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MSU Moorhead Athletics

Carson Elbert had a touchdown reception in a 27-17 loss to Wayne State on Saturday.
Lexi Hills
27
Winner Wayne St. (NE) WSC 2-2 , 2-1
17
MSU Moorhead MSU 3-1 , 2-1
Winner
Wayne St. (NE) WSC
2-2 , 2-1
27
Final
17
MSU Moorhead MSU
3-1 , 2-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WSC Wayne St. (NE) 17 7 0 3 27
MSU MSU Moorhead 0 3 0 14 17

Game Recap: Football | | Nolan Schmidt

Dragons Stumped by Wildcats

MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Minnesota State Moorhead football suffered its first setback of 2025 on Saturday afternoon at the hands of the Wayne State Wildcats. The visitors built an early lead and didn't look back as the Dragons fell, 27-17. 

In the loss, senior wide receiver Gage Florence reset the NSIC record for career receptions (now standing at 296). Florence also broke the MSUM all-time receiving yards record, surpassing Damon Gibson (record now stands at 3,142).

Neither offense would score on the opening pair of drives with Jack Strand throwing an interception on MSUM's first possession. Wayne State would utilize the turnover (and short field) to convert on a 34-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead early in the first quarter. After Moorhead would turn the ball over on downs on the ensuing possession, the Wildcats would strike again. Wayne State drove 52 yards on seven plays to score the game's first touchdown. Near the end of the first quarter, Wayne State led 10-0. The teams would trade punts as time waned in the first period before Wayne State got the ball back on their own 16-yard line. Running back Dawson Forgy would race 78 yards on the drive's second play for another Wildcat score. After one frame, MSUM trailed, 17-0. 

The Dragon offense continued to struggle into the second quarter as Wayne State applied tremendous pressure to the quarterback Strand. Moorhead would turn the ball over on downs to open the quarter and would punt on their next possession. The Wildcat offense would settle in on the ensuing drive, using 12 plays to travel 81 yards, resulting in another score from Forgy. MSUM would finally find some footing on offense with the half ticking away, moving to the Wayne State 13-yard line with under a minute to play. Max Watson would convert on a 30-yard try to get the Dragons on the scoreboard. At the break, Wayne State led 24-3 as the Wildcats held the Dragons to 94 total yards in the half. 

Moorhead would begin the second half with the ball, but would be forced to punt. After Wayne State answered with a punt of their own, Strand would get picked off again. Luckily, the Dragon defense would stall the Wildcats to make the turnover moot. Moorhead would begin a strong drive as the third quarter ticked away, moving to the Wildcat three-yard line after Strand found Brady Perryman for a 22-yard gain on fourth down. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Tyson Brandt would earn a rushing touchdown. The ensuing two-point try was foiled as the Dragons trailed 24-9. 

The teams would trade punts from there before the Dragons regained possession midway through the final quarter. Strand would link up with Kalen Lucas on the drive's second play for a 64-yard gain, getting MSUM to Wayne State's 26-yard line. Moorhead would get to the Wildcat 10-yard line before Strand found Carson Elbert in the back of the endzone for a passing score. The Dragons converted on a two-point conversion to come within a possession (24-17) with just over five minutes to play. The score was Strand's 100th career passing touchdown. 

Needing a stop, MSUM would force a Wildcat punt from their own 40-yard line with under four minutes to play. Unfortunately for Moorhead, the Dragons would be penalized for roughing the kicker, giving Wayne State 15 yards and a first down. The flag allowed the Wildcat drive to continue as they would eventually settle for a field goal to lead 27-17 with just over a minute to go. On MSUM's final drive, they would turn the ball over on downs, securing a 27-17 win for Wayne State. Forgy was strong for the visitors all afternoon, taking 31 carries for 229 yards and two scores. 

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

The last time the Dragons started 3-0 and lost was when they got thumped by Southwest Minn. St. 48-9 in Marshall, on Sept. 26, 2015.

Up Next

MSUM (3-1, 1-1 NSIC) hits the road next week to face off with unbeaten Minnesota Duluth. Kickoff is slated for noon on Saturday, September 27. 
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