BEMIDJI, Minn. (Chet Anderson Stadium) – After allowing 10 points in the first half, the Bemidji State University defense held Minnesota State University Moorhead off the scoreboard in the second half as the Beavers downed the Dragons 35-10 in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game to retain the ‘Battle Axe.’ Junior quarterback Lance Rongstad (Eleva, Wis.) scored four times in the victory, including a career-high three passing touchdowns.  

The Beavers and Dragons have been trading the ‘Battle Axe’ since 1948 and is the second longest traveling trophy in Division II. MSU Moorhead is 34-26-3 in the ‘Axe’ series, but the Beavers are 11-1 in the last 12 contests.

Rongstad threw for a career-high 236 yards and added 86 yards on the ground for a total of 322 offensive yards. He was apart of four touchdowns to sit tied for second in the NSIC in touchdowns responsible for in a game. The team rushed for 328 yards to eclipse the 300 yard mark for the third time this season. BSU posted 554 total yards of offensive to record more than 500 yards of offense for the second time this season.

The BSU ‘Gang Green’ defense allowed just 16 yards on the ground to improve its season average to 67.9 yards allowed per game. The team came into the contest sixth in the nation in rushing defense. BSU has allowed 10 or less points five times this season and are 5-0 in those games. The Beavers are 6-1 overall for the first time since 2000.  

The Beaver offense was slowed in the first half and the Beavers trailed 10-7, getting the lone touchdown from a Rongstad 17-yard rushing touchdown. The second half was all Bemidji State as it scored 14 points in each of the third and fourth quarters.

The Beavers took the lead for good on a junior Matt Gandrud (WR, Elk River, Minn.) touchdown on a 24-yard pass from Rongstad. The score was Gandrud’s second of the season and capped an 11-play, 82-yard drive. BSU went up 21-10 after a sophomore Brent Kondziolka (RB, Orland, Ill.) four-yard touchdown catch from Rongstad.

In the fourth quarter, senior wide receiver Cameron Abram (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) got his second touchdown in consecutive games on a forty yard catch from Rongstad. Last weekend he connected with Rongstad for a 56-yarder. Back-up quarterback sophomore Alex Hass (Milaca, Minn.) got on the scoreboard in the final minutes of the fourth quarter after finding a hole to rush through and going 35 yards to the end zone.

The Beavers improved to 12-36 since 1999 when trailing at halftime. The only other time BSU had trailed at the half this season was against then-No. 9 University of Minnesota Duluth when it was down 9-7 and fell 26-23. Senior running back Brandon Miles (Kenai, Alaska) carried the load for the Beavers with a season-high 93 yards. Five different Beavers totaled more than 10 yards on the ground in the victory. Junior wide receiver Justin Lee (Elgin, Ill.) totaled 59 receiving yards and 59 rushing yards in the game. Gandrud posted 56 receiving yards on four catches and Abram had 64 yards on three receptions.

Junior Cory Crosby (LB, Cold Spring, Minn.) led the Beavers in tackles with six with a half tackle for loss and one pas break-up. Junior linebacker Dan Christensen (Chicago, Ill.) posted five tackles (two solo) with a half tackle for loss.

BSU travels to University of Mary Oct. 23 for a NSIC North battle beginning at 2:30 p.m.

Bemidji State University, located in Bemidji, Minn., is an NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

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