MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Minnesota State Moorhead football is slated to open the 2025 season on the road as the Dragons take on GLIAC opponent Northern Michigan on Thursday, August 28 at 5 p.m. The contest will be the first ever 'week zero' contest for the program.

Live stats and video will be available at msumdragons.com. Please note that FloSports, the official streaming provider for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (GLIAC) is a pay-per-view service. MSUM fans can purchase a monthly subscription to FloSports for $19.99. Fans can also listen to the game live on AM 1100/FM 92.3 with 'Big Game' James McCarty and a returning Jace Denman on the call. 

Notables

Matchup History...Thursday's week zero game will be the first all-time meeting between the Dragons and Wildcats. MSUM will enter unfamiliar territory as the Dragons have not played a game in the Eastern Time Zone since September 29, 1990. On that day, Ross Fortier's Dragons fell to then-NIC foe (and bitter Northern Michigan rival) Michigan Tech, 41-22. The matchup with the Wildcats will also be the first time a Dragon outfit has battled a team from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).

Straight To The Dome...Thursday's tilt will see the Dragons enter a dome environment as Northern Michigan plays inside the Superior Dome in Marquette, Mich. The dome has the capacity to fit up to 16,000 people and is recognized as one of the largest domes in the world. MSUM has not played inside a domed environment since the final installment of the NSIC Metrodome Football Classic, which ran from 1983 until 2007. In their last dome appearance, the Dragons defeated Southwest Minnesota State 41-27 on November 10, 2007 inside the aforementioned Metrodome. MSUM was 12-11 all-time at the NSIC Metrodome Football Classic. 

Preseason Buzz...MSUM was selected to finish seventh in the NSIC preseason coaches' poll behind 96 points. The Dragons were also selected to finish third in the North Division in the same poll. Senior quarterback Jack Strand was noted as MSUM's 'Offensive Player to Watch' and was named the league's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year for the North Division. Strand passed for an NSIC-best 3,421 yards last season with 32 touchdowns through the air. Senior linebacker Tate Gustafson was tabbed as the Dragon 'Defensive Player to Watch' after making 43 total tackles and forcing a fumble as a junior in 2024. 

Feeling Elite...Seniors Jack Strand and Brady Perryman were named to D2Football.com's 'Elite 100' Watch List ahead of the 2025 season. Strand was named First Team Offense as he enters his senior season having passed for an MSUM-record 9,615 yards and 84 touchdowns. Strand is also the program's leader in total yardage (9,382). Perryman led the NSIC in scoring a season ago, hauling in 14 touchdown passes. The senior reeled in 56 receptions for 792 yards as well in 2024. Both players were named All-NSIC First Team following the 2024 season. 

10000 Bars...Entering Thursday's game against the Wildcats, senior quarterback Jack Strand sits 385 pass yards shy of 10,000 for his career. Strand would become the seventh player in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) history to accrue 10,000 or more passing yards (NSIC games only). The NSIC career record for pass yards belongs to Winona State's Jack Nelson (12,007). Strand has thrown for 8,924 pass yards in NSIC games in his career. 

Heavy Flo...Senior wide receiver Gage Florence embarks on his final campaign in Moorhead in 2025. Florence currently holds the MSUM record for receptions (297) and is just 16 receptions shy of breaking the NSIC record held by UMary's Danny Kitner (291). Florence has 276 career receptions in NSIC contests heading into 2025. 

Big Play BP At It Again...Senior wide receiver Brady Perryman enters the 2025 season with 26 career receiving touchdowns. That mark sits five scores shy of the school record held by Adam Jiskra (31).

Team Captains Revealed...MSUM football will be led by four captains during the 2025 season, all of which are seniors. Strand and Florence will serve as the offensive captains while linebacker Mitchell Jezierski and defensive back Cody Sorenson will captain the defense. 

Wildcat Chat...Northern Michigan will enter Thursday's competition with a high degree of hunger. The Wildcats have not won a game since November 12, 2022, a 33-11 win over Lake Erie College. In his third season, head coach Shane Richardson returns three All-GLIAC performers in linebacker Jax Hertel, running back Jahi Wood and offensive lineman Daniel Babcock. Hertel was the team's top tackler in 2024 (57) while Wood tallied a team-best 668 rushing yards. The Wildcats also return their top passer in quarterback Aidan Hoard. However, the Wildcats are expected to employ a run heavy attack behind their triple option scheme. 

Positional Breakdown

Quarterbacks

Senior quarterback Jack Strand is set to lead the way under center for the Dragons. Strand enters the season as MSUM's all-time leader in pass yards (9,615), pass completions (944) and passing touchdowns (84). Junior Grant Warkenthien is slated to be Strand's relief during the 2025 season. The West Fargo, N.D., native made two appearances under center in 2024, passing for 72 yards. Warkenthien will also serve as the holder on special teams. 

Running Backs

The Dragon running back room will see some shifting in 2025 after the graduation of Luke Imdieke and the departure of Fynn Ridgeway. Sophomore bruiser Tyson Brandt is primed for a larger role after taking 22 carries last season. Junior Owen Wiersma will also be looked upon within the group. The Casselton, N.D., native rushed for 61 yards and a score as a sophomore. MSUM will also mix in speedster Isaiah Favors in 2025. 

Tight Ends

A vital position to the MSUM offense, the Dragon tight end corp will be tested in 2025. Redshirt freshman Gavin Lill was migrated to the position during spring ball and has since bulked up to help fit the role. Lill played in three games for the Dragons last season at wide receiver. Fellow redshirt freshman Joe Rose will also be utilized in both blocking and pass catching scenarios thanks to his formidable size. 

Wide Receivers

With Strand under center, MSUM welcomes in one of the most impressive wide receiver groups in the entire nation. Seniors Gage Florence and Brady Perryman lead the way while fellow seniors Carson Elbert and Carter Birrenkott will look to make explosive plays thanks to their size. Junior Madden Thorson was second on the team in receptions and yards last season as well. MSUM also offers up an intriguing underclass group which includes Kelly Johnson, Denzel Sutton, Ty Burgoon and Payton Longmeyer. 

Offensive Line

Another veteran-laden group, MSUM's offensive line stacks up well in the bruising NSIC. Seniors Owen Barthel and Brooks O'Brien lead the room which also features experienced players in center Nick Haugrud, Brennan Sellheim and Brady Olson. Additionally, the Dragons feature two budding stars in sophomores Manny Wilson and Grant Erickson. Both players were thrust into action last year and proved that the future is in good hands alongside coach A.J. Scott. 

Defensive Line

If there is a positional group that features question marks, it is the Dragon defensive line. After several key pieces graduated following the 2024 season, the Dragons will look to veterans Jacob Brosius and Denver Piechowski to pace the group. Sophomore Zach Dahl, junior Ashton Sayre and junior Ashton Tjaden will also bolster the interior for the Dragons. MSUM will need to cultivate depth as they will look to rely on redshirt freshmen Will Martin, Hunter Corbin and Sawyer Rumohr as well. 

Linebackers

A seasoned group of players return to the Dragon linebacking room in 2025. Linebackers coach Taylor James will have the advantage of two seniors in his outfit in captain Mitchell Jezierski and Tate Gustafson. Sophomore Jack Johnson and junior Kennan Stowers were migrated to SAM linebacker in spring ball and will look to utilize their open-field playmaking ability. Johnson will also dual in the secondary in certain coverages. Junior Devin Beach and sophomores Henry Smith and Josh Balstad will also be heavily involved and have proved to be sure-handed tacklers. 

Secondary

Another group of experienced players, defensive backs coach Abe Roehrich is set to have one of his best units yet. Seniors Cody Sorenson and McKale Pierson lead the way at both cornerback spots. Veterans Caleb Munger and Evan Miles are poised to fill out the rest corner spots. A returning Adam Kallenbach, coupled with the astute tackling of Gavin Jarchow, make the backend extremely formidable as well. Jarchow was second on the team in total tackles in 2024 (77). 

Specialists

The steady leg of Max Watson will again pace the Dragons on special teams in 2025. Watson connected on eight field goals a season ago with a long of 45 yards. The Fargo, N.D., native also made 32 PATs a season ago. Senior Sebastian Amorrortu will serve as the kickoff specialist for the Dragons. Sophomore Nolan Imhoff is set to take on snapping duties after longtime snapper Micah Herbel graduated. MSUM will also opt for youth at punter, slotting in Mandan, N.D., native Tristan Ulmer, a true freshman. The Dragon skill players will occupy the punt and kick returns, led by Perryman, Thorson and Sorenson.