BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. - Gannon Moore scored three touchdowns, while rushing for 115 yards, to lead Southwest Minnesota State to a 35-28 victory over Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday afternoon.

Moore had two rushing touchdowns and also led the team with three receptions for 44 yards and one touchdown.

SMSU (4-6 NSIC, 3-3 NSIC South) led 21-0 and 35-14, before CU (2-8 NSIC, 1-5 NSIC South) rallied to cut the deficit to 35-28 early in the fourth quarter.  CU had a chance to tie midway through the fourth quarter, but facing a first-and-goal from the SMSU 1-yard line, CU suffered a penalty pushing the ball back to the 6-yard line.  Three plays later SMSU ended the threat with an interception in the end zone to hang onto the lead and eventual victory.

Warren Matthews also had a strong game for SMSU rushing for 74 yards and two touchdowns on 16 attempts, while quarterback Tyler Peschong completed 14 of 22 pass attempts for 184 yards and one touchdown.

SMSU finished the game racking up 369 yards of offense, with 185 yards rushing and 15 first downs.

CU had 329 yards of offense, including 207 yards on the ground.  Tre Spears led the Golden Bears with 114 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 16 carries, for his third 100-yard rushing game of the season and first since Sept. 8.  James Peterson completed 10 of 20 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns, but was sacked four times.

The SMSU defense and special teams forced three CU turnovers.  Patrick Oliver racked up a game-high 12 tackles with one for loss, while Joe Stupka added 10 tackles and one interception.  Ben Pedersen also had a strong game for the Mustangs with five tackles, including a career-high 2.5 sacks.

SMSU started the game strong scoring on three of its first four offensive possessions.  Moore started the scoring on SMSU's first drive with a 20-yard pass reception for a touchdown from Peschong with 10 minutes and 31 seconds left in the opening quarter.

The SMSU defense set up the next score for SMSU with Stupka intercepting CU's James Peterson at the Golden Bear 41-yard line and returning it 18 yards to the 23-yard line.  Just two plays later Moore broke free for a 23-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 14-0 with 11:04 left in the opening half.

Following a three-and-out by the CU offense, SMSU struck quickly again just three plays later with Moore ripping off a 68-yard touchdown, his longest rush of his career, to extend the lead to 21-0 midway through the second quarter.

CU closed the deficit to 21-7 with a Spears 1-yard touchdown run with 49 seconds left in the half.

SMSU opened the second half with a fumble on its second play from scrimmage and CU took advantage one play later as Peterson connected with Dustin Christen on a 26-yard touchdown pass.

CU attempted an on-side kick on the ensuing kickoff, but the ball landed out of bounds.  Taking over at its own 44-yard line, SMSU took advantage marched down the field in five plays with Matthew closing the drive with a 28-yard touchdown run down the left sideline.

SMSU forced CU into a three-and-out on its next possession added to the lead with Matthews plowing across on a 2-yard run to push the lead to 35-14 with 4:37 remaining in the third quarter.

The Golden Bears, which had won three straight in the series over SMSU, wouldn't go away and cut into the lead later in the quarter with Peterson finding a wide open Nate Thienes for a 29-yard touchdown pass to make the score 35-21.

SMSU, which hadn't committed a turnover in four straight games, turned it over for the second time late in the third quarter with CU recovering the ball at the SMSU 36-yard line.  The Golden Bears used the short field and cut the margin to 35-28 with a 3-yard touchdown run by Spears.

Following a three-and-out by SMSU on its next possession, CU took over at the SMSU 35-yard line and moved the ball down to the SMSU 1-yard line.  Following a false start penalty, moving the ball back to the 6-yard line, CU moved the ball to the 3-yard line following two run plays.  On third-and-goal, Peterson moved to his left and his pass was tipped in the end zone before Donovan Woods recorded his second interception of the season to end the threat.

The Mustangs picked up one first down on their next drive, but was forced to punt with just under three minutes left in the game from the SMSU 31-yard line.  Following a 33-yard punt by Lance Schuveiller, CU's Corey Cole fumbled on the punt return and SMSU's Dan Timm recovered the ball at the CU 40-yard line.

SMSU earned a key first down and then was able to run out the clock and pick up its first victory over CU since Oct. 18, 2008, and its first win in Marshall over CU since Oct. 6, 2007.

Southwest Minnesota State concludes its 2012 season next Saturday, Nov. 10, hosting Augustana College (4-6 NSIC, 2-4 NSIC South) at the Regional Event Center with kickoff slated for 1 p.m.