MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Minnesota State Moorhead football will look to end the regular season on a high note as they travel to take on 14th-ranked Minnesota State on Saturday. Kickoff from Blakeslee Stadium is scheduled for noon. 

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 'Big Game' James McCarty and Jace Denman on the call. 

Matchup History...Since Minnesota State joined the NSIC, they have commanded the series with the Dragons, claiming every meeting since the 2012 season. However, the last two meetings between the two programs has come down to one score. Last year, MSUM fell to the Mavericks, 24-19. Minnesota State is 26-14 all-time against the Dragons. The last time Moorhead defeated the Mavericks was on  October 10, 1981, by a 52-0 scoreline. The teams first met during the 1936 season where Sliv Nemzek's Dragons defeated then Mankato State, 13-7. 

Watch Gage...Senior wide receiver Gage Florence reset the NCAA Division II all-time record for career receptions on Saturday against Jamestown. Florence finished the game with 10 receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown. The Sawyer, N.D., native will look to expand on his record this week, which currently sits at 392. In his career against Minnesota State, Florence has collected 20 receptions, including 14 against the Mavericks on October 7, 2023. Florence has only dropped six passes in his career entering this weekend's game against the Mavs.

More History Made...Senior quarterback Jack Strand continued to add to his historic resume on Saturday against Jamestown. Strand passed for five scores in the win, moving his league total to 112 for his career, a new NSIC record. The Bloomer, Wis., native also elevated his passing yard total to 11,894 in NSIC games, which sits just 113 yards off the NSIC record of 12,007. Strand's five passing scores also moved his season total to 39, breaking his own single-season school record of 36, which he set in 2023. 

They Run It, Too...In the 44-20 win over Jamestown, Moorhead rushed for 305 yards, the highest team total since October 22, 2016. Running backs Tyson Brandt (116) and Owen Wiersma (101) each eclipsed the 100-yard mark, combining for 217 yards on 23 combined carries. The last time Moorhead had multiple 100-yard rushers in a game was November 14, 2015 when Zayne Medhaug (119) and Herman Gray (119) helped the Dragons defeat Minnesota Crookston, 59-21.

Nothing Easy...The Dragon defensive backfield was active against the Jimmies last weekend. McKale Pierson made his third interception in two games while Adam Kallenbach picked off a pass as well. In total, MSUM tallied seven pass breakups, led by four from Jack Johnson. The sophomore leads Moorhead this season with 11 pass breakups.

Tacklin' Tate Rides Again...Senior linebacker Tate Gustafson saw another full game of production against Jamestown. Gustafson made a team-high 10 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss. Gustafson also broke up two passes, including a tip that resulted in the aforementioned interception from Pierson.  

Thrice Is Nice...Senior wide receiver Brady Perryman made three touchdown receptions in the win over Jamestown. It is Perryman's 12th game with multiple touchdowns and his fourth career game with three receiving touchdowns. In his career, Perryman has made a school record 38 touchdown receptions.

Steve Laqua is in his 15th season as MSUM's head football coach. 

Scouting The Opposition

Minnesota State
2024 Record: 11-4 (7-3 NSIC)
2025 Record: 8-2 (7-2 NSIC)
Nickname: Mavericks
Head Coach: Todd Hoffner (15th Season)
Top Mavericks
Offense: Sam Backer, RB (148 carries, 747 yards, 15 TDs)
Defense: Marcus Hansen, DL (36 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one fumble recovery)
Special Teams: Connor Fournier, K 14-18 FG, 51-yard long, 43-43 PAT)