Air Raid: Minnesota State Moorhead Dragons Football 2024

[IceBoxDragon]

Officially 100 days from the start of the 2024 Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons Football Season! This year the Dragons return after going 7-4 in 2023, their best record since 2019.
Here’s how last year looked:

• @ Wayne State, Loss, 31-21
• Vs. Minot State, Win, 56-14
• Vs. McKendree, Win, 38-17
• @ Augustana, Loss, 31-27
• Vs. Northern State, Win, 45-26
• @ Minnesota State, Mankato, Loss, 24-21
• Vs. Sioux Falls, Win, 53-40
• @ Southwest Minnesota State, Win, 34-17
• Vs. Winona State, Win, 20-17
• @ Bemidji State, Loss, 27-14
• Vs. University of Mary, Win, 35-7

Here’s the lineup for this year, a really tough home slate.

• Vs. Wayne State
• @ Minnesota Duluth
• @ McKendree
• Vs. Augustana
• @ Winona State
• Vs. Minnesota State, Mankato
• @ Concordia-St. Paul
• Vs. Southwest Minnesota State
• @ Minot State
• Vs. Bemidji State (Axe Game)
• @ University of Mary (Paddle Game)

Here's a look at some key players from that roster expected back with their 2023 stats:

• QB Jack Strand, 3,914 yards, 36 TDs, 10 Int, 1 rush TD, Junior in 2024
• WR Gage Florence, 996 yards, 9 TDs, RS Junior in 2024
• WR Brady Perryman, 644 yards, 8 TDs, Junior in 2024
• WR Carter Birrenkott, 593 yards, 6 TDs, RS Junior in 2024
• WR Madden Thorson, 676 yards, 4 TDs, RS Sophomore in 2024
• DL Denver Sheets, 11 solo tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, Senior in 2024
• LB Jack Bungarden, 45 solo tackles, 9.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 FF, 3FR, Senior in 2024
• LB Mitchell Jezierski, 13 solo tackles, 2 TFL, 3 PD. Junior in 2024
• LB Josiah Behm, 53 solo tackles, 7.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 1 Int, 1 Def TD, 1 FF, Senior in 2024
• DB Tate Gustafson, 41 solo tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 Ints, 3 PD, Junior in 2024
• DB Adam Kallenbach, 30 solo tackles, 2.5 TFL, 3 Int, 9 PD, 1 FF, Junior in 2024

This is Coach Steve Laqua’s 14th year at MSUM, and will be his 13th season with 2020 being cancelled. His record is 59-74, last year he surpassed Ralph Micheli in total wins. He’s now third all time in wins behind Sliv Nemzek with 67 and Ross Fortier with 152. His 2018 season had the most wins since 1991 and the team's first post-season berth since 1994. In his tenure there have been five winning seasons, during the entire 2000s the Dragons had just one. Here’s his season-by-season results:

• 2011: 2-9 (1-9)
• 2012: 1-10
• 2013: 4-7
• 2014: 4-7
• 2015: 6-5
• 2016: 7-4
• 2017: 5-6
• 2018: 8-4, Lost Mineral Water Bowl
• 2019: 6-5
• 2021: 5-6
• 2022: 4-7
• 2023: 7-4 (6-4)

I'm really excited about this season. I think the team has some talent to snag another winning record. The one thing I'm really hoping for is an upset. In 2023, the team came close in a couple games to get an upset but couldn't seal the deal. Beating one of the top NSIC teams would be a great step forward for the program.

[BulldogFan]

I'm a bit nervous when the Dragons come to Duluth. Losing almost our entire secondary I can see that game being a basketball score. Hopefully the Dogs can control the pace and clock by running the ball and get a stop or two to win the home opener.

[IceBoxDragon]

I'm a bit nervous when the Dragons come to Duluth. Losing almost our entire secondary I can see that game being a basketball score. Hopefully the Dogs can control the pace and clock by running the ball and get a stop or two to win the home opener.

Hopefully it's a good game. Last two games have been close, 2021 Dogs won 26-21 and in 2022 they won 36-28.

[crixus]

Officially 100 days from the start of the 2024 Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons Football Season! This year the Dragons return after going 7-4 in 2023, their best record since 2019.
Here’s how last year looked:

• @ Wayne State, Loss, 31-21
• Vs. Minot State, Win, 56-14
• Vs. McKendree, Win, 38-17
• @ Augustana, Loss, 31-27
• Vs. Northern State, Win, 45-26
• @ Minnesota State, Mankato, Loss, 24-21
• Vs. Sioux Falls, Win, 53-40
• @ Southwest Minnesota State, Win, 34-17
• Vs. Winona State, Win, 20-17
• @ Bemidji State, Loss, 27-14
• Vs. University of Mary, Win, 35-7

Here’s the lineup for this year, a really tough home slate.

• Vs. Wayne State
• @ Minnesota Duluth
• @ McKendree
• Vs. Augustana
• @ Winona State
• Vs. Minnesota State, Mankato
• @ Concordia-St. Paul
• Vs. Southwest Minnesota State
• @ Minot State
• Vs. Bemidji State (Axe Game)
• @ University of Mary (Paddle Game)

Here's a look at some key players from that roster expected back with their 2023 stats:

• QB Jack Strand, 3,914 yards, 36 TDs, 10 Int, 1 rush TD, Junior in 2024
• WR Gage Florence, 996 yards, 9 TDs, RS Junior in 2024
• WR Brady Perryman, 644 yards, 8 TDs, Junior in 2024
• WR Carter Birrenkott, 593 yards, 6 TDs, RS Junior in 2024
• WR Madden Thorson, 676 yards, 4 TDs, RS Sophomore in 2024
• DL Denver Sheets, 11 solo tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, Senior in 2024
• LB Jack Bungarden, 45 solo tackles, 9.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 FF, 3FR, Senior in 2024
• LB Mitchell Jezierski, 13 solo tackles, 2 TFL, 3 PD. Junior in 2024
• LB Josiah Behm, 53 solo tackles, 7.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 1 Int, 1 Def TD, 1 FF, Senior in 2024
• DB Tate Gustafson, 41 solo tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 Ints, 3 PD, Junior in 2024
• DB Adam Kallenbach, 30 solo tackles, 2.5 TFL, 3 Int, 9 PD, 1 FF, Junior in 2024

This is Coach Steve Laqua’s 14th year at MSUM, and will be his 13th season with 2020 being cancelled. His record is 59-74, last year he surpassed Ralph Micheli in total wins. He’s now third all time in wins behind Sliv Nemzek with 67 and Ross Fortier with 152. His 2018 season had the most wins since 1991 and the team's first post-season berth since 1994. In his tenure there have been five winning seasons, during the entire 2000s the Dragons had just one. Here’s his season-by-season results:

• 2011: 2-9 (1-9)
• 2012: 1-10
• 2013: 4-7
• 2014: 4-7
• 2015: 6-5
• 2016: 7-4
• 2017: 5-6
• 2018: 8-4, Lost Mineral Water Bowl
• 2019: 6-5
• 2021: 5-6
• 2022: 4-7
• 2023: 7-4 (6-4)

I'm really excited about this season. I think the team has some talent to snag another winning record. The one thing I'm really hoping for is an upset. In 2023, the team came close in a couple games to get an upset but couldn't seal the deal. Beating one of the top NSIC teams would be a great step forward for the program.

Many programs would have fired their coach after four straight losing seasons. I hope 2024 is Laqua's best one yet. Good luck.

[CheapSkate]

Many programs would have fired their coach after four straight losing seasons. I hope 2024 is Laqua's best one yet. Good luck.

If you knew the mess he took over, you have been celebrating that first 4-7. And obviously their patience paid off with 2019 and then 2023. Also, (I believe) he's the only coach in the NSIC on a "part-time" contract. With what he's working with, I'd call him a top-3 coach with Hoffner and Bolte. On top of all that, he's a 5-star man. The kind of husband and father you want your son to play for.

[Purple Mav Man]

This is Coach Steve Laqua’s 14th year at MSUM, and will be his 13th season with 2020 being cancelled. His record is 59-74, last year he surpassed Ralph Micheli in total wins. He’s now third all time in wins behind Sliv Nemzek with 67 and Ross Fortier with 152. His 2018 season had the most wins since 1991 and the team's first post-season berth since 1994. In his tenure there have been five winning seasons, during the entire 2000s the Dragons had just one.

I am betting on him getting the 8 wins he needs this year to tie 2nd.

[IceBoxDragon]

If you knew the mess he took over, you have been celebrating that first 4-7. And obviously their patience paid off with 2019 and then 2023. Also, (I believe) he's the only coach in the NSIC on a "part-time" contract. With what he's working with, I'd call him a top-3 coach with Hoffner and Bolte. On top of all that, he's a 5-star man. The kind of husband and father you want your son to play for.

Yeah, those seasons just getting to four wins and having a competitive team was reason to believe a turnaround was happening. For three seasons the team was only able to get two wins a season. For reference, here's how the team went from 2000-2010. There were some rough years.

• 2000: 3-8 (2-6)
• 2001: 4-6 (4-5)
• 2002: 5-5 (4-5)
• 2003: 3-8 (2-6)
• 2004: 0-11 (0-7)
• 2005: 1-9 (1-6)
• 2006: 6-5 (4-4)
• 2007: 4-7 (3-6)
• 2008: 2-9 (2-8)
• 2009: 2-9 (1-9)
• 2010: 2-9 (2-8)

[CheapSkate]

Yeah, those seasons just getting to four wins and having a competitive team was reason to believe a turnaround was happening. For three seasons the team was only able to get two wins a season. For reference, here's how the team went from 2000-2010. There were some rough years.

• 2000: 3-8 (2-6)
• 2001: 4-6 (4-5)
• 2002: 5-5 (4-5)
• 2003: 3-8 (2-6)
• 2004: 0-11 (0-7)
• 2005: 1-9 (1-6)
• 2006: 6-5 (4-4)
• 2007: 4-7 (3-6)
• 2008: 2-9 (2-8)
• 2009: 2-9 (1-9)
• 2010: 2-9 (2-8)

Yeah and if it wasn't for Crookston, those last three campaign's would have been back-to-back-to-back 1-10's

[IceBoxDragon]

Both the Vikings and Gophers have rolled out new uniforms this weekend and it kind of has me hoping the Dragons introduce something new in the future as well. I'd love to see maybe a red helmet Vs. the white ones we have currently, they would look awesome with maybe a new version of the all grey uniforms we wear. On that front, I'd like to see them without the black and have it be all red and grey, or swap black for white. I also feel like the white trim on the red jerseys should be changed to shoulder stripes and add a red stripe to the pants.

[vikingfaithful]

Both the Vikings and Gophers have rolled out new uniforms this weekend and it kind of has me hoping the Dragons introduce something new in the future as well. I'd love to see maybe a red helmet Vs. the white ones we have currently, they would look awesome with maybe a new version of the all grey uniforms we wear. On that front, I'd like to see them without the black and have it be all red and grey, or swap black for white. I also feel like the white trim on the red jerseys should be changed to shoulder stripes and add a red stripe to the pants.

I'm with you on helmet change, although I think Dragons have some of the best unis in college football. Augustana could use an alternate helmet preferably white. Love pro Viking winter uniforms. Really like USF alternate helmets.

[zimmy21]

I'm with you on helmet change, although I think Dragons have some of the best unis in college football. Augustana could use an alternate helmet preferably white. Love pro Viking winter uniforms. Really like USF alternate helmets.

I do love their logo, but their uniforms to me have always felt like the generic rebrand options on a Madden Video game. I think Moorhead could rock some pretty sweet unis if they got away from Adidas, but that's a personal opinion!

[IceBoxDragon]

I do love their logo, but their uniforms to me have always felt like the generic rebrand options on a Madden Video game. I think Moorhead could rock some pretty sweet unis if they got away from Adidas, but that's a personal opinion!

Definitely agree with you on the Adidas front, wish we could change to Nike. I think the shade of red is great but some tweaking could be done.

[Stanger86]

Both the Vikings and Gophers have rolled out new uniforms this weekend and it kind of has me hoping the Dragons introduce something new in the future as well. I'd love to see maybe a red helmet Vs. the white ones we have currently, they would look awesome with maybe a new version of the all grey uniforms we wear. On that front, I'd like to see them without the black and have it be all red and grey, or swap black for white. I also feel like the white trim on the red jerseys should be changed to shoulder stripes and add a red stripe to the pants.

I'm guessing the Vikings and Gophers have a slightly larger budget on this front

[SW_Mustang]

I'm guessing the Vikings and Gophers have a slightly larger budget on this front

Yeah, but it's also not the largest expense either. SMSU has gone through a few uniform changes in the last decade, for example.

[zimmy21]

Yeah, but it's also not the largest expense either. SMSU has gone through a few uniform changes in the last decade, for example.

Can't tell you how many new uniforms have come though Mankato in the last 15 years. Must be every 2/3 years we add something or swap out