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As we head into Week 4 with a game against the Bulldogs, I realizd this is the 15th year of the Steve Laqua era and I think over that whole time he's been here, his win over Minnesota Duluth in 2024 is probably the most important of his tenure. It had me wanting to look back at other wins in his time at Moorhead and pick the top 15 for his 15th year. Here are my picks for the Top 15 games in the Laqua era, plus some honorable mentions to begin.
Honorable Mentions:
2011 - Dragons @ Robert Morris (IL). MSUM won 28-17. Season record 2-9
Minnesota State-Moorhead took down Robert Morris University in Steve Laqua’s first game at the helm. The team won 28-17 after trailing 17-14 in Q4.
2013 - Dragons @ Northern State. MSUM won 47-46. Season record 4-7
The Dragons won a shootout against the Wolves, connecting on a 2 point conversion with 4 minutes left to take the lead.
2013 - Dragons @ Minot State. MSUM won 31-30 Season record 4-7
The Dragons had a blocked extra point in the final minutes to clinch a victory, winning more than 2 games for the first time since 2007.
2019 - Dragons @ St. Cloud State. MSUM won 24-13. Season record 6-5
In mid-November, the Dragons won their last game of the season on the road against the Huskies, which ended up being the final football game played by that program. It clinched back-to-back winning seasons for the Dragons
2022 - Dragons Vs. Concordia-St. Paul, MSUM won 21-20. Season record 4-7
After building up a 21-7 lead, the Dragons held on against the Golden Bears, with CSP missing an extra point and a field goal in the final quarter.
No. 15
2024 - Dragons @ Concordia-St. Paul. MSUM won 34-31. Season record 6-5
Minnesota State-Moorhead didn’t take the lead until 12 second left in the game, regularly playing from a tie or behind. Down 21-7, the Dragons fought back and kept pace, and had a chance to go ahead late. In the final moments of the fourth quarter, Jack Strand hit Brady Perryman for a go-ahead score.
No. 14
2025 - Dragons Vs. Bemidji State. MSUM won 49-21. Season record 8-3
Jack Strand hit Brady Perryman on a 76 yard touchdown strike and the Dragons never looked back. MSUM reclaimed the Axe for the first time since 2018, helped by Jack Strand throwing 7 TD passes.
No. 13
2017 - Dragons @ Augustana. MSUM won 38-7. Season record 5-6
Playing on the road to open the season, MSUM routed Augustana 38-7, earning just their second victory over the Vikings. It was one of the best defensive efforts the Dragons have shown in Laqua’s tenure.
No. 12
2016 - Dragons Vs. Northern State. MSUM won 48-33. Season record 7-4
Quarterback Demetrius Carr tossed for 507 yards and 5 TDs, leading MSUM to a 48-33 victory on home turf over the Wolves. For the Dragons, it clinched a seventh victory, their first season with that many wins since 1999.
No. 11
2022 - Dragons @ Mary. MSUM won 40-38. Season record 4-7
The was a losing season for the Dragons but a bright spot was going on the road and defeating Mary in a thriller to retain the Paddle trophy for a seventh consecutive year. The game continued to show promise for freshman quarterback Jack Strand
No. 10
2015 - Dragons @ Concordia-St. Paul. MSUM won 30-28. Season record 6-5
To start the season 2-0, MSUM needed a Hail Mary as time expired to secure a victory in the Twin Cities. The pass from Jake Hodge to Cory Ambrose was selected as a top play on ESPN’s SportsCenter.
No. 9
2013 - Dragons Vs. Bemidji State. MSUM won 35-17. Season record 4-7
MSUM defeated the Beavers 35-17 after trailing 17-7 in the fourth quarter. It was the Dragons’ first win in the rivalry since 2008. MSUM finished 4-7, the most wins since 2007.
No. 8
2015 - Dragons Vs. Winona State. MSUM won 42-17. Season record 6-5
The first game at Nemzek Stadium with the new Scheels Field was a 42-17 victory over Winona State for MSUM. It was the first win in the series for the Dragons since 1996. The Dragons had their first winning season since 2006.
No. 7
2023 - Dragons Vs. Sioux Falls. MSUM won 53-30. Season record 7-4
On Homecoming, the Dragons clinched their first ever victory over the Cougars in history, putting up 53 points on Sioux Falls. Jack Strand tossed for 428 yards and 6 TDs.
No. 6
2018 - Dragons @ Bemidji State. MSUM won 31-26. Season record 8-4
On the road in early November, MSUM defeated the Beavers on the lake front to reclaim the Axe after losing it the previous year. The passing attack, led by Bryce Meehl, was prolific, with 424 yards and 2 TDs.
No. 5
2016 - Dragons @ Bemidji State. MSUM won 48-33. Season record 7-4
In a high-scoring shootout on the road against a Beavers team with playoff hopes, MSUM walked away with the victory. In a game with 1,000 yards of offense, it was a missed extra point that helped secure the Dragons’ victory. It clinched back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1995-1996.
No. 4
2024 - Dragons Vs. Augustana. MSUM won 43-41. Season record 6-5
At home against No. 18 Augustana, the Dragons paced the Vikings in a back and forth, high scoring game. In the end, with just over a minute left, Max Watson drilled a 40 yard field goals to go ahead. The Dragons defense then put the game on ice with an interception. Jack Strand had 475 yards passing with 5 TDs.
No. 3
2018 - Dragons Vs. St. Cloud State. MSUM won 13-10. Season record 8-4
On a snowy field early in November, MSUM took down the Huskies in a physical, close 13-10 victory. It was the Dragons’ first win over St. Cloud State since 1983, the most wins in a season (8) since 1991, and resulted in the first postseason game for the program since 1994.
No. 2
2025 - Dragons @ Minnesota State-Mankato. MSUM won 31-23. Season record 8-3
In mid-November, a battle between Minnesota States had Moorhead taking down Mankato. Jack Strand had 240 yards and 3 TD in passing and 118 yards rushing to help the Dragons beat the Mavericks for the first time since 1981. The victory clinched the second 8-win season for the program in the last 30 years.
No. 1
2024 - Dragons @ Minnesota Duluth. MSUM won 30-29. Season record 6-5
On the road against the No. 19 team in the country, MSUM went out and defeated the Bulldogs for the first time since 1999. Down 29-14 in the fourth quarter, the Dragons stormed back and earned the game-winning points on a walk-off 2 point conversion. Jack Strand had 418 yards and 4 TDs, including 3 to Brady Perryman
Honorable Mentions:
2011 - Dragons @ Robert Morris (IL). MSUM won 28-17. Season record 2-9
Minnesota State-Moorhead took down Robert Morris University in Steve Laqua’s first game at the helm. The team won 28-17 after trailing 17-14 in Q4.
2013 - Dragons @ Northern State. MSUM won 47-46. Season record 4-7
The Dragons won a shootout against the Wolves, connecting on a 2 point conversion with 4 minutes left to take the lead.
2013 - Dragons @ Minot State. MSUM won 31-30 Season record 4-7
The Dragons had a blocked extra point in the final minutes to clinch a victory, winning more than 2 games for the first time since 2007.
2019 - Dragons @ St. Cloud State. MSUM won 24-13. Season record 6-5
In mid-November, the Dragons won their last game of the season on the road against the Huskies, which ended up being the final football game played by that program. It clinched back-to-back winning seasons for the Dragons
2022 - Dragons Vs. Concordia-St. Paul, MSUM won 21-20. Season record 4-7
After building up a 21-7 lead, the Dragons held on against the Golden Bears, with CSP missing an extra point and a field goal in the final quarter.
No. 15
2024 - Dragons @ Concordia-St. Paul. MSUM won 34-31. Season record 6-5
Minnesota State-Moorhead didn’t take the lead until 12 second left in the game, regularly playing from a tie or behind. Down 21-7, the Dragons fought back and kept pace, and had a chance to go ahead late. In the final moments of the fourth quarter, Jack Strand hit Brady Perryman for a go-ahead score.
No. 14
2025 - Dragons Vs. Bemidji State. MSUM won 49-21. Season record 8-3
Jack Strand hit Brady Perryman on a 76 yard touchdown strike and the Dragons never looked back. MSUM reclaimed the Axe for the first time since 2018, helped by Jack Strand throwing 7 TD passes.
No. 13
2017 - Dragons @ Augustana. MSUM won 38-7. Season record 5-6
Playing on the road to open the season, MSUM routed Augustana 38-7, earning just their second victory over the Vikings. It was one of the best defensive efforts the Dragons have shown in Laqua’s tenure.
No. 12
2016 - Dragons Vs. Northern State. MSUM won 48-33. Season record 7-4
Quarterback Demetrius Carr tossed for 507 yards and 5 TDs, leading MSUM to a 48-33 victory on home turf over the Wolves. For the Dragons, it clinched a seventh victory, their first season with that many wins since 1999.
No. 11
2022 - Dragons @ Mary. MSUM won 40-38. Season record 4-7
The was a losing season for the Dragons but a bright spot was going on the road and defeating Mary in a thriller to retain the Paddle trophy for a seventh consecutive year. The game continued to show promise for freshman quarterback Jack Strand
No. 10
2015 - Dragons @ Concordia-St. Paul. MSUM won 30-28. Season record 6-5
To start the season 2-0, MSUM needed a Hail Mary as time expired to secure a victory in the Twin Cities. The pass from Jake Hodge to Cory Ambrose was selected as a top play on ESPN’s SportsCenter.
No. 9
2013 - Dragons Vs. Bemidji State. MSUM won 35-17. Season record 4-7
MSUM defeated the Beavers 35-17 after trailing 17-7 in the fourth quarter. It was the Dragons’ first win in the rivalry since 2008. MSUM finished 4-7, the most wins since 2007.
No. 8
2015 - Dragons Vs. Winona State. MSUM won 42-17. Season record 6-5
The first game at Nemzek Stadium with the new Scheels Field was a 42-17 victory over Winona State for MSUM. It was the first win in the series for the Dragons since 1996. The Dragons had their first winning season since 2006.
No. 7
2023 - Dragons Vs. Sioux Falls. MSUM won 53-30. Season record 7-4
On Homecoming, the Dragons clinched their first ever victory over the Cougars in history, putting up 53 points on Sioux Falls. Jack Strand tossed for 428 yards and 6 TDs.
No. 6
2018 - Dragons @ Bemidji State. MSUM won 31-26. Season record 8-4
On the road in early November, MSUM defeated the Beavers on the lake front to reclaim the Axe after losing it the previous year. The passing attack, led by Bryce Meehl, was prolific, with 424 yards and 2 TDs.
No. 5
2016 - Dragons @ Bemidji State. MSUM won 48-33. Season record 7-4
In a high-scoring shootout on the road against a Beavers team with playoff hopes, MSUM walked away with the victory. In a game with 1,000 yards of offense, it was a missed extra point that helped secure the Dragons’ victory. It clinched back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1995-1996.
No. 4
2024 - Dragons Vs. Augustana. MSUM won 43-41. Season record 6-5
At home against No. 18 Augustana, the Dragons paced the Vikings in a back and forth, high scoring game. In the end, with just over a minute left, Max Watson drilled a 40 yard field goals to go ahead. The Dragons defense then put the game on ice with an interception. Jack Strand had 475 yards passing with 5 TDs.
No. 3
2018 - Dragons Vs. St. Cloud State. MSUM won 13-10. Season record 8-4
On a snowy field early in November, MSUM took down the Huskies in a physical, close 13-10 victory. It was the Dragons’ first win over St. Cloud State since 1983, the most wins in a season (8) since 1991, and resulted in the first postseason game for the program since 1994.
No. 2
2025 - Dragons @ Minnesota State-Mankato. MSUM won 31-23. Season record 8-3
In mid-November, a battle between Minnesota States had Moorhead taking down Mankato. Jack Strand had 240 yards and 3 TD in passing and 118 yards rushing to help the Dragons beat the Mavericks for the first time since 1981. The victory clinched the second 8-win season for the program in the last 30 years.
No. 1
2024 - Dragons @ Minnesota Duluth. MSUM won 30-29. Season record 6-5
On the road against the No. 19 team in the country, MSUM went out and defeated the Bulldogs for the first time since 1999. Down 29-14 in the fourth quarter, the Dragons stormed back and earned the game-winning points on a walk-off 2 point conversion. Jack Strand had 418 yards and 4 TDs, including 3 to Brady Perryman
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