ST. CLOUD, Minn. (Husky Stadium) - St. Cloud State University capitalized on a pair of Bemidji State University turnovers and short field opportunities to put 21 points on the board during the first quarter and would not back down dropping the Beavers 48-14, Saturday at Husky Field in St. Cloud, Minn., in the first meeting between the teams in 27 years.

The last time BSU and SCSU met on the gridiron not a single player on either team was alive. Same roster or not, the Huskies picked right up where they left off some 27 years ago extending their winning streak over BSU to five games.

It didn't take the hosting Huskies long to spark their side of the scoreboard.

After exchanging punts on their first possessions, the Beavers fielded the SCSU kick on Huskies 41 yard line putting BSU in a great position to get on the board first. But on the second play of the drive, SCSU's Matt McLagon stepped in front of a Derek Edholm (So., QB, Anoka, Minn.) pass and returned the interception 46 yards to the Beavers 16 yard line. The defensive takeaway set up the first score of the game four plays later when Brandon Geiss carried the ball into the end zone from two yards out.

The Huskies stretched their lead to 14-0 with just under three minutes to play in the first stanza when they capitalized on a short field marching 48 yards to on a Mitch Watkins TD pass to Cody Rysewyk.

Just 119 seconds later, the Watkins found Rocky Horn from 16 yards out to stretch the lead to 21 points before the horn sounded on the first period.

The Beavers would respond with a nine-play 68-yard drive to cut the deficit to 14 points (21-7). Edholm would break free for a season-long, 50-yard run to kick start the drive, while he connected with senior wide out George Kadlec (Chicago, Ill.) for a nine-yard touchdown pass in the opening moments of the second quarter.

SCSU added a 19-yard field goal before halftime to take a 24-7 lead into the break and would score on its first two possessions of the second half to go up 38-7 with seven minutes left in the third period.

After BSU starter Edholm was taken out of the game due to injury, Josh Williams (Sr., QB, Downey, Calif.) stepped in to marched the team down the field and into the end zone. He completed three-of-four passes before handing the ball to Cameron Abrams (Fr., WR, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) on a 14-yard end around for a score.

But the damage had been done. SCSU's quick strikes to begin each half dug a hole too deep for BSU to escape.

SCSU would add two more touchdowns during the final 15 minutes to earn the 48-14 lead and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory.

The 34-point loss marked the first time the Beavers have been defeated by 30 or more points since a 45-14 loss to University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Nov. 14, 1998.

St. Cloud State managed 420 yards of total offense on the day, which included 259 yards on the ground. Geiss led the charge scampering for 76 yards and a TD while Michael Graham piled up 65 yards and a pair of scores.

The Beaver offense never really got on track today. The team totaled 287 yards of offense but ill-timed turnovers slammed the door on the Beavers as they attempted to sneak back into the game.

Edholm finished passing for 62 yards on 9-of-20 with a touchdown and an interception in just over 30 minutes of play. He also led the team on the ground totaling 66 rushing yards. Abrams added 54 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.

Jason Kunz ( Sr., S, Esko, Minn.) led the BSU defense with 10 tackles (six solo), and 1.5 tackles for loss. Terrell Phelps (Sr., CB, Lincolnton, N.C.) grabbed his team-leading third interception of the year and added four solo tackles and a pair of pass breakups.

Bemidji State (2-4; 1-4 NSIC) continues conference play next week with a trip to Wayne, Neb. to face Wayne State College (4-2; 3-2 NSIC NSIC). The Oct. 11 is set for a 1 p.m. kick off at Memorial Stadium.

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