BEMIDJI, Minn. (Chet Anderson Stadium) -- The Bemidji State University football team piled up 695 yards of offense in a 62-40 victory over the University of Mary in the 2021 regular-season finale, clinching the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division title and a share of the overall conference championship.

The overall conference championship is the sixth in program history and the first since 2006, while the divisional title is the third for BSU and the third time. With the win, Bemidji State essentially clinched its first postseason berth in program history with a possibility of hosting its first playoff game.

Led by sophomore quarterback Brandon Alt, who was 23-for-40 for 435 yards and five touchdowns through the air, the Beavers posted a season-high mark for points. Brendan Beaulieu was on the receiving end of 10 of those passes and totaled 212 yards with three touchdowns, while Sage Booker added 21 rushing attempts for 155 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Senior defensive back Hameed Oyedele led the “Gang Green” defense once again in tackles with seven and added a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The defensive unit combined for 10 tackles for a loss and five sacks, including 2.0 sacks for a loss of 17 yards by junior defensive tackle Sammy Byrd. Junior edge rusher Zollie Kaplan led BSU with 2.5 tackles for a loss and is now tied for fifth all-time at BSU in single-season tackles for a loss with 17.5.

Bemidji State scored at least two touchdowns in every quarter Saturday, including two on its first two possessions of the game. Both of BSU's first two touchdowns came on the second play of its respective drive, while both went for at least 60 yards. Sophomore running back Sage Booker burst through the right side of the line on a 61-yard touchdown run while Alt went to senior wide receiver Malik Williams for 63 yards for a 13-0 lead less than five minutes into play. Williams' catch was his 15th touchdown reception of the season, setting the new BSU single-season mark.

Williams' record-setting catch was set up four plays earlier as sacks on back-to-back plays by senior linebacker Jaylen Jenkins and a combined sack from Byrd and senior defensive tackle Josh Wleh forced a punt. The defense took control on its first drive of the second half to force a three-and-out, setting up a seven-play, 53-yard touchdown drive. Alt found Williams again in the endzone from 14 yards out to extend the lead, 20-7.

The “Gang Green” defense again came up with a three-and-out on the ensuing UMary drive to set up another touchdown drive. BSU's six-play, 50-yard drive was capped off by a determined rush by Booker from six yards out, as he moved a pile of Marauders into the endzone for his second touchdown of the game and a 27-7 Beaver lead.

UMary scored on its final drive of the second quarter and came out of the second half with an 81-yard scoring drive to cut its deficit to seven, 27-20, as the second extra point hit the upright to fall no good. Alt completed three passes on each of BSU's final two drives of the third quarter, finding Beaulieu on touchdown throws of 51 and 17 yards to cap both and extend the lead to 21, 41-20, heading into the fourth quarter.

As the Marauders scored to start the fourth quarter, Oyedele took the ensuing kickoff from the seven-yard line, followed solid blocking and bulldozed a defender on his way to a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and a 48-34 lead. The Beavers solidified the win with two more fourth-quarter touchdowns, a 58-yard reception by Beaulieu and the first career touchdown by freshman running back Jarrett Gronski that went 36 yards.

The Beavers finish the regular season 9-2 overall, just the fourth nine-win season in program history. Head Coach Brent Bolte has led BSU to nine wins twice in his five seasons on the field, matching former Head Coach Jeff Tesch as the only two team leaders with that mark.

Bemidji State will learn its postseason fate tomorrow when the NCAA announces the 2021 playoff field live at 4 p.m. on NCAA.com.

For more information on the Bemidji State athletic programs, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeavers or @BSUBeaversFB), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers or facebook.com/BSUBeaverFootball) or sign up for the TXTUpdates from BSUBeavers.com text-messaging system through the "Multimedia" pull down menu on the main page of BSUBeavers.com.

Nestled in Northern Minnesota's wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's and women's hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

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