NSIC: MSU Moorhead survives Wayne State's surge

Minnesota State Moorhead, which led by 15 points with 6 minutes remaining, held on for a 40-36 NSIC victory over Wayne State on Saturday in Wayne, Neb.

After Zayne Medhaug's 98-yard kickoff return and a two-point conversion gave the Dragons (1-2) a 38-23 lead with 6:04 remaining, the Wildcats (1-2) responded with a 64-yard scoring drive to pull within eight, 38-30, with 4:50 remaining.

Following a Dragons punt, Wayne State's Zach Osborn threw a 65-yard TD pass to Adam Stark on the first play to pull the Wildcats within 38-36.

But the two-point pass attempt was intercepted by the Dragons' Sheldon Jones and returned 98 yards, giving the Dragons two points and a 40-36 lead with 3:06 left.

In the final minute, the Wildcats drove to a first-and-goal at the Dragons 9 before the drive stalled.

MSU Mankato 58, Minot State 0: The Mavericks (3-0), ranked No. 3 in the d2football.com poll, rolled to their 25th consecutive NSIC victory.

The game pitted MSU Mankato coach Todd Hoffner against the team he coached after he was fired by MSU Mankato because of child pornography charges. Those charges were dismissed, and an arbitrator ordered MSU Mankato to reinstate him if he wanted that.

Minn. Duluth 38, SW Minnesota State 7: The No. 4 Bulldogs (3-0) rushed for 462 yards — paced by Logan Lauters' 154 yards — against the Mustangs (1-2) in Duluth.

Sioux Falls 36, St. Cloud State 0: Nephi Garcia rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns to lead the host Cougars (3-0) past the No. 17 Huskies (1-2).

Winona State 33, Minn.-Crookston 7: The visiting Warriors (3-0), who led 18-7 going into the fourth quarter, scored twice in the first 4 minutes of the fourth quarter to put the game out of the reach of the Golden Eagles (0-3).

Mary 20, Concordia (St. Paul) 13: The Marauders (2-1) were up 18-3 before the Golden Bears scored 10 points in the final 6 minutes in Bismarck, N.D.

Upper Iowa 47, Bemidji State 30: Chris Smith rushed for 247 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Peacocks (3-0) past the Beavers (0-3) in Fayette, Iowa.

Iowa Wesleyan 13, Minn.-Morris 7: Caleb Huss' two touchdowns passes helped the visiting Tigers (1-2) outlast the Cougars (0-3).

St. Scholastica 48, Crown 14: Tyler Harper passed for 170 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Saints (3-0) past the Storm (0-3) in Duluth.