Box Score

MOORHEAD, MINN. - Junior Zach Wysong rushed for a career-high 225 yards on a school record 46 attempts to help lead Southwest Minnesota State to a 22-8 victory over Minnesota State Moorhead on Saturday in Moorhead, Minn.

The victory was the Mustangs' second straight and gives the team a final record of 6-5 overall and the program's first winning season since 1999 and just the eighth in the program's 41 seasons of football.  SMSU finished 6-4 in the NSIC, good for sixth place in the final 14-team league standings and the program's first top half finish in the conference standings since 1999.

On a cold and snowy day in Moorhead, the SMSU offense was solid rushing the ball as Wysong finished with the fifth highest rushing total in one game in school history.  In the process Wysong became just the fourth Mustang to rush for 1,000 yards in a season and finishes the season with 1,016 yards, the second highest total in school history.

The game started out poorly for SMSU as on the opening drive Mustang quarterback Josh Shudlick was intercepted at the MSUM 2-yard line and had it returned for a 98-yard touchdown to by MSUM's Eric Schaumburg to give MSUM a 6-0 lead following the missed extra point.

SMSU took its first lead of the game later in the quarter as Wysong scored on a 9-yard touchdown run to give SMSU a 7-6 lead with 2:15 left in the opening quarter.

The Dragons then regained the lead on special teams as SMSU punter Nate Finkey had a snap go over his head for a safety to give MSUM a lead of 8-7 early in the second quarter.  On MSUM's ensuing possession the Mustang defense forced a fumble and John Kersbergen recovered for SMSU to give the ball back to the Mustang offense.  SMSU took advantage of the turnover and capped the following drive with a Shudlick 24-yard touchdown pass to Wade McDonough with 5:08 left in the opening half to give SMSU a 14-8 lead.

The game remained a six-point SMSU lead until midway through the third quarter when the Mustang offense struck again as Shudlick found Blake Wilson open for a 12-yard touchdown pass to push the SMSU lead to 22-8.

The Mustang defense then stiffened and never allowed MSUM a chance to score and held strong to secure the victory.  The Mustang defense didn't allow any points during the game and held the Dragon offense to just 201 yards and 13 first downs.  MSUM finished the game converting just 1 of 15 third-down conversions and was just 1 of 5 on fourth-down conversions.

Lionel Lamarre helped the Mustang defense rack up three turnovers in the game as he intercepted two MSUM passes.

SMSU dominated time of possession in the contest holding the ball for nearly 38 minutes to MSUM's 22.

Shudlick's two touchdown passes give him 30 not only on the season but in conference play as well tying an NSIC single season record for touchdown passes in league games.  He also now holds the conference record for passing yards in a conference season with over 3,000.

Southwest out-gained Moorhead 311-202 on the day, including 189-74 on the ground.

Shudlick finished the day completing 10-of-25 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns.  McDonough led the receivers with 59 yards on three catches.  Tyler Reed paced the defense with 10 tackles.