Dragons football nearing end of spring camp
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Peterson’s Perceptions: MSUM head coach Chad Walthall in studio
Join The Forum’s Eric Peterson and WDAY sports director Dom Izzo as they welcome MSUM Dragon’s head basketball coach Chad Walthall into the studio. Final Four basketball is the topic of the day and Chad will share some of his unique insights.
Peterson’s Perceptions: Cobber AD/Coach Rich Glas in studio
Join The Forum’s Eric Peterson and WDAY sports director Dom Izzo as they welcome Cobber AD and men’s basketball coach Rich Glas into the InforumTV studios.
Peterson’s Perceptions: MSUM head coach Steve Laqua
Join The Forum’s Eric Peterson and WDAY sports director Dom Izzo as they welcome MSUM Dragons head coach Steve Laqua into the studio to talk Dragon’s football.
Statistically speaking: A by-the-numbers look at the Cobbers and Dragons athletic scenes
Dragons men’s basketball team looking to get back on track at Nemzek this weekend
The Minnesota State Moorhead men’s basketball enters this weekend having lost six of their last eight games, including back-to-back losses at Upper Iowa and Winona State last weekend.
“It’s the toughest part of our schedule combined with not playing our best basketball,” Dragons head coach Chad Walthall said of the recent stretch of losses. “We’re really at a point now of no return. We can go one way or the other. I really think this team is ready for this weekend. They are not satisfied.”
The Dragons (15-7, 9-7 NSIC) are tied for seventh place in the 16-team Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. They host Augustana at 8 p.m. Friday and Wayne State at 6 p.m. Saturday at Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse.
“We’re not 7-15 so you have to look at it that way,” said Walthall, who pointed out his team had two overtime losses in that 2-6 stretch. “We had some deficiencies. … I do think we are not far away.”
Walthall said senior center Eric Olson will be inserted into the starting lineup this weekend to team with fellow senior forward Alex Novak on the front line.
“We are trying to do some new wrinkles,” Walthall said. “Eric is a senior and he has been playing well. Eric has been playing starter’s minutes anyways.”
Olson has been averaging 5.5 points and 5.7 rebounds off the bench this season, averaging 20.5 minutes per game.
“We’ve got to play well down the stretch and get hot for the (NSIC) tournament,” Walthall said. “To do anything we’ve got to win at home. We have to be playing better.”
A visual and social media look at signing day for the Dragons
A closer look at Dragons football recruiting class
Minnesota State Moorhead added 24 players to its football program on national signing day. Dragons head coach Steve Laqua said a number of the incoming recruits have a chance to compete for starting spots and playing time next fall, including quarterback prospect Demetrius Carr.
MSUM also looked to bolster its offensive line with seven signings in that position group.
Below is the complete list with comments on each player from the MSUM athletic department release:
Here is a look at the 2013 Dragon recruits who signed NLIs on Wednesday:
Akeel Abdelhadi, G, 6-2, 315, Hoffman Estates, Ill. (Barrington HS)
Helped offense break all major school passing records…allowed just one sack in past two years…tied Mid-Suburban League record for points in a game…set school bench-press record…two-year letter winner in football…also a regional and sectional champion in wrestling.
Anthony Baysah, RB, 5-9, 165, Bloomington, Minn. (Holy Angels HS)
Earned first-team All-Missota Conference honors as a senior…helped Holy Angels reach Section 3AAAA championship game…rushed for 703 yards and three touchdowns as a junior.
Austin Buss, DE, 6-2, 235, LeCenter, Minn. (Tri-City United HS)
Was all-conference selection as part of Tri-City United…team captain…four-year letterwinner in football…also lettered in baseball.
Jack Bixler, OL, 6-2, 245, Chanhassen, Minn. (Minnetonka HS)
Starter on Minnetonka team that advanced to Class 6A state quarterfinals…team captain in 2012…played for coaching legend Dave Nelson…two-year letterwinner in football…also a conference champion in the shot put in track, where he is a three-year letter winner…also lettered in wrestling.
Demetrius Carr, QB, 6-3, 215, Naperville, Ill. (IC Catholic Prep)
Multi-threat as a passer and runner at quarterback…threw for 1,062 yards, 13 touchdowns and completed 60.6 percent of his passes as a senior…also a dangerous running threat, rushing for 830 yards on 103 carries…finished with 11 rushing touchdowns…two-time Suburban Christian Conference Offensive Player of the Year…two-time Dupage County All-Area and two-time All-SCC selection…all-state honorable mention selection twice.
Zach Drevlow, DL, 6-3, 245, Gwinner, N.D. (North Sargent HS)
Named first-team all-state on offense in 2012…named second-team all-state on defense in 2011…two-time all-region selection…team captain…finished with 40 solo tackles, 62 total tackles and 12 sacks in career…four-year football letter winner…also lettered in basketball and track and field.
Jared Hoemberg, LB, 6-0, 225, Bertha, Minn. (Bertha-Hewitt HS/Central Lakes College)
Transfer from Central Lakes College where he was a two-time first-team all-conference selection…also second-team All-American and all-region selection…at Bertha-Hewitt HS was a three-time all-conference selection and also earned all-state and all-section honors.
Shaun Hollenkamp, TE, 6-3, 207, Pine City, Minn. (Braham HS)
Two-time all-conference selection…team captain during senior year…named most valuable offensive back…Ironman champion in 10th through 12th grade…finished with 1,000 all-purpose yards during senior year and also had 48 catches for 645 yards.
Jaylen Howze, S, 6-0, 170, Wheaton, Ill. (Wheaton North HS)
Two-time all-conference selection…also a two-time all-area selection…finished with 43 tackles, four interceptions and 3.5 sacks last season…also lettered in basketball.
Sam Hyland, OL, 6-4, 280, Golden Valley, Minn. (Robbinsdale Armstrong HS)
All-conference honorable mention in career…also named Team Lineman MVP…three-year football letter winner…also lettered in wrestling, track and field and swimming.
Chris Kocay, OL, 6-3, 280, Menifee, Calif. (Paloma Valley HS)
First-team all-league in football…named offensive lineman of the year…three-year starter in football…also a standout in wrestling where he earned first-team all-league honors…teammate of current Dragon Nico Caramella.
Brock Kolander, RB, 6-1, 195, Waseca, Minn. (Waseca HS)
Finished with 2,600 career rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns in career at Waseca…two-time all-conference selection…all-state honorable mention selection…team captain…lettered three years in football…also all-conference in basketball and part of 4×100 relay that won state title.
Glen Miron, LB, 6-1, 215, Hugo, Minn. (Forest Lake HS)
Earned all-conference honors as a senior…named offensive MVP…finished with 1,042 all-purpose yards as a senior…three-year letter winner in football…also four-year letter winner in track and four-year letter winner in weight-lifting.
Lane Puckett, OL, 6-3, 265, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Crystal Lake Central HS)
Named first-team all-conference…also second-team all-area…team captain…two-year football letter winner.
Spencer Robbins, DL, 6-3, 230, Cavalier, N.D.
First-team all-state in nine man football as a defensive lineman during junior and senior years…could play either tackle or end position at MSUM….mother is in the Hall of Fame at North Dakota State.
Lee Schroeder, OL, 6-5, 245, New London, Minn. (New London-Spicer HS)
All-conference honorable mention as a senior…played varsity three years for New London-Spicer…also lettered in wrestling and track.
Austin Stone, RB, 5-11, 180, New London, Minn. (New London-Spicer HS)
Named first-team all-area as a senior…helped New London-Spicer to Class AAA state playoffs…finished with 1,291 rushing yards on 266 careers…also had 13 touchdowns on the ground…also earned All-Wright County Conference honors.
Jake Tiede, LB, 6-0, 220, Adrian, Minn. (Adrian HS)
Two-time first-team all-area selection…also two-time first-team all-conference…finished with 375 career tackles, 9.5 sacks, three interceptions…had a career-high 23 tackles in a game…also had 24 career touchdowns…finished with 165 tackles as a senior.
Austin Winnegge OL, 6-0, 260, Langdon, N.D. (Langdon HS)
Three-time first-team all-region selection…named Offensive MVP and Most Valuable Offensive Lineman…two-time team captain…all-state second team selection.part of 2012 state semifinalist team…four-year letterwinner in football.
The following student-athletes have signed letters of commitment to continue their academic and athletic careers at MSUM:
Jared Fischer, S, 5-10, 200, Bismarck, N.D. (Century HS)
Threw for 2,808 passing yards and 25 touchdowns in career…all-state selection…part of back-to-back state runner-up teams…two-time all-conference selection…also an all-state selection.
Robby Hine, DB/WB, 5-10, 165, Nevis, Minn. (Nevis HS)
Two-time all-conference selection…nine-man all-state selection as a cornerback…had 92 tackles and one interception…also rushed for 652 yards.
Tyler Jensen, DL, 6-0, 260, Benson, Minn. (Benson HS)
Finished with 97 tackles during senior year, including 27 for loss…had three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries…set career-high with 18 tackles in a game…was all-conference and all-section during senior year.
Trent Noetzelman, TE, 6-5, 220, Glenwood, Minn. (Minnewaska HS)
Three-year football letterwinner as a tight end/defensive end…team captain for both football and basketball…conference leader in basketball.
Jimmy Roth, DB, 5-7, 155, Minneapolis, Minn. (Mpls Southwest HS)
Finished with eight career interceptions from cornerback spot…also had 180 tackles in career…two-time all-conference selection and team MVP two times as well.
Peterson’s Perceptions: Cobbers head coach Terry Horan in studio
Join WDAY sports director Dom Izzo and The Forum’s Eric Peterson as they welcome Concordia Cobber head coach Terry Horan into the studio.
Cobbers sophomore QB gets first taste of rivalry with Johnnies
Concordia sophomore quarterback Griffin Neal
MOORHEAD – Concordia sophomore quarterback Griffin Neal will be making his fourth collegiate start at 1 p.m. Saturday at Jake Christiansen Stadium, but it will be Neal’s first against the Cobbers’ top rival, St. John’s.
Concordia coach Terry Horan said his advice for his young QB is simple heading into the big rivalry game.
“Don’t try to do too much,” Horan said. “play within the system and do what you’ve done all along.”
The Cobbers are off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2005 after winning their Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener at St. Olaf last weekend.
St. John’s is the MIAC home opener for the Cobbers.
Neal isn’t completely green when it comes to the big-game atmosphere. He helped lead Fargo South to the 2010 North Dakota Class 3A state title. In that game, Neal passed for 243 yards and three TDs in a 28-14 victory against Bismarck High.
“He’s been in big games, it doesn’t matter the level,” Horan said. “A big game is a big game and he’s handled himself very well. … He’s calm, cool and collective and I don’t think any of that is going to change.”
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Neal has completed 30 of 46 passes for 367 yards and five touchdowns in three starts for Concordia.
