MINOT, N.D. (MSUM Athletics)— The Minnesota State University Moorhead football team built a 29-3 halftime lead and went on to beat Minot State, 29-17 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday in Minot, N.D.
MSUM improved to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the NSIC North with the win while Minot fell to 0-6 overall and 0-2 in the north. MSUM has now beaten Minot eight straight times, the longest winning streak against any opponent under Head Coach Steve Laqua.
“I thought we came out and started fast, I thought the defense played great football and kept us in control in the game,” Laqua said. “Overall we’ve got to capitalize on opportunities a little bit better than we did.”
The Dragons got big plays from their defense and special teams, scoring a touchdown on each. That included an interception return for a touchdown from freshman cornerback Cody Sorenson and a blocked punt return for a touchdown by freshman defensive back Joey Hughes.
Freshman linebacker Marcus Gulley led the defense with eight tackles. Senior defensive end Darius Woods-Steichen had 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks while freshman defensive end Denver Sheets had 0.5 sacks. Sorenson led with three pass breakups.
Junior fullback Hayden Boll rushed 17 times for 39 yards and two scores. Senior quarterback Justin Czech had 37 rushing yards on two carries.
Freshman running back Luke Imdieke had five catches for 57 yards while senior receiver Grady Bresnahan had four catches for 38 yards. Imdieke rushed six times for 35 yards as well.
Freshman quarterback Tommy Falk was 15-of-29 passing for 150 yards.
Boll capped off a 10-play, 68-yard drive with a 1-yard plunge with 10:08 left in the first quarter to put MSUM up 7-0. Minot State added a field goal to get within 7-3 but that was as close as the Beavers would get the rest of the day.
MSUM added its second touchdown with 48 seconds left in the first quarter on a 2-yard plunge that capped off a 5-play, 70-yard drive to push the lead to 14-3.
Sorenson picked off Minot State quarterback and returned it 60 yards for a scored to make it 22-3 early in the second quarter. Moments later, freshman defensive end Thomas Myers blocked a punt and Hughes ran it back 29 yards for a touchdown to push the lead to 29-3 with 12:21 left in the first half.
MSUM wouldn’t scored again but the defense held tough. Minot State scored with 3:40 left and then recovered an onside kick and scored again but the Dragons ran the clock out after that to preserve the win.
MSUM is at Bemidji State on Oct. 16 in the Battle for the Axe.
Game Recap: Football | 10/9/2021 6:31:00 PM | Tom Berg
