ABERDEEN, S.D. (Dacotah Bank Stadium) -- The (RV) Bemidji State University football program is one step closer to its ultimate goal after clinching a share of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division title following a 36-34 win at (RV) Northern State University. The Beavers improve to 8-2 overall and 5-0 in the NSIC North, marking its first division title since 2015, as Saturday's game in Aberdeen, S.D., featured over 1,000 yards of total offense.

While the Beavers and Wolves combined for 792 yards of passing, it was the rushing attack of BSU that controlled the game. The sophomore running back duo of Sage Booker and Makaio Harn combined for 191 yards for Bemidji State, including 110 from Booker and one rushing score from Harn. Booker and Harn also combined for 83 receiving yards on six catches.

Sophomore quarterback Brandon Alt continued to shred BSU single-season records, finishing the game with the program marks in completions and yards. Alt went 30-of-46 passing for 376 yards and four touchdowns, setting the new BSU single-season records with 226 completions and 3,221 yards. He surpassed the previous records of 202 completions and 3,007 yards set by Jordan Hein.

The wide receiving corps featured three receivers with six catches, led by junior Dhel Duncan-Busby with career-highs of 103 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Brendan Beaulieu recorded six catches for 91 receiving yards, moving to eighth all-time in BSU single-season receiving yards with 888, and one touchdown, his ninth touchdown reception of the season. Senior Malik Williams caught six passes for 42 yards with one touchdown, tying the BSU single-season record with 14 touchdown catches.

The “Gang Green” defense was led by senior defensive back Hameed Oyedele with six tackles along with his first interception as a Beaver returned for 20. Sophomore linebacker Spencer Wehr and junior defensive back Jake West also recorded interceptions, setting up 14 points off turnovers for BSU. Junior edge rusher Zollie Kaplan placed himself just outside the top 10 of BSU's single-season sack list with 7.0 sacks following 1.5 against the Wolves.

BSU's balanced attack was on center stage to open the game as Booker ran for 39 yards of an 85-yard first drive. Alt and Duncan-Busby connected for their first of two touchdowns, a four-yard score to open scoring with a 7-0 lead. The “Gang Green” defense followed up with a three-and-out on its opening drive, including the first of Kaplan's 3.0 sacks on the day.

The Beavers broke into the Wolves' red zone following a 12-play, 73-yard drive that featured the completion record-breaker from Alt to freshman wide receiver Bubba Peters. Two plays following Alt's 203rd completion of the season, BSU missed a field goal to exit empty handed. NSU answered back with a 48-yard touchdown catch and run midway through the opening quarter.

Booker was again leaned on during BSU's next scoring drive with 34 total yards, which set up a 15-yard strike from Alt to Beaulieu. Beaulieu's score was his 50th catch and ninth touchdown of the season. A two-point conversion by freshman quarterback Sam McGath extended BSU's lead late in the first quarter, 15-7.

Northern State's Chance Olson recorded both of Bemidji State's interceptions given away, setting up touchdowns for NSU on both picks. The second interception by Olson came late in the second half as BSU was setting up a 15-play, 72-yard drive. Olson ran the interception back 100 yards for a touchdown to give the Wolves a 21-15 lead with 2:05 before the half. Alt completed four straight passes and led a 71-yard drive in just 1:32, finishing Williams in the back of the end zone to pull back ahead at the halftime break, 22-21.

The momentum to start the second half swung towards the Wolves as the Beavers were forced to three 3-and-outs and one fumble over its first four possessions. NSU regained its lead with an 86-yard drive midway through the third quarter but was held within one score as the BSU defense forced a turnover on downs, punt and the first of three fourth quarter interceptions.

Wehr pulled away his second career interception early in the fourth quarter to set up a 19-yard scoring drive. Alt found Duncan-Busby again for the go-ahead score, 29-28, on a three-yard catch. Oyedele stopped an NSU 64-yard drive with a 20-yard interception return on the next possession, which set up Harn's touchdown run to go ahead, 36-28.

With 3:14 to play, Northern State recorded a 12-yard run and completed four passes, the last of which went for 47 yards and a touchdown to pull within a field goal, 36-34. An onside kick attempt by the Wolves went out-of-bounds to give the Beavers possession with 1:40. NSU used all three of its timeouts before BSU gave the ball back with 28 seconds to play. A 48-yard completion set up the final play of the game, a hail mary attempt from the 50-yard line. West pulled down the jump ball to secure the 36-34 win and BSU's first NSIC North Division title since 2015.

The Beavers held the ball for 31:37 and finished the game 9-of-16 on third-down attempts. BSU limited NSU to 7-of-13 on third downs and 0-of-2 on fourth down attempts. Bemidji State totaled 581 offensive yards, setting a new season high, compared to 501 for Northern State, including just 85 rushing yards for the Wolves.

Bemidji State closes out its regular season Saturday, Nov. 13 with a home meeting against the University of Mary. The Beavers will clinch a share of the overall conference title and the NSIC North Division title outright with a win against the Marauders, which would be the sixth overall title and third divisional title in program history.

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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