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Man, what a game. Have had some hours to reflect, and just so proud of this team. Have to give the defense a ton of credit. Keeping it 13-7 at the half was huge. But as I said in the other thread, though, I started losing hope. When you get down to a team like Duluth, it's intimidating. But Laqua has a resilient group and their fight was amazing.
That final drive was really impressive, every throw, catch and block to make it happen deserves credit. When they scored the TD with no time left, I think I just felt some magic like we were going to win, and yet I was still sitting on pins and needles waiting for the 2 point conversion. It took me a second to react, since the camera angle made it a bit hard to see if it was a catch. But once it was confirmed, I leapt out of my chair.
This win for sure has to be one of the biggest since the 1990s. The only other one I can think of that compares is beating St. Cloud State in the snow to get the Mineral Water Bowl berth. But this is probably larger considering it was against a ranked team, and the fact that it's Duluth. When I talk to people who don't know much about D2, I tell them in the NSIC, Duluth and Mankato feel like the Michigan and Ohio State of the conference.
Here's an idea of what this win means to me as an alumni. When I was attending MSU, times were tough in Moorhead. Every season was a losing one, and they never won more than two games. Their games Vs. Duluth were total disasters.
2008: Dragons lost 52-10
2010: Dragons lost 56-7
2011: Dragons lost 49-21
But the one that stands out was in 2009. I didn't attend it, I didn't watch it, all I saw was the score while I was at a friends house for some drinks. The TV was on with Valley News Live, and they showed the score during sports, Duluth won 76-7. That told me the gap between the two programs and the hole the Dragons were in.
Thankfully, MSU hired Laqua, and he's done great work in turning the program into something competitive and respectable. As an alum, it's been great to watch, but also frustrating to not breakthrough with the upper level teams. Was especially true in the last two games Vs. UMD. 2021, lost 26-21. 2022, lost 36-28. To finally get over this hump, and do it against a ranked team, is phenomenal.There's still a lot of football to be played this season, but this is a moment to enjoy.
Here are some fun moments to enjoy:
That final drive was really impressive, every throw, catch and block to make it happen deserves credit. When they scored the TD with no time left, I think I just felt some magic like we were going to win, and yet I was still sitting on pins and needles waiting for the 2 point conversion. It took me a second to react, since the camera angle made it a bit hard to see if it was a catch. But once it was confirmed, I leapt out of my chair.
This win for sure has to be one of the biggest since the 1990s. The only other one I can think of that compares is beating St. Cloud State in the snow to get the Mineral Water Bowl berth. But this is probably larger considering it was against a ranked team, and the fact that it's Duluth. When I talk to people who don't know much about D2, I tell them in the NSIC, Duluth and Mankato feel like the Michigan and Ohio State of the conference.
Here's an idea of what this win means to me as an alumni. When I was attending MSU, times were tough in Moorhead. Every season was a losing one, and they never won more than two games. Their games Vs. Duluth were total disasters.
2008: Dragons lost 52-10
2010: Dragons lost 56-7
2011: Dragons lost 49-21
But the one that stands out was in 2009. I didn't attend it, I didn't watch it, all I saw was the score while I was at a friends house for some drinks. The TV was on with Valley News Live, and they showed the score during sports, Duluth won 76-7. That told me the gap between the two programs and the hole the Dragons were in.
Thankfully, MSU hired Laqua, and he's done great work in turning the program into something competitive and respectable. As an alum, it's been great to watch, but also frustrating to not breakthrough with the upper level teams. Was especially true in the last two games Vs. UMD. 2021, lost 26-21. 2022, lost 36-28. To finally get over this hump, and do it against a ranked team, is phenomenal.There's still a lot of football to be played this season, but this is a moment to enjoy.
Here are some fun moments to enjoy:
- Post game score count by the team: https://x.com/msum_football/status/1835158708587729026
- View of the gamewinner from the stands: https://x.com/msum_football/status/1835126830967251023
- Inside the press box with the Dragon radio call: https://x.com/TheFlagSports/status/1835151130868789256
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