MSU-Moorhead Uses Strong Second Half to beat UMC Football

The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Golden Eagle Football team looked much improved from last year’s winless squad, but costly penalties and turnovers allowed the Minnesota State Moorhead Dragons to defend their home field for a 34-10 win over UMC in an NSIC matchup played at Nemzek Stadium in Moorhead for the Red River Valley Showdown Traveling Trophy.

After UMC won the coin toss the Golden Eagles differed allowing MSU Moorhead’s offense a chance to score the first points of the game. Facing 3rddown and 12 on their opening drive the Dragons looked to running back Herman Gray (Jr., Las Vegas, NV) who fought passed the line of scrimmage reaching the 36-yard line with his 13-yard carry good for a first down. Three plays later, with MSU Moorhead on their own 47-yard line. Herman Gray busted through the first level and went untouched into the end zone for a 53-yard carry giving MSU Moorhead a 7-0 lead.
The Golden Eagles managed one first down on their opening drive but stalled out near midfield. After forcing a three-and-out Minnesota Crookston took over at their own 43-yard line.
Jalin Scott (Jr., Houston, TX), in his first game as UMC’s signal caller, looked comfortable behind an offensive line that showed flashes in the run game but struggled to pass protect all night. “We’re happy to have him on the team,” noted Minnesota Crookston head coach Mark Dufner. “He’s going to make some plays on his feet and with his arm.” Scott stared the Golden Eagles’ second drive with a scamper into MSU Moorhead territory. On the very next play, Scott again carried the ball, this run for six yards before a wide-receiver sweep allowed Rod Stewart (Sr., Fort Worth, TX) to move the chains with a seven-yard carry down to the Dragons’ 19-yard line after tacking on a 15-yard penalty. Facing first down and 10 from the 19-yard line, new running back Elijah Todd (Jr., Toledo, OH and pictured to the right) muscled his way forward for seven yards before a four-yard loss forced UMC to settle for a field goal, which true-freshman Jared McLemore (Fr., Lucas, TX) converted from 22-yards away cutting the deficit to 7-4 with 3:24 left in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, MSU Moorhead quarterback Bryce Meehl (Jr., Oakes, ND) connected with receiver Jake Richter (Soph., Detroit Lakes) for 39 yards down to the Golden Eagles’ 28-yard line. UMC’s defense would stiffen near the red-zone after allowing a 15-yard completion moved the Dragons 13-yards away from their second touchdown. A run on third down and 10 was stuffed for a four-yard loss by linebacker Will Cross (Jr., Turtle Lake, WI) forcing a 37-yard field goal try that missed wide left keeping the Dragons ahead just 7-3.

UMC appeared poised to take the lead as Jalin Scott marched the Golden Eagles down the field behind three carries and a 12-yard completion to Andy Groebner (Fr., Andover). With UMC down to MSU Moorhead’s 38-yard line Scott carried the football to his left for 8-yards before taking a hard hit that jarred the football free. The fumble was recovered by Minnesota State Moorhead bringing the drive to an end. The Dragons used their subsequent possession to pin UMC on their own one-yard line with 1:14 left in the half and the Dragons’ with all three timeouts. UMC failed to move the chains and Stephen Day’s (Sr., Eveleth) 31-yard punt into a fierce headwind was returned 20 yards by Zach Sweep (Jr., Bismarck, ND) to the UMC 13-yard line.
The Dragons struck for their second touchdown of the half three plays later. After two straight completions, Bryce Meehl found Jake Richter on the far sideline of the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown to give MSU Moorhead a 14-3 lead at the half.

UMC’s second half started with a delay of game and three-yard loss, punting the ball back to the Dragons.   MSU Moorhead added to their lead on the subsequent possession as Bryce Meehl hooked up with Jack Richter for a 66-yard catch and run down the near sideline down to the UMC 6-yard line. A low snap set MSU Moorhead back to the 26-yard line for second and goal eventually forcing the Dragons to settle for a 41-yard field goal to take a 17-3 lead with 10:09 left in the third quarter.
UMC continued to struggle to move the football in the third quarter, but the Dragons managed to add to their lead towards the final minute of the third thanks to a Deiondre Taylor (Jr., Crest Hill, IL) interception returned to the UMC 12-yard line. On MSU Moorhead’s next offensive snap Zach Simmons rushed through the right side for a 12-yard touchdown run growing the Dragons’ lead to 24-3 after three quarters. “We got a lot of things to clean up, probably the most disappointing thing is we were pretty undisciplined, taking some offsides, some false starts, having ten men out there, we’ve got to get those things cleaned up,” said Dufner. “That’s a little bit embarrassing, quite frankly.”

Following a missed 48-yard field goal by MSU Moorhead less than one minute into the fourth quarter, UMC began their drive at their own 31-yard line. Elijah Todd started the drive with a 22-yard carry down the UMC sideline with a late-hit adding 15-yards to the end of the play moving the Golden Eagles to the MSU Moorhead 32-yard line. Three straight Todd carries marched UMC down to the 9-yard line, but UMC stalled at the 9-yard line. “Eli Todd, that’s why we recruited him here,” added Dufner. “He’s just got to get more consistent and stay focused, but we’ve been pleased with him. He’s a good, solid, back. Facing fourth and goal Scott looked to his left and found a cutting Rod Stewart who reached across his body to haul in the touchdown reception just beyond the goal line cutting the deficit down to 24-10. “It’s certainly nice to get points there,” added Dufner. “That made it a two-possession game, but we just couldn’t keep that which was a little disappointing.”
MSU Moorhead responded with a six-play, 61-yard touch drive capped off by a Bryce Meehl three-yard touchdown pass to Jake Richter giving the Dragons a 31-10 lead with 8:42 remaining.
The game remained scoreless the rest of the night, but football took a backseat when UMC wide receiver Jonattan Mudd (Gardena, CA) hauled in an 18-yard reception but failed to return to his feet after the tackle. After a teammate waved over to the medical staff the stretcher and ambulance. Mudd appeared able to move his extremities before being stretchered into an ambulance before being transferred to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. “I’m not sure if it’s precautionary, or what it is,” Dufner explained. Will Cross also suffered an apparent ankle injury which sidelined him the rest of the game and puts his season in doubt after week one. “That’s probably the worst thing that could have happened here,” noted the UMC head coach. “Losing a couple of our key guys here, it’s a tough situation.”
Minnesota Crookston ran out the final seconds of the game with the celebration that should have awaited the victorious hosts muted by the late game injury as the Dragons took the season-opener 34-10. “They played until the end there,” summarized Dufner. “The defense got some stops and the offense put points on the board late in the game and guys just kept battling.”

The Golden Eagles fall to 0-1 on the season and will face St. Cloud State on Saturday, September 8 at 1 p.m. a game you can hear on KROX with the Riverview Health pregame show beginning at 12:20. MSU Moorhead improves to 1-0.

Julian Jackson with a tackle in the first half

Rod Stewart on a punt return in the second half

1st Quarter
12:14 – MSUM – 53 yard run – Herman Gray (Joe Tjosvold kick)
3:24 – UMC – Jared McLemore 22 yard field goal

4th Quarter
11:41 – UMC – Rod Stewart 9 yard pass from Jalin Scott (Jared McLemore kick)
8:52 – MSUM – Jake Ricthter 3 yard pass from Bryce Meehl (Joe Tjsovold kick)
1:15 – MSUM – Joe Tjosvold 37 yard field goal