SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Down 30-16 with 4:16 left to play, the (RV) Bemidji State University football team scored two touchdowns to pull within one of No. 19 Augustana University but failed to convert the go-ahead two-point conversion to fall 30-29 in Sioux Falls, S.D., Saturday afternoon.
 
With the loss, the Beavers fall to 0-2 on the season and 0-2 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.
 
Held to just three points in the first half and 16 points through 56:44 of the game, the high-powered Beaver offense exploded to score 13 points in final 4:16 to pull within one of the Vikings. The Beavers began the comeback with a three-play, 39 second drive from their own 16-yard line capped off by 22-yard passing touchdown from Brandon Alt to Brendan Beaulieu.
 
Bemidji State then forced a fumble on the Vikings' first play of the ensuing drive that was recovered by Stephen Hoffman at the Augie's own 21-yard line. After gaining to the two-yard line off of a defensive pass interference, quarterback Sam McGath rushed in on third and two to pull the Beavers within one with 1:20 left to play. BSU then elected to go for two but Alt's pass fell incomplete and BSU failed to recover the onside kick bringing its attempt at a comeback to a halt.
 
The Beavers totaled 437 yards on offense including 397 through the air while the Vikings totaled 393 total yards with 161 on the ground and 232 through the air. Bemidji State forced the one turnover but turned the ball over three times in the game including an interception for a touchdown.
 
Alt finished the game complete 28-of-54 passes for 384 yards for fifth-most in program history and threw two touchdowns and two interceptions. Beaulieu paced the Beavers' receiving core with 12 receptions, a career-high, for 167 yards and one touchdown while Dhel Duncan-Busby added five receptions for 100 yards. Sage Booker paced the Beavers' rushers with 26 yards off 11 attempts while McGath totaled two rushing touchdowns off four attempts.
 
On defense, Hoffman paced BSU with seven tackles (4 solo) and one fumble recovery while Cole Sorby and Princeten Harris recorded six tackles and Max Buduris added five with two tackles for loss and one sack.
 
Bemidji State returns home to host Winona State University Saturday, Sept. 17 in an attempt to return to its winning ways. The Beavers host the Warriors at 1 p.m., from Chet Anderson Stadium and will play for the Beavers' annual homecoming tradition of jumping in Lake Bemidji which was thwarted for the first time in 10 years by Augustana last year.
 
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).
 
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