BEMIDJI, Minn. - (Chet Anderson Stadium) Sophomore quarterback Cory Wardrope (Anchorage, Alaska) connected with Bemidji State University receivers 19 times for 209 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Beavers cruised to a 27-3 win over Minnesota State University Moorhead Saturday at Chet Anderson Stadium. The victory gave BSU rights to the Battle Axe, one of the most tradition-rich traveling trophies in all of NCAA football, for a school-record eighth consecutive season.

Senior tight end Dan Nagengast (Plymouth, Minn.) caught just three balls for a total of seven yards, but he made his touches count. He was on the receiving end of a pair of Wardrope touchdown strikes; one from two yards out and the other from the three yardline. The senior target now leads the team in receiving touchdowns (2) despite hauling in just six receptions on the season.

After his first collegiate touchdown reception a week ago, Kyle Jorgenson (Jr., WR, Princeton, Minn.) caught seven passes for a career-best 110 yards including a season-long 43-yard gainer.

On the ground, James Moore (So., RB, Houston, Tex.) gained 49 yards on 11 carried in relief of Erick Newman (Jr., RB, Naperville, Ill.) who scampered for 45 yards and his team-leading third touchdown of the season.

Freshman kicker Paul Potemra (Poolesville, Md.) rounded out BSU’s scoring making good on a pair of field goals (40, 27) and successfully completing three extra-point attempts. Potemra continues to be perfect on the season. He has converted all nine of his extra point tries and is three-for-three on field goals.

The Bemidji State defense did the rest. The Beavers held MSUM ground-gainers to just 12 yards while it allowed 239 yards of total offense, grabbed a fumble, intercepted a pass and, most importantly, kept the Dragons out of the endzone.

Seth Iverson (Sr., DL, Hatton, N.D.) and Robert Molstad (Sr., DL, Champlin, Minn.) each recorded nine tackles including a quarterback stack apiece. Terell Phelps (Jr., CB, Lincolnton, N.C.), Jeremy Pachal (Sr., WR, Hayward, Wis.) and Jeremiah Johnson (Sr., S, Glidden, Iowa) accounted for the Beavers turnovers as Phelps added nine tackles (two solo) a pair of pass breakups and a fumble recovery, Pachal picked up a fumble snap on a MSUM punt and Johnson posted seven tackles (one solo) and grabbed an interception. Adrian Dunn (Sr., DL, Healdsburg, Calif.) led BSU with two sacks as the Beavers defenders got to the Dragon quarterback five times on the day.

The BSU defense showed the Dragon offensive unit just was it was up against early as MSUM has a first and goal form the two yardline on its first possession of the game and the Beavers held strong and forced the Dragons to turn the ball over on downs after gaining just one yard.

The teams would remain scoreless in the first quarter, but BSU got on the board in the second when Wardrope found Nagengast streaking across the back of the end zone to complete a 13-play, 71-yard drive with 12 minutes to play in the first half.

On the ensuing possession, the BSU defense held the Dragons without a gain in three plays and forced MSUM to punt. On the punt. MSU Moorhead punter Kyle Wilcox dropped the snap and Pachal would set the Beavers up on the one yardline. It took BSU just one play to extend its lead to 17-0 as Newman would waltz in from one-yard out for his third score of the season.

The Dragons would add a field goal with 26-seconds left in the half to got into the break trailing BSU 17-3.

Bemidji State would add a second Wardrope/Nagengast touchdown and a 27-yard field goal from Potemra in the final 30 minutes of play to stretch its lead to 27-3 and secure its ninth consecutive win versus Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponents.

Wardrope finished the day complete 19-of-29 for 209 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

MSUM’s Dustin Long was 18-of-33 for 199 yards. Enol Gilles rushed for a team-high 35 yards while Bruce Green caught seven passes for 100 yards.

The Beavers, 2-1 overall and 1-0 in NSIC play, continue league play Saturday (Sept. 22) when they travel to Crookston, Minn. to battle University of Minnesota, Crookston in the annual “Hubcap Game.” Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Ed Widseth Field.

Notes: The hand-made, New Guinea Battle Axe has been around since the 1948 season...The Battle for the Axe series is now at 33-24-2 in favor of MSUM...Today’s win gives BSU a series-record eighth straight win...MSUM last held the Axe in 1999...the BSU/MSUM all-time series now stands at 42-30-3 in favor of the Dragons...BSU has now won a school record nine consecutive games versus NSIC competition dating back to 11/5/05 loss to Wayne State College (28-38)...With one sack, Seth Iverson moves past Bart Bodway (1985-86) and into sole possession of sixth place on BSU’s career sacks list...Robert Molstad is one sack back (13.5) tied for eighth...Iverson moves into ninth place (26.5) on BSU’s all-time TFL’s list with 1.5 today...Jeremiah Johnson collected seven tackles to move into fifth on BSU all-time list (307)...Limiting MSUM to just 13 yards on the ground, BSU has now held opponents to less than 90 rushing yards in 13 of its last 17 games and today marks the 10th time since 1999 its opposition has managed less than 40 yards...BSU has now forced a turnover in 84 of its last 91 games...BSU head coach Jeff Tesch is 9-3 versus his Alma mater...Tesch increased his mark as BSU’s all-time winingest coach to 73 wins.

-bsu-