Ever since the start of the 2018 preseason camp, University of Minnesota Duluth Head Coach Curt Wiese has emphasized the importance of getting off on the right foot and focusing solely on the first game.

His Bulldogs, who had gone winless in their previous three season openers, took that to heart in a big way Thursday evening by overpowering Minot State University 49-3  at Parker Stadium in Minot, N.D.

UMD rolled up 583 yards of total offense (its largest output since Nov. 5, 2016), including 342 in the first half alone while holding the Beavers to just 137 yards on the night and 13 in the first two quarters. Despite turning the ball over four times (two fumbles and two interceptions) the Bulldogs still took a 35-3 lead into halftime. Senior Alex Lasinski accounted for both of the Bulldogs' two touchdowns the rest of the way, scoring on third-quarter runs of 64 yards and one yard.

Sophomore John Larson was one of three UMD quarterbacks who took snaps in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division victory and the 2017 All-NSIC second team pick completed nine of 15 passes for 133 yards. He also opened the scoring by capping off the Bulldogs' first drive of the season by scampering 10 yards into the endzone. Junior Mike Rybarczyk came off the bench and went 3-for-5 while connecting on a 19-yard touchdown pass to senior wide out Tyler Lattery with 4:50 to go before the half. The Bulldogs finished with 384 yards on the ground, a team-leading 96 of which was generated by Wade Sullivan.  The redshirt freshman running back, who was making his collegiate debut, bolted 71 yards for a touchdown on the fourth of his five carries in the waning minutes of the first quarter.  Lasinski, who came into the year with six rushing yards to his Bulldog credit, ran six times for 87 yards. Sophomore Johnny McCormick led both teams with four pass receptions for 67 yards.

Defensively, junior Isaac Erdmann, who missed all of 2017 after undergoing off-season surgery, topped the Bulldogs with six total tackles -- one more stop than both senior outside linebacker Alex Helmer and junior transfer defensive back Tyrik Carmickle.

UMD is now a perfect 7-0 lifetime versus Minot State and has outscored the Beavers 312-26 in the process.

The Bulldogs will make their 2018 home debut next Saturday (Sept. 8) with a Military Appreciation Night clash against long-time rival Minnesota State University-Moorhead.