BEMIDJI, Minn. - (Chet Anderson Stadium) The Beavers found their way back where they are happiest--frolicking in the water of Lake Bemidji.

After nearly two years without a dip, a 35-7 victory over Northern State University Saturday at Chet Anderson Stadium afforded the Bemidji State University football team the opportunity to follow through with the long-time Homecoming tradition. When time ran out of the fourth quarter, members of the team and coaching staff exited the east end of the stadium to celebrate the win with rousing rendition of the BSU Fight Song from the frigid lake.

The swim was set up by another stellar performance by BSU's "Gang Green" defensive unit. The Beavers sacked Northern State's quarterback a season-high six times and held NSU to 276 yards of total offense while the NCAA's eighth-ranked defense against the run stifled the Wolves running attack to the tune of just 24 yards.

BSU bent, giving up 112 yards on eight catches by NSU's Brian Jark, one of the league's top wideouts, but it didn't break as NSU ventured inside the redzone just two times and converted only one of those trips into points.

Senior Jeremiah Johnson (S, Glidden, Iowa) paced the BSU defense collecting eight tackles (two solo) and recorded his second interception of the year.

In his second game back after sitting out with an injury, Matt Heber (Sr., LB, Mundelein, Ill.) posted six stops (two solo) including a quarterback sack and 2.5 tackles-for loss while senior Seth Iverson (DE, Hatton, N.D.) led the sack-attack grounding the NSU signal-caller three times for a loss of 22 yards.

Offensively, Cory Wardrope (So., QB, Anchorage, Alaska) was 14-of-26 for 204 yards and a touchdown while, for the second straight game, he rushed for a pair of touchdowns.

Each team struggled to put points on the board in the first quarter. Despite combining for 214 yards of offense during the first 15 minutes of play, the teams put only six points on the board. BSU settled for a pair of Paul Potemra (Fr., K/P, Poolesville, Md.) field goals (21 yds, 22yds) on its first three drives while the Wolves racked up 57 yards and punted to and came up short on a 42-yard field goal attempt to cap its two first quarter drives.

After Gang Green forced the Wolves into a three and out to open the second, Jared Dunn (Sr., LB, Healdsburg, Calif.) got a hand on the ensuing NSU punt and Andrew Eagan (Fr. LB, Sauk Village, Ill.) recovered the loose ball on the Northern State nine-yard line to set up a Wardrope one-yard touchdown run on third-and-goal. A two-point conversion pass from Erick Newman (Jr, RB, Naperville, Ill.) to Wardrope stunned all in attendance and put BSU up 14-0 midway through the second quarter.

The Wolves responded with a 10-play, 80-yard drive for their only score of the afternoon.

Eric Ellingson was 4-of-6 on the drive for 53 yards including a nine-yard touchdown strike to Mike Cahoy.

From there the BSU defense tightened the clamps.

NSU managed just 81 yards in the 29 plays of its final five possessions and crossed into Beaver territory only once.

Wardrope added a five-yard touchdown pass to George Kadlec (Chicago, Ill.) to stretch the BSU lead to 21-7 at the half and would post a seven-yard touchdown run to open scoring in the second half. Newman found the endzone for his fourth touchdown of the season as time expired on the third quarter to put BSU up 35-7.

Both teams failed to score in during the final 15 minutes as BSU held on for the 35-7 win to improve to 4-1 for the third consecutive season and open NSIC play with three wins for the second strait year.

BSU travels to Bismarck, N.D. to battle University of Mary (2-3; 2-1 NSIC) next Saturday in an attempt to avenge a 27-21 2006 Homecoming loss. The match-up in the first conference affair between the first-year member Marauders and BSU.

-bsu-