The No. 24 University of Minnesota Duluth football team advances to a 3-0 start after upsetting the No. 7 Minnesota State University Mankato in a final second field goal on the annual Military Appreciation Day in James S. Malosky Stadium.

UMD is now 2-0 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), 3-0 overall, and 1-0 at home to start the 2025 season. This marks the Bulldogs record on the annual Military Appreciation Day to a 10-2 record and marks the third year in a row that UMD has upset a higher ranked MSU team.

Entering the first quarter, the Mavericks quickly got acquainted with the Bulldog defense, being held to 23 yards in seven plays. Kyle Walljasper and the Bulldog offense battled out from their own end zone with a start on the three-yard line.

The drive featured a 31-yard dart from Walljasper to Luke Dehnicke, but the drive would sputter out on the Maverick's 18-yard line a few plays later. Jadon Apgar then put the Bulldogs on the board first at 3-0 with three minutes to go.

After 28 yards of offense, Brock Unger made an interception to end the Maverick drive and put the offense close to the end zone but UMD would lose the ball two plays later on a fumble by Peyton Menzel. As a result, the score remained at 3-0 entering the second quarter.

The defenses continued to keep big offensive drives to a minimum but the UMD defense was the first to crack with the Mavericks scoring the first touchdown of the game on a nine-play 82-yard drive. An interception with 30 seconds left in the quarter dashed UMD's hope of inching back ahead before halftime.

After receiving the kickoff, Walljasper and the offense marched down the field 78 yards before being held up just outside the end zone. Apgar then sent his second kick of the day through the uprights to mark a 7-6 score.

It would come down to the final quarter, when a determined UMD drive allowed Jacob Eggert to sub in for Walljasper to rush in both an eight-yard touchdown and a two-point conversion to push ahead 14-7 with 13:49 remaining. The Mavericks responded with a drive that lasted ten seconds with a 61-yard pass to tie the game at 14-14.

The following Bulldog drive floundered, giving MSU the ball back with under eight minutes remaining. The defense put together a stop with only losing 1:55 off the clock to get Walljasper and company the ball back.

UMD's offense continued to run down the clock with big plays from Dehnicke and Johnson pushing the clock down to two seconds left at the Maverick 10-yard line.

With bated breath, the 5,487-strong crowd watched as a kick from Apgar didn't connect, but soon it became known the Mavericks had called a timeout. With another chance granted, Apgar's kick sailed through the uprights to seal the upset victory at 17-14.

The Bulldog offense combined for 393 yards to outdo the Mavericks with 267. Rushing-wise, UMD nearly quadrupled MSU 168-69. The defense kept the Mavericks to two of seven third-down conversions while the offense completed at a rate of 10 of 16 on the day.

Individually, Dehnicke was the top receiving Bulldog for the second time this season with his second over 100-yard receiving day. He tallied 141 yards on 11 receptions, with his longest breakthrough measuring at 31 yards. Dehnicke out caught the Maverick's top target, TreShawn Watson, 141-103.

Walljasper had another colossal day under center with 225 passing yards with a season high 61 rushing yards, and a season high 75% completion rate. Jacob Eggert relieved him under center for two plays, earning the lone rushing touchdown and a two-point conversion.

Defensively, Ross Rivord and Jayce Walrath split first with identical tackles and sacks (6 total, three solo, three assisted, half sack). Walrath however, earned an interception for a gain of eighteen yards to complement Unger's interception of 23 yards.

Walljasper had another colossal day under center with 225 passing yards with a season high 61 rushing yards and a season high 75% completion rate. Jacob Eggert relieved him under center for two plays earning the lone rushing touchdown and a two-point conversion.

Defensively, Ross Rivord and Jayce Walrath split first with identical tackles and sacks (6 total, three solo, three assisted, half sack). Walrath however earned an interception for a gain of eighteen yards to compliment Unger's interception of 23 yards.

The currently ranked No. 24 Bulldogs head back on the road to face the University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) on Bob Young Field next Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

BULLDOG NOTES: UMD advanced to a 3-0 start… downed the No. 7 team in the country (AFCA)... perfect 2-0 start to NSIC competition… 10-2 overall record in Military Appreciation Games… third year in a row that UMD has upset a ranked MSU…Walljasper had 225 passing yards with a season high 61 rushing yards and a season high 75% completion rate… Apgar was perfect three for three on field goals.