MOORHEAD, Minn. (MSUM Athletics)— The Minnesota State University Moorhead football team held a one-point lead in the final seconds but No. 22 Minnesota Duluth scored the winning touchdown with two seconds left to spoil the Dragons’ homecoming, 26-21 at Scheels Field at Nemzek Stadium.
MSUM fell to 2-3 on the year while UMD improved to 4-1. The Dragons have not beaten UMD since 1999.
Despite being outgained 489-205, the Dragons held the lead until the final two seconds when UMD’s Logan Graetz hit Armani Carmickle from 8 yards out to push UMD up 26-21.
“I was proud of our guys. They battled to the end,” MSUM head coach Steve Laqua said. “We let too many opportunities get away from us during the course of the game, and just didn’t make enough plays to win it.”
Senior receiver Grady Bresnahan had two catches for 73 yards and a score while junior receiver Trent Marquart had five catches for 45 yards. Sophomore receiver Ryan Bieberdorf had three catches for 56 yards and a score.
Junior fullback Hayden Boll led the ground game with 45 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Freshman quarterback Tommy Falk was 13-of-27 passing for 181 yards, a two touchdowns and an interception.
Senior linebacker Matt Schoh had 13 tackles and interception to lead the defense. Freshman linebacker Josiah Behm had eight tackles. Senior defensive end Derek Porozinski had a sack.
MSUM led 7-0 at halftime and was down 20-14 in the fourth quarter when Grady Bresnahan hauled in a 46-yard touchdown pass from Falk with 2:10 left. With freshman Garret Meehl’s extra point, MSUM edged ahead 21-20.
UMD got a big play on the next drive as Graetz hit Byron Bynum for a 49-yard gain to move into Dragon territory. Four plays later, the Bulldogs found the end zone with the winning score.
MSUM took the first-half lead when Falk hit Bieberdorf for a 29-yard score to make it 7-0 early in the second quarter. UMD scored midway through the third quarter to cut the lead to 7-6.
Schoh’s interception and return gave MSUM teh ball at the UMD 13-yard line. A few plays later, they scored when Boll found the end zone from two yards out.
UMD scored the next 14 points to take a 20-14 lead.
The Dragons are at Minot State on Saturday, Oct. 9.
Game Recap: Football | 10/2/2021 5:56:00 PM | Tom Berg