
Minot State would hit a field goal early in the fourth quarter to make the contest a 10-point affair with 13 minutes to go in the game. On the next Dragon series a 52-yard pitch and catch with Perryman had the Dragons threatening again inside the Minot State 20-yard line. Bruiser
Owen Wiersma would take a carry from five yards away and put the Dragons up 34-17 with 10 minutes to go.
Credit has to be given to Minot State from there as the Beavers would score on a five minute drive to make the count 34-24. After the Dragons were forced to punt, Minot State was in prime field position with just over four minutes to play. Minot State would convert on a rare deep pass play to score a touchdown, bringing the Beavers within three points (34-31) with three minutes to go. A sharp onside kick attempt was then recovered by the Beavers on the Dragon 42-yard line. Minot State would drive to the Moorhead 10-yard line before they opted for a field goal with one second to play in regulation. The Beavers would convert on the try, sending the game into overtime tied at 34 points.
In overtime. Moorhead would win the coin flip, opting to play defense first. The decision proved smart as the Dragon defense put up a stout effort when it was needed most. After Minot State earned an initial first down, they would sit at the MSUM 10-yard line. On two straight plays, Moorhead would stuff the Beaver rush attack, thanks to big tackles from
Devin Beach and
Tate Gustafson. Minot State would only manage a field goal out of the series, giving the Dragons the ball with the score 37-34.
And then, all it took was one play...
Strand would snap the ball with Perryman streaking downfield on a deep post route. The quarterback zipped the ball into the hands of the waiting Perryman, who had created a few yards of separation with his marker. Strand's fourth touchdown pass sent the Nemzek Stadium crowd into a frenzy as the Dragons earned the 40-37 Homecoming victory. Moorhead racked up 545 yards of total offense in the contest with Brandt and Perryman accounting for 281 scrimmage yards.
Top Dragons
Steve d'Eustachio's Stat of the Game
The Dragons have now won six straight home games over Minot State and have outscored the Beavers 277-112 along the way.
Up Next
MSUM (4-2, 3-2 NSIC) is back on the road for the annual Battle for the Paddle matchup with the University of Mary. Kickoff from Bismarck is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 11.
