(Pictured right - Matt Fragodt)
The Dakota State University Trojans built a 21-7 halftime lead and cruised to a 40-24 win over Minnesota, Morris in non-conference football action Saturday at Big Cat Stadium.
DSU scored twice in the first quarter and racked up 183 yards in total offense o 24 plays.
The Cougars cut the Trojans lead in half to 14-7 when senior wide out Matt Fragodt (Becker, Minn.)made a great catch in the end zone with 10:29 left in the first half.
It was his first touchdown catch of the year and gives him 22 in his career, tying him with Craig alto for most career touchdown catches.
Dakota State however took the wind right out of the Cougars sails as Brandon Crawford took the ensuing kickoff and returned it 77 yards to put Dakota State in front 21-7, and that would be the score as the teams headed to the halftime break.
Dakota State scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to build their lead to 34-7 after three quarters of play.
UMM out scored the Trojans 17-6 in the fourth quarter.
Matt Privratsky's ((So. Walker, Minn.) first field goal of the year, a 25 yard kick early in the fourth quarter made it a 24-10 ball game.
After Dakota State scored their final touchdown of the game wit just over five minutes remaining, the Cougars proved they were not just going to play out the rest of the game.
Ernest Tucker (Jr. Cleveland, OH) scored from three yards out on the Cougars next possession to make it a 40-17 game.
The Cougars then recovered an on-side kick and went 44 yards in just six plays in 1:42 and Tucker scored his second touchdown of the night this one from 16 yards out as he bowled over several would be tacklers to make the score 40-24.
UMM tried another onside kick but DSU got the ball back with 2:59 remaining in the game.
Junior defensive back Corey Hemphill (Chicago, Ill.) picked off his third pass of the season. at the Trojan goal line with 140 left to play but the Cougars were only able to get a couple of plays off and Dakota State hung on for the win.
For the second straight game, freshman running back Robert Koranda (Becker, Minn.) ran for over 100 yards finishing with 118 yards in the game on 26 carries.
DSU had a huge advantage in total offense, 519-154.
Nate Lund (So. Cyrus, Minn) Shane Fickes (Jr. Herman, Minn) and Blair Elliott (Sr. Minneapolis, Minn) all had nine tackles in the game for the Cougars.
Minnesota, Morris, 1-1 on the season is off until saturday, September 27 when they host St. Scholastica at 7:00 at Big Cat Stadium.
 |  |
| Minnesota - Morris | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 24 |
| Dakota State | 14 | 7 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 40 |
| |
Box Score.
