MINOT, N.D. -- Senior safety Donnell Vercher recorded a career-high 17 tackles, but Minot State's third-down pass from Minnesota State Moorhead 6-yard line fell incomplete as time expired and the Dragons escaped with a 22-16 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory over the Beavers on Saturday at Herb Parker Stadium.

After stopping Minnesota State Moorhead on a 4th-and-5 play at the Minot State 30-yard line the Beavers took over trailing 22-16 and 1:01 to play in the fourth quarter.

Senior quarterback Zac Cunha connected with Taylor Maloney for 14 yards to the Minot State 49-yard line and then connected with Maloney for 25 yards to the Dragon 21-yard line.

On 1st-and-10, Cunha attempted to connect with Lavante Bushnell, but a pass interference penalty moved the ball to Dragon 6-yard line.

The Beavers next three pass attempts missed the mark and Minnesota State Moorhead held on for the victory.

Vercher topped his previous career high of 15 tackles against Sioux Falls during the 2016 season. He also added a fumble recovery and a tackle for loss to lead the Beaver defense.

Minot State, which dropped to 2-8 on the season with the loss, also received 10 tackles and a fumble recovery from Justin Gonzales and nine tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and two pass break ups from Manuel Bradford.

Senior Larry Overstreet rushed for 115 yards, which marked his second consecutive 100-yard rushing performance and his third of the 2017 season. Overstreet also caught four passes for 30 yards.

Cunha finished the game 15-of-34 for 199 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown pass raised his career total to 52 and moved him to within one touchdown of tying the school record of 53 currently held by Kenny Smith.

Bushnell had three catches for 54 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter.

Minot State played an outstanding first half and took a 13-0 lead into the intermission.

Overstreet rushed for 93 yards, while Cunha was 7-of-13 for 93 yards and a touchdown in the first half. The Beaver defense did its part by limiting Minnesota State Moorhead to 146 yards of total offense and forcing two fumbles.

The Beavers got on the scoreboard on their second drive of the game as Minot State drove 75 yards in seven plays capped by Cunha connecting with Bushnell for a 17-yard touchdown strike with 1:24 to play in the first quarter.

The Beaver defense thwarted the Dragons deep in Minot State territory on Minnesota State Moorhead's next drive. The Dragons drove to the Minot State 11-yard line, but Kolby Lang forced a fumble at the Minot State 5-yard line which was recovered by Vercher.

Following a 69-yard punt by JoseLuis Moreno, Minnesota State Moorhead took over on its own 4-yard line. The Dragons lost a yard on their first play and Bradford forced a fumble on a completed pass which was recovered by Gonzales at the Minnesota State Moorhead 7-yard line.

Three runs by Overstreet netted six yards and the Beavers settled for a 17-yard field goal by Moreno to up the lead to 10-0 with 8:27 to play in the second quarter.

Minot State upped the lead to 13-0 late in the second quarter when Moreno connected on a career-long 40-yard field goal with 30 seconds to play before halftime.

The Minot State once again stood tall at the beginning of the third quarter as the Dragons drove to the Beaver 1-yard line, but MSU held the Dragons out of the end zone on three consecutive rushes to turn the ball over on downs.

Minnesota State Moorhead, which improved to 5-5 overall, got on the scoreboard on its next drive when quarterback Jakup Sinani scored on an 8-yard touchdown run with 7:51 to play in the third quarter.

Following a three-and-out, the Dragons then drove 80 yards in 13 plays capped by a 7-yard scoring run from Herman Gray to take the lead at 14-13 with two seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Minot State bounced back to regain the lead midway through the fourth quarter. Overstreet caught a 13-yard pass from Cunha and scampered 15 yards during the drive which culminated with Moreno connecting from 22 yards out giving the Beavers a 16-14 lead with 5:55 to play in the game.

The Dragons answered on their next drive by driving 71 yards in 10 plays capped by a 4-yard touchdown run by Gray to take a 22-16 lead with 2:20 left in the game.

The game also marked Senior Day for the Beavers as 20 players played their final games in Herb Parker Stadium.

Minot State will conclude the 2017 season on Saturday (Nov. 11) when it visits St. Cloud State for a 1 p.m. kickoff.