MOORHEAD, Minn. -- The No. 13-ranked University of Minnesota Duluth football program passed its first road test with flying colors, rolling past Minnesota State University Moorhead 48-20 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play at Alex Nemzek Field on Saturday night. 

UMD (2-0, 2-0 NSIC North) extends its conference winning streak to 20-straight games in knocking off MSU Moorhead (1-1, 1-1 NSIC North), while continuing to prove why the Bulldogs are the top dogs in the North Division.

The Dragons played UMD tough to start, trading scores in the opening frame with MSU Moorhead leading 7-6 after one quarter of play thanks to a 10-yard rushing touchdown by junior quarterback John Larson that capped off a 67-yard drive at the 8:01 mark. After the Bulldogs missed a two-point conversion attempt, running back Denver Colgrove scored from two yards out for the Dragons with 2:12 remaining in the first with Hobet Diaz's extra point attempt good.

MSUM extended its lead to 14-6 when Jakup Sinani connected with Ryan Harvey-Turner for a 34-yard strike with 8:16 remaining in the half. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the play helped put UMD in strong field position for their next drive, and the Bulldogs struck quickly with sophomore running back Wade Sullivan scoring from three yards out to cap off a 51-yard drive that took just 2:01 off the clock. This time, senior kicker Dan Branger connected on the point after attempt to bring UMD back within one at 14-13.

The Dragons responded with a quick strike of their own, scoring on the third play of a 59-second drive, a 54 yard catch and run from Sinani to Ryan Bieberdorf. They could not make good on this extra point attempt though, and pushed the lead back to just seven. An interception by the MSUM defense did no damage as the Dragons missed a field goal attempt on the ensuing drive, and Moorhead took its 20-13 lead to the break.

UMD took little time regaining control of the game in the second half, scoring touchdowns on three-straight drives of only three plays each as they posted 28 unanswered points in the third to take a 41-20 lead. Larson connected with Sullivan on a 15-yard touch, junior wideout Quincy Woods on a 25-yard score and sophomore tight end Zach Ojile on a seven-yard strike while junior running back Cazz Martin tacked on a nine-yard rush in the quarter. 

Martin added a 55-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth, capping off 35 unanswered points after halftime as the Bulldogs afforded themselves a chance to run out the clock. Larson was relieved in the fourth quarter, but not before finishing his day 17-of-24 with three touchdowns and one interception, collecting 252 yards through the air while also rushing 12 times for 104 yards and a score on the ground.

NOTABLE
UMD is now 18-0 in the head-to-head series against MSU Moorhead since 1999 … the Bulldogs held the Dragons to (-9) rushing yards in the game … Sullivan's third quarter touchdown catch was the first receiving touchdown of his career … Branger finished 6-for-6 on extra point attempts … junior defensive back Barry Moreland grabbed a third-quarter interception as UMD turned the tide … the Bulldog defense collected eight tackles for loss including six sacks.

UP NEXT
UMD returns home to play host to St. Cloud State (2-0, 2-0 NSIC North) on Military Appreciation Day next Saturday, Sept. 21 at Malosky Stadium. The game, which is set to begin just after 6:00 p.m. will broadcast locally on the My9 Sports Network and 102.5 The DUKE FM.

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