DULUTH, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Duluth defensive unit had quarterback Cory Wardrope (So., Anchorage, Alaska) on his heels all night racking up 10 sacks and holding BSU to 275 yards of total offense, and just 72 of that coming in the final two quarters of play, as the Bemidji State University football team was defeated in its 2007 opener, 31-14, in front of 4,555 at Malosky Stadium in Duluth, Minn.

The No. 20 Beavers hung tough early getting a touchdown reception from Anthony Schreiber (Sr., WR, Berkeley, Ill.) and a rushing scamper from Erick Newman (Jr., RB, Naperville, Ill.) to finish the first half knotted at 14-14.  But the Bulldogs scored 17 straight points in the second half to gain the victory.

Minnesota Duluth set the tone early.  After forcing BSU into a punting situation after just six plays, UMD’s Tyler Yelk blocked a Paul Potemra (Fr., K/P, Poolsville, Md.) punts and the Bulldogs recovered on BSU’s four yard line. 

It took the Bulldogs just two plays to light their side of the scoreboard as Ted Schlafke went to the air to hit Dennis Carter from one yard to take a 7-0 lead less than four minutes into the game.

The Beaver offensive unit responded with a five-minute, 86-yard drive capped by  Anthony Schreiber touchdown reception. 

Wardrope shook a UMD defender and lofted a pass deep into the center of the end zone and Schreiber accompanied by a pair of Bulldogs into the air and wrestled the ball down to level the score at 7-7.  The 22-yard touchdown reception was the 16th of Schreiber’s career tying him with Chad Postal (1990-1992) for fourth on the all-time list at BSU.

The Bulldogs quickly regained the lead on the following drive.  Sparked by a 41-yard kickoff return by Carter, the Bulldogs needed just five plays to march 39 yards using the second of Schlafke’s four touchdown passes to go up 14-7 before the first quarter came to an end.

The Beavers got the ball in the second period and used a sustained drive of 50 yards to know the game at 14-14.  Newman saw his number called for six of the nine plays gaining 27 yards on the drive and scampering into the end zone from eight yards out for his second career touchdown and first on the ground.

Defense dominated the remaining 10 minutes o the half.  Combined, only once did either team put together a drive of more than six plays.

The Beavers were on the positive end of a pair of interceptions, one by Josh Rose and eight minutes later, Jared Dunn (Sr., LB, Healdsburg, Calif.) stepped in front of an errant Schlafke pass on the 20-yard line. However, both turnovers resulted in stalled out drives and the Beavers were forced to punt.

The Bulldogs came out of the break needing just six plays and 1:38 to go 65 yards to again jump ahead of BSU, 21-14.  Schlafke hit eligible defensive tackle Kevin Pexa  on a fade to the corner of the end zone

The remainder of the quarter was a field position stalemate.  The Bulldogs were trapped within their own 50 yard line, and were despite two possessions on a short field, the Beavers were unable to capitalize.

With 8:59 to go in the game, the Bulldogs iced the win when Jim Johnson stepped in front of a Wardrope pass for an interception at the Bulldogs 45 yard line. The interception was the first Wardrope have thrown in 121 attempts dating back to Oct. 14 of last season.

The Bulldogs responded with a23-yard touchdown strike from Schlafke to Carter to stretch the score to 31-14.

Schlafke finished the game with 24-of-48 for 280 yards and four touchdowns.  He also threw a pair of interceptions.  He added 32 rushing yards for a total offensive output of 312—90 percent of the Bulldogs’ 346 yards of total offense. Carter paced the crew of receivers with at least one reception with five catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns.

For BSU,  Wardrope was 9-of-19 for 84 yards and a touchdown with 30 yards on the ground.  Newman posted the first 100-yard rushing game of his collegiate career with 145 yards on 34 carries.  Schreiber caught five paces for 68 yards with a score.

The BSU "Gang Green" defense, led by Jake Anderson (So., LB, Karlstad, N.D.) who posted seven tackles (7 solo), a fumble recovery and a quarterback sack, held the Bulldogs to just 66 on the ground marking the 13th time in BSU's last 15 games the opponents run attacks have been held to fewer than 100 yards.

The Beavers, 1-0, now turn their focus to Minot State University. Saturday (Sept. 8) the team opens the home potion of its schedule looking to extend its streak of wins over MSU to six. Kick off for the annual Shrine game is slated for 1 p.m.

-bsu-