Box Score
MARSHALL, MINN.: The Southwest Minnesota State football team blew a 27-13 fourth quarter lead and went on to lose a 41-27 decision to Minnesota State Moorhead on Saturday night at the Metrodome in Minneapolis.
The loss was SMSU's fifth in a row and ends its season at 2-9 overall, 2-7 NSIC. MSU Moorhead finishes the year 4-7 overall, 3-6 NSIC.
SMSU took a 27-13 lead with 13:55 left in the fourth quarter on a Josh Shudlick to Blake Wilson 8-yard touchdown pass. The Dragons though came right back in just two plays cutting the SMSU lead to 27-20 on a Dustin Long 6-yard pass to Jabari Taylor with 13:18 left in the quarter.
On SMSU's ensuing drive, they moved the ball to the MSUM 32-yard line but a personal foul pushed SMSU back to the MSUM 47-yard line. SMSU then turned the ball over on downs giving the Dragons a first down at their own 40-yard line.
MSU Moorhead then moved down the field and capped a 7-play, 60-yard drive with a Enol Gilles 3-yard run to tie the score with just 6:11 remaining in the game.
Disaster then struck for SMSU on its next drive as on the first play from scrimmage Shudlick was sacked and fumble and MSUM's Jon Swart picked up the loose ball and ran in from 28 yards to put MSUM ahead for the first time at 34-27 with 5:55 left.
It got worse for SMSU on its next possession as Shudlick was intercepted on the first play of the drive and the Dragons took the turnover and drove 37 yards on just four plays capped by a touchdown reception by Jabari Taylor to put the game away.
Shudlick finished the game for SMSU completing 32 of 52 passes for a career-high 380 yards with two touchdowns. He finished the season passing for at least 300 yards in his last five games. Blake Wilson recorded a career-high eight receptions for 110 yards and one score to pace the SMSU offense while Derek Townsend ended the game with six receptions for 89 yards.
The SMSU offense racked up 417 yards in the contest and finished the season with four 400-plus yard offensive games.
Scott Talcott booted two field goals and now has 21 in his career moving him into sole possession of second place in the SMSU record book.
Bryce Haessly led the Mustang defense with nine tackles.
Saturday's game also marked the final collegiate game for seven Mustang seniors. Player their final games in the brown and gold include: Justin Van Wyk, Tyler Fischer, Ben Adams, David Connors, Kyle Rider, James Holmes and William Sutton.
