MINOT, N.D.- The Minot State Beavers football team (0-5) head to Moorhead, Minn. to face off against the Minnesota State-Moorhead Dragons. The battle is set for this Saturday Oct. 8th at noon at Scheels Field.
Last Outing: The "Battle of the Beavers" fell into the paws of the wrong Beaver last weekend as Bemidji State pummled their way to a 59-14 victory in Minot. MSU got 250 total offensive yards on the day, 42 rushing and 208 passing.
Dawson Macleary led the Beavers passing attack gaining 207 yards on the day with two touchdowns while
Marshaun Campbell had one yard on the day.
Ali Mohamed led the Beaver rushing attack with 57 yards.
Peyton Lamoureux was the leading receiver on the day with 70 yards and a touchdown, while
Erik Palmquist caught the other Beaver touchdown on the day while gaining 40 yards on the day.
JT Snow was the leader of the Beaver defense with seven tackles while
Isaiah Bigby was right behind with six tackles and a tackle for loss.
Caleb Ness and Chase Doty each had a tackle for loss while
Noah Freng and
Sean Hoover each combined for a tackle for loss.
Kyle VanBerkom and
Jordan Sanford each forced a fumble while
Lane Schall and
Knylen Miller-Levi each had an interception with Schall returning the interception for 12 yards.
Series: The Dragons have owned the series since the Beavers joined the NSIC in 2012 as the Dragons own an 8-1 record on the series. The last meeting last year took place here in Minot with the Dragons slipping away 29-17. The lone Minot State win was the first meeting back in 2012 when the Beavers dominated a 31-10 victory in Moorhead.
The Opponent: The Dragons are averaging 16 points per game with 11 touchdowns on the year. The Dragons have gained 1,306 yards with an average of 261.2 yards per game. The Dragons have switched up their quarterback as freshman Jack Strand and sophomore Tommy Falk have split duties among the quarterback duties. Strand has completed 66.32 percent of his passes for 612 yards and four interceptions while tossing five touchdowns. Falk has completed 52.68 percent of his passes for 582 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. The Dragon rushing attack has been led by sophomore Luke Imdieke who has 96 yards on the year. Freshman Gage Florence has made the most of his catches having caught 43 catches for 474 yards and two touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball sophomore Josiah Behm has been the leader with 49 total tackles. MSUM has made 36 tackles for loss as sophomore Marcus Gulley and senior James Eggert have each made five and a half tackles for loss. The Dragons defense has made 11 sacks with junior Hayden Carr making the most with two and a half sacks. MSUM has made five interceptions and 14 pass breakups and four forced fumbles. Sophomore Ryan Reidel is one for one for field goals making a 27 yard field goal.
The Beavers: The Beavers are averaging 10.8 points per game and gaining 1,055 yards on the year, while making six touchdowns. Macleary has been the leading passer for MSU having completed 54.68 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and six interceptions and 794 yards. Mohamed has been the leading Beaver rusher with 252 yards and one touchdown. Lamoureux and
Nathan Young have been the leading targets for the Beavers each with 235 and 202 yards and each with a singular touchdown.
On the defensive side Bigby has been the leading tackler with 35 total tackles, as the Beavers have had 16 total tackles for loss, led by
Caleb Ness with three. Ness and
Jonathan Leon each have a sack on the year for MSU. The Beavers defense has forced five interceptions as Miller-Levi has two. MSU has made 11 pass breakups, four quarterback hits, and five forced fumbles, and one safety.
Looking Ahead: The Minot State Beavers head back to Minot for homecoming against the Northern State Wolves. The Wolves come to town on Saturday Oct. 15th with kickoff set for 2 p.m. at the First Western Bank Field at the Herb Parker Stadium.
