MOORHEAD, MINN. – Minot State University was able to make the first to strike on Saturday while visiting Minnesota State University Moorhead, but ultimately fell 42-24 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football at Scheels Field.

On its first drive the MSU converted on a 3rd-and-15 as starting quarterback Jose Escobar completed a pass to Ryan Fila. The Beavers were stopped on their next third down, but were granted a first down from a roughing the punter call.

The next two plays, a 36-yard run from Jarvis Mustipher and an 18-yard run from Ben Zahniser, led MSU (2-7 overall, 2-7 NSIC, 1-4 NSIC North) to a 7-0 lead.

The Dragons (5-4, 5-4, 3-2) responded with a touchdown of their own to tie the game at 7-7 with a 3-yard pass from Demetrius Carr. Carr would total 277 yards on the day and score five passing touchdowns against the Beavers, normally a strong defensive team against the pass.

"I think the first thing is [Damon Gibson], their receiver, is fantastic," head coach Tyler Hughes said. "He created a lot of trouble for us out there. We tried to give him as much attention as we could, but he made great plays. He's the best receiver I've seen in this league since I've been in it.

"We had a couple of communication lapses and a few of their guys got away from us, but our secondary has been the best in the NSIC statistically all year, today they just didn't have the best stuff."

Down 14-7 in the second quarter Minot State was able to move its way down the field and set up Aaron La Deaux for a 45-yard field goal. The ball went through the uprights to make the score 14-10, but MSU Moorhead responded once again less than two minutes later to push its lead to 21-10 going into the half.

The field goal marked La Deaux's second of the season as he hit a 19-yard try last week against Minnesota Crookston. Hughes said the confidence in his kicker starts in what he has seen at practice.

"Aaron has done a great job all year," said Hughes. "He has great leg strength. We line him up from 50 yards out at practice and he always has the distance, but he has been working on the accuracy, which all kickers do."

The Dragons scored their fourth passing touchdown of the game with 7:54 left in the third quarter and this time it was the Beavers turn to respond. Using up the remainder of the clock in the third quarter, and five seconds of the fourth, MSU was able to put together a 16-play, 78-yard touchdown drive that resulted in a pass from Isaiah Weed, who filled in for the injured Escobar, to Ray Watkins.

Minot State was able to control the ball for much of the game, possessing it for more than 10 minutes more than its opponent, largely due to its success on third down. The Beavers converted on 11 of its 17 attempts, including many in which they needed more than five yards.

"That was the big thing early on; we were able to convert on a lot of third-and-long situations," Hughes said. "We were moving the ball. Later in the game the third downs were more manageable and we were more focused on execution."

MSU Moorhead went up 42-17 before Minot State was able to score the final touchdown of the game, a 2-yard rush from Zahniser. It was Zahniser's eighth touchdown in three games as he finished with 72 yards rushing.

Mustipher led the team with 93 yards as the team totaled 161 yards on the ground. Hughes credits his players and coaches in their recent ability to get things going with the running game.
"I think it's just a steady commitment to doing our base stuff," Hughes said. "The stuff I've wanted to do since I first got her. Our players have committed to it and bought in, we have backs that understand and believe in it and an offensive line unit that's all in. Our coaches have done a great job teaching our players what to do."

The Beavers went 14-of-25 through the air for 146 yards as Isaiah Weed led the team with 79 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively Michael Jenkins and Titus Dixon finished with eight tackles each.

Minot State will finish out its season with two home games, starting with St. Cloud State next week at 1 p.m. The Beavers will play the Huskies on Saturday, November 5.

About Minot State
Minot State University is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and NCAA Division II offering 14 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletics programs. The NSIC is a premier NCAA DII, 16-member conference featuring teams in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. The Beavers are the only public NCAA Division II institution in the state of North Dakota.