SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Kirkeby-Over Stadium) -- The Bemidji State University football team continues its path in the NCAA Division II Football Championship after a 28-24 win at No. 25 Augustana University Saturday afternoon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Beavers recorded the first 10-win season in program history by holding the Vikings off the scoreboard in four fourth-quarter drives.

After holding a 21-10 lead at halftime, the Beavers faced a 24-21 deficit heading into the final 15 minutes. Bemidji State forced Augustana to a turnover on downs, stopping the Vikings on a 4th-and-1 just as the fourth quarter began. BSU's offense came back on the next drive to go 68 yards in five plays, setting up the go-ahead score with a 22-yard pass from freshman quarterback Sam McGath to junior wide receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby at the two-yard line. McGath punched in the go-ahead score with a two-yard rush and led the team with 77 rushing yards.

The "Gang Green" defense forced back-to-back punts by Augustana and sealed the game with another turnover on downs with 2:06 to play. During AU's final drive, BSU allowed a four-yard catch on first down but pushed it back four yards on a tackle for loss by sophomore linebacker Spencer Wehr to set up 4th-and-10. Junior safety Jake West forced the game-winning pass deflection with 2:06 to play as BSU kneeled three times to send the team to the second round of the NCAA DII Football Championship.

Sophomore quarterback Brandon Alt tossed 326 passing yards with three touchdowns and one interception, including team highs of eight catches and 142 yards for senior wide receiver Brendan Beaulieu. Bemidji State began the game with possession and drove 75 yards in four plays, beginning with a 46-yard pass from Alt to Beaulieu and ending with a 23-yard touchdown pass between the two.

Augustana was held to a field goal on its opening drive of the game followed by another scoring drive by Bemidji State. The Beavers again went over 70 yards in just three plays as senior wide receiver Malik Williams caught a pass from Alt near the 50-yard line and ran untouched to the end zone to put BSU ahead, 14-3.

Following a punt and fumble, Bemidji State put together back-to-back 60-yard drives to reach the Augustana red zone. The first trip within the 20-yard line ended with an interception before the Beavers capitalized on a 19-yard touchdown catch by Williams, his second of the game, to go ahead 21-10 before halftime.

Senior linebacker Gabe Ames, senior defensive back Hameed Oyedele and West each led the defense with seven tackles, including seven solo tackles for West. The linebacking corps got in the backfield for sacks twice, including solo sacks by Wehr and freshman Ty Guden. Freshman Colton Herman recorded his second career interception to cut an AU drive short late in the first half.

Bemidji State threw for 348 yards, including Alt's eighth 300-yard game of the season, and ran for 65 yards compared to 232 passing yards and 201 rushing yards for Augustana. Both teams were near 50 percent on third-down conversions while the Vikings went 0-for-2 on fourth downs.

The Beavers notched their first-ever win in the NCAA postseason as the current senior class is the winningest in program history with 33 wins since 2017.

Bemidji State will continue its season at 1 p.m. (CT) Saturday, Nov. 27 with a trip to face No. 9 Colorado School of Mines, who is the one seed in the NCAA Division II Super Region 4 bracket, in Golden, Colo. The game will be broadcast via live video, audio and stats, while tickets are currently for sale HERE.

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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