MOORHEAD, Minn. – On a day when Gabriel Watson had a record-breaking performance in leading the University of Sioux Falls Football Team (5-3, 5-3 NSIC) to a 55-21 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference road win over Minnesota State Moorhead (5-3, 5-3 NSIC), all the junior running back could do was talk about his teammates and winning a game.

"They worked so hard and created so many holes for me," said Watson, who set or tied four school records on a day when he had 19 carries for a school record 320 yards and five TDs. "All I had to do was run to the daylight. It was a great team win and one we needed," he said.

With his 320 yards, Watson passed the previous record total of 315 yards on 33 carries with four TDs by USF Hall of Fame running back David Ruter in a playoff win over U-Mary on Nov. 23, 1996 in USF's first NAIA national championship run.

Watson's performance helped USF snap a rare two-game losing streak. As a result, USF held control of second place in the NSIC South at 5-3. The Cougars also concluded North Division play with a 2-2 record. USF is 24-4 all-time against the North.

USF Head Coach Jon Anderson not only was pleased by Watson's performance but noted that his football team played fast and effective all day.

"I am really proud of this group who came in the game with one intent – win a football game," said Anderson, who is now 14-6 at USF. "They bounced back after a couple of tough losses. They did it by hard work and believing in each other," he said.

As for Watson, Anderson lauded Watson on his selfless demeanor and his belief in team. "He has proven himself time and again this year. He is not only a great football player but an outstanding student, who plays hard and works hard. And, the best thing, he is always the first one to credit his teammates," added Anderson.

Watson, who set a school record with 269 rushing yards at halftime, recorded a school record eighth straight 100-yard rushing game. On a day, when Watson averaged a gaudy 16.8 yards per carry, he also surpassed 200 yards in a game for the third time this season and has had at least 150 yards in a game six times. He also tied USF's DII mark for rushing TDs in a game with five, which was set by former USF All-American quarterback Luke Papilion, who had five TDs and 240 yards rushing against Northern State on Sept. 14, 2013.

With his 320 yards today, he also took over the lead in NCAA DII rushing over Jaleel McLaughlin of Notre Dame, who had 90 yards rushing today and 1,427 (186 carries) on the season. Watson has 181 carries for 1,517 yards and a DII-best 21 TDs.

As a unit, USF rushed for over 400 yards (404) in a game for the second time this season (444 vs Minot State, 9-29) while totaling 583 total yards on 57 plays. As a result, the Cougars set a USF DII mark for yards per play in a game at 10.2, including 9.6 yards per rush. USF broke the mark of 9.1 yards per play which was set against city rival Augustana in a 51-13 road win on Sept. 22, 2018 and against St. Cloud State in the opener in 2016. USF has also gone over 50 points in a game for a third time in a season, which was last accomplished in 2015 when the Cougars had four 50-plus scoring outings.

Watson wasn't alone in putting up eye-popping numbers. Senior captain and wide receiver Michael Maxwell had five catches for a career-best 112 yards and a 52-yard TD reception. Maxwell recorded his first career 100-yard receiving game. Nate Johnson, who had two catches for 34 yards, had a career-first when he returned a kickoff 86 yards for a TD just before halftime. Johnson recorded USF's first kickoff return for a TD since Kyle Groeneweg returned one for 88 yards against Upper Iowa on Nov. 14, 2015. It was also USF's 40^th special team or defensive TD since joining the NSIC in 2012.

USF junior quarterback Caden Walters also had an efficient day for USF. He completed 9-of-14 passes for 179 yards and a TD. With his 195.26 efficiency ranking today, Walters is now at 161.68 for the season, which ranks second best in the NSIC.

The Cougars also had a strong effort on the defensive side of the ball as they held the explosive Dragons to 327 yards in total offense, including 88 yards in the second half. USF allowed just 118 yards rushing on 45 carries or 2.6 yards per carry. In addition, USF, which came in with eight sacks on the season, nearly reached that total today. The Cougars had six sacks, nine tackles for loss and an interception by junior Parker Gregston. Junior safety Tucker Stout set a career high with 12 tackles while junior linebacker Brody Grantham had 10 tackles, and career highs with 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss. Steve McKee had seven tackles, three tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Game Breakdown
In defeating MSUM for a fourth straight time, the Cougars led from start to finish. USF opened up a 13-0 lead and led 20-7 after the first quarter. With a 28-14 advantage in the second quarter, USF opened up a 48-21 halftime advantage. The Cougars scored the only touchdown in the second half for the 55-21 decision. Of USF's eight TDs, seven required 2:44 or less of the clock.

After MSUM won the coin toss and deferred possession to the second half, the Cougars marched down the field with their third score on the first possession this season. Using four straight passes from Walters, including a 52-yard scoring toss to Maxwell, the Cougars drove 83 yards on four plays to go ahead 6-0 with 13:51 to play in the first quarter.  After holding MSUM, the Cougars – albeit Watson – made it 13-0 when the junior running back scored on a 79-yard touchdown run for a 13-0 lead and 12:12 left in the opening quarter.

On the ensuing possession, the Dragons put together a 12-play, 65-yard scoring drive to draw within 13-7 with 7:07 to play as Zach Simons scored on a one-run.
But the USF offense was as explosive as it has been all season. They Cougars scored on its first six possessions and moved ahead 20-7 as Watson scored on a 31-yard TD run. His scoring run capped a six-play, 77-yard drive in 2:44. On their next possession, USF increased the lead to 27-7 as Watson finished off a 10-play, 63-yard drive with a two-yard run.

With their backs again the wall, the home-standing Dragons answered with their second score of the game. Running out of their version of the wildcat, Simons scored his second TD of the game. He had a one-yard scoring run which capped a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive.

USF quickly responded to that score as Colton Myles, who had 30 yards rushing, burst through the right side for an 18-yard TD run and a 34-14 lead with 8:01 to play in the second quarter. Myles's score capped a five-play, 73-yard drive that used just 2:21 off the clock. Then, USF seemingly put the game on ice as Watson again scored on the first play of the next drive with a 74-yard run for a 41-14 lead with 4:25 to play in the first half. It was Watson's fifth run of 50 yards or more this season.

Facing a 4^th and 23-yard to go play from the USF 23-yard line late in the half, MSUM converted a Hail Mary toss as quarterback Jakup Sinani connected with Grady Bresnahan in the end zone to cut the lead to 41-21 with 17 seconds to play. However on the ensuing kickoff, Johnson found an opening down the left sideline and scampered 85 yards for a TD. With Mason Laramie's extra point, the Cougars pushed the lead to 48-21 with five seconds left until halftime and squashed any momentum for the Dragons.

In the second half, Watson added his fifth TD from 13-yards to push the lead to 55-21 with 5:55 to play. The run enabled Watson to push past 300 yards on the game. On the following possession he had a 12-yard run on a 3^rd and 18 play to set USF's school record and place his name in Cougars lore.

USF, which is now 30-8 in NSIC road games, improved to 59-15 all-time in the NSIC and 66-22 at the NCAA DII level. The Cougars return to the friendly confines of Bob Young Field on Saturday, Oct. 27 when they host Upper Iowa at 1 p.m.

Notes
~ In four games against MSUM, the Cougars have totaled 472 (2012), 663 (2014), 604 (2016) and 583 (2018) in total yards.

~ For the first time this year, USF allowed a touchdown in the first quarter. However, the Cougars have a 77-10 scoring advantage in the first quarter. USF also has a 51-27 margin in the fourth quarter and a 291-to-164 overall scoring margin.

~ Through eight games, USF has outrushed opponents, 2,343-to-916 yards or 292.9 yards per game to 114.5 yards per game. USF also has a 28-to-6 margin in rushing TDs. In total offense, USF has totaled 3,815 yards or 476.8 yards per game and 7.4 yards per play.

~ With his five TDs this season, Gabe Watson has a DII-best 21 touchdowns and 126 points or 15.75 points per game. With his 1,517 yards in a season, he ranks seventh for a season all-time at USF, just 10 yards from passing Hall of Fame running back Mike Dvoracek, who had 1,526 yards in 2004. USF's all-time season leader is former eight-time All-American Max Mickey with 1,764 yards in 2016.

~ Watson's 21 rushing TDs ties him for fourth on USF's season list with Ryan Lowmiller in 2009 and Hall of Fame running back Nick Kortan with 21 in 2002.