MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Minnesota State Moorhead football used consistent offense and stout defense to retain the Paddle Trophy for the 11th straight season on Saturday. The Dragons scorched the University of Mary in the annual Battle For The Paddle rivalry game, which also fell on MSUM's Homecoming, 42-22.
Moorhead would begin the game on offense, implementing a strong gameplan, centered around
Drew Huebner and
Kalen Lucas. The Dragons used 12 plays to travel 75 yards on the drive, which included four Lucas receptions. MSUM would also convert a pair of fourth and short scenarios on the series. On a fourth and six play from the Mary 13-yard line, Huebner moved through his progressions. The sophomore quarterback would find Lucas over the middle for the game's first score. After the teams traded punts, Mary would equalize late in the first period on a 31-yard run. The teams would remain tied at seven points after 15 minutes of action.
Both defenses would settle in before Moorhead regained possession with just over eight minutes to play in the first half. Huebner would link up with
Kelly Johnson and Lucas before a roughing the passer penalty put MSUM at the Mary 29-yard line. It took all but one play from there as Huebner would find a wide open Johnson along the sideline for another score. MSUM's defense would force another Marauder punt on the ensuing series to provide the Dragon offense another opportunity to strike. MSUM would use nine plays to travel 57 yards, which included completed passes to Lucas,
Denzel Sutton,
Reggie Bruner and
Seth Staloch. Huebner would have MSUM's offense at the Marauder 12-yard line before delivering a scoring pass to Staloch to give Moorhead a 21-7 advantage.
Reign Battle would continue to make plays as the half neared a conclusion. The sophomore linebacker stepped in front of a pass to flip possession in Moorhead's favor once more. Battle's interception is his second in as many games and is his third straight game forcing a takeaway. The defense would keep the Marauders off the scoreboard for the remainder of the half with Moorhead leading 21-7 at the break. Mary would get the first score of the second half, earning a touchdown and two-point conversion to make the score 21-15 in favor of the Dragons.
Simply put, Moorhead would impose its will for the remainder of the contest. A combination of Huebner and
Owen Wiersma would allow the Dragons to travel 64 yards on nine plays. With the Dragons at the Marauder nine-yard line, Huebner would deliver potentially his best ball of the day. The Morris, Minn., product dropped in a perfect back shoulder throw to Staloch, who reeled in the pass for his second score of the afternoon. Moorhead would lead 28-15 with the Dragon defense forcing a three and out on the ensuing Mary series. The Dragon offense only needed three plays to extend their lead from there. Wiersma scampered for 42 yards on first down before Lucas made another appearance in the end zone. The sophomore used a screen pass, and some shifty maneuvering, to score from 11 yards away.
Moorhead's defense would do its job, providing the Dragon offense another drive before the third quarter concluded. Huebner connected with Johnson for 42 yards on second down to give MSUM choice field position at the Mary 21-yard line. Two plays later, it wa Sutton who made an impressive run and catch. The junior would score from 21 yards out to stamp a 42-15 Dragon lead entering the fourth quarter. Mary scored midway through the final frame to cut the deficit to 20 points with MSUM leading 42-22.
The Dragons,
who no doubt recalled the furious comeback from the Marauders in 2025, would salt the game away from there, taking over with nine minutes to play. MSUM would run 13 plays on that drive, chewing up the remaining time and completely removing a potential comeback attempt.
Timmy Guler and
Isaiah Favors would secure critical first downs for Moorhead on the series. The Dragons would claim the contest 42-22 thanks to six touchdown passes from Huebner and 15 receptions from Lucas. Not to be outdone, MSUM's defense was stingy, allowing just 236 yards of total offense, including 92 pass yards. Entering the contest today, UMary was averaging 250 pass yards per game.
Top Dragons
- Drew Huebner: 30-45, 332 yards, six touchdowns, 12 carries, 35 yards
- Kalen Lucas: 15 receptions, 124 yards, two touchdowns
- Regin Battle: Seven tackles, one interception
- Kelly Johnson: Five receptions, 94 yards, one touchdown
- Preston Johnson: Six tackles, pass breakup, quarterback hurry
- Jake Schaefer: Six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss
- Denzel Sutton: Four receptions, 49 yards, one touchdown
- Seth Staloch: Three receptions, 31 yards, two touchdowns
- Denver Piechowski: Five total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack
Steve d'Eustachio's Stat of the Game
Drew Huebner became the third Dragon in the history of the program to throw for six or more touchdown passes in single game. Jon Frykman did it first in a 45-21 home win to conclude the 2003 season.
Jack Strand did it three times, including throwing a school record seven scored versus Bemidji State on November 1, 2025.
Up Next
MSUM (5-2, 4-2 NSIC) looks towards a bye week next week before playing host to Northern State on Saturday, October 24 at noon.
