Area small colleges: MSU Moorhead wins thriller with Bemidji State

Minnesota State Moorhead held on for a 42-41 victory over host Bemidji State in an NSIC North Division game on Saturday.

Demetrius Carr, who passed for 366 yards and four TDs, scored on a 4-yard run to give the Dragons (6-4, 4-2 NSIC North) a 42-35 lead with 4 minutes, 34 seconds left.

The Beavers (7-3, 4-2) responded with a 7-play, 81-yard drive — capped by Jordan Hein's 19-yard TD pass to Vince Dinkel — to get within 42-41 with 39 seconds left. But they missed the extra-point kick.

MSU Mankato 41, Wayne State 30: Nick Pieruccini passed for 228 yards and three TDs and ran for two more to help the Mavericks outlast the Wildcats in Wayne, Neb. Pieruccini, who completed 21 of 28 passes, gave the Mavericks (7-3, 4-2 NSIC South) a 40-30 lead with 6:14 left with a 19-yard TD pass to Justin Arnold.

Minn. Duluth 75, Mary 14: Drew Bauer passed for three TDs and Beau Bofferding, Bryce Heim and Jaleen Jones each ran for two TDs as the Bulldogs (9-1, 6-0 NSIC North) cruised to the victory over the visiting Marauders (1-9, 1-5).

Augustana 63, Concordia (St. Paul) 31: Trey Heid passed for 374 yards and five TDs and ran for three TDs to lead the Vikings past the Golden Bears in St. Paul. Matt Heller caught eight passes for 250 yards and three TDs for the Vikings (7-3, 4-2 NSIC South). Ron Johnson passed for 334 yards and two TDs for the Golden Bears (2-8, 0-6).

Winona State 42, SW Minnesota State 27: Paul Preston rushed for 152 yards and two TDs and Jack Nelson passed for 270 yards and two TDs to help the host Warriors outlast the Mustangs. Max Simmons rushed for 162 yards and four TDs for the Mustangs.

St. Cloud State 31, Minot State 0: Jaden Huff ran for 232 yards and two TDs to help the Huskies (5-5, 4-2 NSIC North) end a two-game losing streak with their first shutout in seven years.

Northwestern 37, Eureka 15: B.J. Foster rushed for two TDs and Austin Stubbs returned an interception 97 yards for a TD in the fourth quarter to help the Eagles earn their first-ever berth in the Division III playoffs. The host Red Devils (8-2, 7-2 UMAC) scored with 4:29 left to pull within 23-15. But the Eagles (9-1, 8-1) got a 25-yard TD run from Foster and Stubbs' interception in the final 2:21.

St. Scholastica 49, Greenville 21: Aaron Olson caught three TD passes from Kyle Stepka to lead the host Saints (7-3, 7-2 UMAC) to the win. Olson has caught a school-single season record 18 TD passes.