BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Football team will battle for supremacy in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division this Saturday by hosting University of Minnesota Duluth at Chet Anderson Stadium. Both teams enter the weekend tied for first in the North with a 3-0 record and 5-2 record overall.
 
Kick-off between the two teams is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., with Bemidji State honoring its seniors before the game in part of Senior Day.
 
Watch the game at, NSICNetwork.com or listen live on 92.1FM or online at beaverradionetwork.com.
 
Bemidji State Notes
• In the second-longest rivalry for the Beavers, Minnesota Duluth has dominated the all-time series and is 48-11-1 against BSU including an 18-game winning streak from 2000-2019.
 
• However, the Beavers won the last meeting with the Bulldogs in 2021 after a thrilling 42-35 victory at Duluth.
 
• The win in Duluth snapped an 80-year road drought against the Bulldogs after the Beavers scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to take down the then No. 16 Bulldogs and the Beavers first win over UMD since 1999.
 
• Then sophomore quarterback Brandon Alt finished the day with six touchdown passes, tying the BSU single-game record, including three to senior wide receiver Malik Williams and two to senior wide receiver Brendan Beaulieu.
 
• When playing in Bemidji, the Beavers are 8-23-1 against the Bulldogs with their last home win coming back in 1999 (35-26).
 
• Head coach Brent Bolte is 1-4 in his head coaching career against the Bulldogs while UMD head coach Curt Wiese is 7-1 against BSU in his 10 seasons with UMD.
 
• Bemidji State is the lone team in Division II to average 350+ yards passing and 120+ yards rushing.
 
• The Beavers lead the nation by averaging 356.3 yards through the air and are fourth by averaging 505.6 yards on total offense, all leading the NSIC.
 
• The Beavers are also the top scoring offense in the NSIC and rank seventh in DII by averaging 42.0 points per game.
 
• The Beavers' offense leads the NSIC in total offense (505.6), passing offense (356.3), third-down conversion (.548), first downs (183), scoring (42.0), least sacks allowed (0.57/gm) and is second in red zone conversion (.889).
 
• The Beavers' average of 356.3 passing yards per game is the highest in program history by 25.3 yards (331.6/2021).
 
• The Bemidji State defense is just as formidable and leads the conference in third-down defense (.236) and is third in total defense (270.7), third in sacks (24), tied for third in red zone defense (.647) and fifth in scoring (19.1).
 
• Senior Brendan Beaulieu can become the program's all-time career receiving touchdown leader this weekend and needs one touchdown reception to surpass Malik Williams (27).
 
• Junior quarterback Brandon Alt leads the NSIC in passing touchdowns (20/2nd in DII), passing yards (2,217/4th), second in passing efficiency (153.3/19th) and second in passing yards per completion (14.8/15th).
 
• Alt is second on BSU's career passing yards list (7,002), passing touchdowns (76) and efficiency (148.0).
 
• Alt's primary target this season is senior Brendan Beaulieu. Beaulieu leads the NSIC with 847 receiving yards which is fourth in DII and also leads the NSIC, seventh in DII, with eight receiving touchdowns.
 
• He is the program's all-time career receiving yards leader (3,068) and is second in receptions (179) and tied for first in touchdowns (27).
 
• His teammate on the other side, Dhel Duncan-Busby is fourth in the NSIC with 528 receiving yards and second with 5 receiving touchdowns.
 
• Jalen Frye leads the Beavers' rushing attack and has totaled 526 yards on 131` attempts (4.0/a). His six touchdowns this season is tied for fourth and reached the endzone three times last week.
 
• Bemidji State is led on defense by linebacker Spencer Wehr who has totaled 37 tackles including 24 solo tackles. He is followed by Max Buduris with 34 tackles (21s) while Stephen Hoffman (28) and Caleb Young (25) follow.
 
• Zollie Kaplan paces the "Gang-Green" defense with eight sacks after recording three last week and is tied for third in the NSIC. His 11.0 tackles for loss is also tied for third.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State football program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeaversFB), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and follow them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversFB).
 
Nestled in Northern Minnesota's wooden region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, BSU sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association 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).
 
--bsu—