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Brady Perryman caught three touchdowns in a 45-21 win over Winona State
Lexi Hills
21
Winona St. WSU 1-2 , 1-1
45
Winner MSU Moorhead MSU 3-0 , 2-0
Winona St. WSU
1-2 , 1-1
21
Final
45
MSU Moorhead MSU
3-0 , 2-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WSU Winona St. 0 0 14 7 21
MSU MSU Moorhead 0 17 7 21 45

Game Recap: Football | | Nolan Schmidt

Dragons Wallop Warriors with All-Around Effort

The Dragons move to 3-0 for the first time since 2015.

MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Minnesota State Moorhead football began the 2025 home schedule in style on Saturday afternoon as the Dragons handled business against Winona State. Moorhead is 3-0 for the first time since 2015 following a 45-21 victory over the Warriors. 

Both offenses would stall out in the early going as Moorhead had its best shot to score on their second possession of the frame. The Dragons would move all the way down to the Winona State 16-yard line before being faced with a fourth and three call. The ensuing play saw MSUM turn the ball over on downs, keeping the game scoreless. While Winona State would answer back with a solid drive, it would eventually stall out at midfield as the Dragon defense began to settle in. The teams would trade punts at the end of the first quarter with the game still scoreless after 15 minutes. 

With the Dragons driving to begin the second stanza, Jack Strand would find Carson Elbert for a 15-yard play to get MSUM to Winona State's 18-yard line. A few plays later, Strand would connect with Brady Perryman from 17 yards away for the game's first score. The touchdown was a sort of redemption for Perryman, who dropped a sure-fire touchdown in the first quarter. The Dragon defense would continue to buckle down on the ensuing Warrior possession, forcing a punt once more.

On the next Dragon possession, MSUM employed a balanced look of run and pass options. Just as Strand was linking up with receivers, he would offer a delayed handoff to Tyson Brandt, who rushed for 46 yards on the campaign. Brandt would break free for a 27-yard gain to get the Dragons to Winona State's three-yard line. From there, Strand took matters into his own hands, scoring on a rush to have the Dragons up 14-0. 

It was the Dragon defense who ended the half on a high note, forcing another Warrior punt with 52 seconds remaining. Never one to waste an opportunity, MSUM's offense would drive down the field again with Strand passing to Madden Thorson for a pair of big gains. The plays helped the Dragons move into field goal range as Max Watson would tee it up from 46 yards away. The sophomore was true from the distance, matching his career long and putting the Dragons up 17-0 at the break. 

Winona State would open the second half with their first scoring drive, making the score 17-6 in favor of MSUM. McKale Pierson would block the extra point attempt to return momentum to the Dragons. After trading punts, MSUM found itself with the ball once more in great field position at the Warrior 35-yard line. Strand and the Dragons only needed four plays to score again as Strand found Perryman for his second score, this time from 20 yards away. Near the end of the third period, Moorhead led 24-6. Winona State would quickly respond in an attempt to keep the game within reach, scoring and converting on a two-point try to cut the deficit to 10 points (24-14). That score held up through 45 minutes of play. 

At the top of the fourth quarter, Moorhead would drive again, working down to the Winona State four-yard line after Strand and Perryman connected for 42 yards on fourth down. The next play had Strand finding Gage Florence for another passing score. Florence made 10 catches in the contest, putting him one reception shy of the most in NSIC history (291). Following the score, the Dragons led 31-14. Needing a big stop, the MSUM defense did one better as senior Cody Sorenson stepped in front of a pass and returned it 25 yards to the Warrior 19-yard line. The Moorhead offense needed just one play from there as Strand again linked up with Perryman for an 18-yard score. For Perryman, it is his 31st career receiving touchdown, tying the program's career record held by Adam Jiskra. Early in the final frame, MSUM led 38-14.

Moorhead's defense was not done quite yet either as Winona State only got two plays off on the ensuing drive before Tate Gustafson jumped a pass for an interception. Neither team would score over the next two drives as the Dragons would regain possession with six minutes to go and the ball on their own 43-yard line. MSUM would struggle to gain yards on the campaign and were faced with a third and 12 play. As the Dragons looked to keep the clock moving, Brandt would take a handoff 34 yards for his first career rushing touchdown. The run stamped a final impression on the game for MSUM, who would eventually win by a 45-21 score. 

Top Dragons Steve d'Eustachio's Stat of the Game

Today marked the first time the Dragons played their first two games of a season on the road and won, then began their home campaign with a win since beating Bemidji St. 10-7 on Sept. 29, 1962. The Dragons opened that season with a 22-8 victory at North Dakota St., then traveled to Yankton College and beat the Greyhounds 20-6 to move to 2-0.

Up Next

The Dragons (3-0, 2-0 NSIC) will stay inside the friendly confines of Nemzek Stadium next weekend as they look towards a matchup with Wayne State. Kickoff is scheduled for noon on Saturday, September 20. 
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