FARGO, N.D. – No. 10 Minnesota State carried a seven-point lead into halftime, but MSU Moorhead scored 13 unanswered points in the second half to defeat the Mavericks 34-28 Saturday afternoon at the Fargodome in the regular season finale for both teams.
Despite the loss, Minnesota State finishes the regular season 9-2 overall and 8-2 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play, earning a share of the NSIC championship. The Mavericks will now await their postseason destination when the NCAA Division II Football Championship field is announced Sunday at 5 p.m. CT on NCAA.com.
Minnesota State entered the weekend ranked No. 4 in the Super Region Three rankings. MSU Moorhead closed its season with a 7-4 overall record and a 6-4 mark in conference play.
The Mavericks totaled 380 yards on 62 plays, including 131 rushing yards and 249 passing yards. MSU completed 17-of-32 passes with one interception, while two turnovers led directly to 14 Dragon points. MSU Moorhead finished with 474 yards of offense on 85 plays as quarterback Drew Huebner completed 34-of-58 passes for 413 yards and two touchdowns while adding two rushing scores.
Junior quarterback
Mitchell Thompson led Minnesota State with 74 rushing yards on 17 carries and completed 7-of-14 passes for 74 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Sophomore quarterback
Maximus Sims went 10-of-18 through the air for 175 yards and added a rushing touchdown. Sophomore wide receiver
Lebarion Gilmore paced the receiving corps with eight catches for 133 yards.
Huebner also led the Dragons on the ground with 41 yards on 17 carries, while Kalen Lucas hauled in 15 receptions for 183 yards and a touchdown.
MSU Moorhead struck first after forcing a turnover on downs on Minnesota State's opening possession. Huebner completed his first three passes of the game before finishing the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Dragons a 7-0 lead with 8:38 remaining in the first quarter.
The Dragons recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, but Minnesota State's defense forced a turnover on downs to keep the deficit at seven.
The Mavericks responded immediately. Sims connected with Gilmore for a 42-yard gain to the Dragon 5-yard line before junior running back
Sam Backer scored from one yard out to tie the game at 7-7 with 5:42 left in the opening quarter. The touchdown was the 35th rushing score of Backer's career, moving him into third place on Minnesota State's all-time list.
Minnesota State took its first lead later in the quarter when Sims found junior
Jalyn Thompson for a touchdown following a 36-yard completion to junior
Kurtis Maynor, making it 14-7 with 2:30 remaining in the first.
MSU Moorhead answered with a 95-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 13-yard scoring reception by Lucas early in the second quarter to even the score at 14-14.
After the Dragons recovered a second onside kick, the Maverick defense once again stood tall. Junior
Ian Burau recorded two sacks on the possession, including a fourth-down stop, to keep MSUM off the scoreboard.
Minnesota State capitalized on the defensive stand with another scoring drive. A 34-yard reception by junior
Ishmael Emmanuel-Holloway highlighted the march before Backer capped it with his second touchdown run of the game, putting the Mavericks back in front 21-14 with 9:40 left before halftime.
The Dragons later tied the game at 21-21, but the Mavericks responded before the break. Sims guided a quick scoring drive and finished it with an 8-yard touchdown run, helping Minnesota State take a 28-21 advantage into halftime.
Gilmore starred in the opening half with eight catches for 133 yards. Minnesota State totaled 288 first-half yards, including 243 through the air, while the Dragon offense managed 234 yards.
MSU Moorhead opened the second half with a lengthy drive that resulted in a 43-yard field goal from Max Watson, trimming the Maverick lead to 28-24.
The momentum shifted later in the third quarter after a Minnesota State interception. The Dragons marched more than 90 yards and regained the lead when Huebner scored on a 2-yard quarterback run, making it 31-28 with 2:50 remaining in the quarter.
MSU Moorhead added a 26-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to extend its advantage to 34-28.
Minnesota State had opportunities to rally. Thompson helped lead a drive deep into Dragon territory, converting multiple key first downs with his legs, but a sack on fourth down ended the threat at the MSUM 14-yard line with just over four minutes remaining.
After forcing a punt, the Mavericks received one final chance. A strong return by
Amaun Williams set Minnesota State up at the Dragon 29 with 2:36 to play. The drive ultimately stalled, however, and MSU Moorhead took over on downs before running out the clock.
Burau finished with three sacks for the Mavericks, while Williams recorded a critical pass breakup in the fourth quarter to help keep Minnesota State within striking distance.
The Mavericks now await Sunday's NCAA Division II Selection Show and their NCAA postseason fate when the announcement is made at 5 p.m. CT on NCAA.com.
