BEMIDJI, Minn. – After hosting their first-ever opening round NCAA Playoff game last year, the No. 21/15 Bemidji State University Football team will now prepare to host their first-ever second round NCAA Playoff game this Saturday against Central Washington with kickoff set for 1 p.m. at Chet Anderson Stadium.

Bemidji State (9-2, 8-2 NSIC) shut down the high-powered Falcons of Texas-Permian Basin last week in the 10-3 victory. UTPB came in averaging 46 points and 495 yards of offense per game. BSU held UTPB to just three points and 264 total yards. It was the lowest point total of the season and fewest since being shutout by now Division I Texas A&M-Commerce during the 2021 season.

The Beavers are set to play their sixth NCAA Playoff game in a three-year span this Saturday and it will be just the second home game during that time. Last year, Bemidji State made program history hosting and winning their first NCAA playoff game in the 96-year history of the program. Now in year 97, the Beavers are set for more history hosting their first-even second round of the NCAA Playoffs.

It will be the second straight week facing a team for the first time in program history. Central Washington last faced a team from the NSIC during the 2010 season hosting Minnesota Duluth and falling short, 10-35.

Bemidji State tallied 220 yards at UTPB, throwing for 151. The game featured 10 punts and the Beavers also collected a pair of sacks and interceptions. Jamel Stone's INT in the end zone in the first quarter was a big momentum swing and later Caleb Young and an interception off a tipped pass by Princeten Harris.

Marucs Hansen led the defense with eight tackles. Max Buduris and Spencer Wehr added seven tackles apiece. Hansen leads the NSIC in both tackles for loss (18) and sacks (10). He ranks ninnth nationally in sacks and 14^th nationally in tackles for loss. Hansen was recently named the NSIC Defensive Player of the Year.

BSU leads the NSIC in third down conversion percentage on defense (.308), blocked punts (5), and team passing efficiency on defense (100.35). The Beavers rank in the top 30 nationally in third down conversion percentage on defense (23^rd), blocked punts (3^rd), 17^th in fewest penalties (50), 16^th in kickoff return yards allowed (16.06), 11^th in passes intercepted on defense (17), 13^th in passing offense per game (264.8), 17^th in red zone defense (.667), 15^th in sacks allowed per game (1.00), 19^th in scoring defense (16.9), 23^rd in tackles for loss allowed per game (4.73), team passing efficiency on defense (13^th), 14^th in team sacks per game (3.09), 20^th in team tackles for loss per game (7.7), 24^th in turnovers gained (23) and 18^th in winning percentage (0.818).

Individually, Alt ranks in the top 30 nationally in multiple categories including 14^th in passing yards per game (250.9), 16^th in passing yards (2,760), 17^th in completions per game (19.36), 17^th in passing touchdowns (25), and 28^th in total offense per game (252.9). Jacob Drietz is tied for 15^th nationally in blocked punts (2). Hansen is tied for the NSIC lead and 23^rd nationally in forced fumbles per game (0.27). Duncan-Busby is 15^th nationally in receiving touchdowns (10).  

Alt eclipsed 11,000 career passing yards at Augustana. He enters the game this week with 11,409 career passing yards. Over the past 37 games, Alt has thrown for 109 touchdowns and has 119 for his career.

The defense has 34 sacks and 17 interceptions on the season. The defense recorded three sacks against CSP to snap a streak of two games without one. On the season, the Beavers have at least four sacks in five games. BSU is coming off an impressive six sack performance against MSU Moorhead just a few weeks ago. The defense did tally two interceptions to record multiple INT for the seventh game this year against the Falcons. After Young returned an interception for a touchdown against Wayne State, Buduris added one against Concordia-St. Paul. BSU has returned 15 interceptions for 302 yards this season.

Alt has completed 213-353 for 2,760 yards and 25 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. Sam McGath has completed 12-21 for 153 yards and three touchdowns.  

On the ground, Ali Mohamed leads the team rushing for 492 yards on 112 carries and seven touchdowns. Sage Booker has 89 carries for 481 yards and five touchdowns. Jayden Washington, Jarrett Gronski and McGath all have two rushing touchdowns this season.

Duncan-Busby had a big game at Augustana and following the trip to Texas has 47 receptions for 755 yards and 10 touchdowns. Jake Hill has 38 receptions for 455 yards and two touchdowns. Brice Peters has 28 catches for 379 yards and six touchdowns. Joey Baron has three touchdowns on 34 catches for 266 yards. Mike Wandmaker had the only touchdown during the game in Texas and has three on the season. Booker also has a pair of receiving touchdowns.

On defense, Buduris leads the team with 59 tackles, 43 solo, along with seven tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, an interception and 10 passes defended. Jarrett Klein has 51 tackles, 30 solo, along with 1.5 tackles for loss, an interception, and two forced fumbles. Spencer Wehr has 50 tackles, 25 solo, seven tackles for loss and two interceptions. Stephen Hoffman is right behind with 46 tackles, 19 solo, 12.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and five passes defended. Hansen has 18 tackles for loss and 10 sacks, along with 45 tackles, 28 solo, three forced fumbles and a blocked punt.   

This will be the first meeting between the teams. Central Washington last played a team from the NSIC in 2010 falling at home to Minnesota Duluth, 35-10. Last week's win at Western Colorado was the first postseason victory for the Wildcats since 2009.

Central Washington (8-3, 7-2 LSC) has been used to the road this season. Since playing at home on Oct. 21 against West Texas A&M, the Wildcats have traveled to Texas twice, Colorado and then this week to Minnesota. After a slow start to the season, Central Washington won seven straight games before falling to Texas-Permian Basin in the Lone Star Conference title game to end the regular season. The seven-game winning streak started with a win over then No. 9 Angelo State (27-24). Last week in Colorado, the Wildcats hit a game-tying 28-yard field goal with two seconds remaining to send the game into overtime. In the extra session, Western Colorado scored first with a 41-yard field goal. Then on third-and-15 for Central Washington, Kennedy McGill found Darius Morrison for the 30-yard touchdown to send CWU to the 16-13 victory.

Central Washington is averaging 24.27 points per game and 348.4 yards of total offense per contest. The team turned to McGill at quarterback and the redshirt-freshman has completed 65-117 for 807 yards and six touchdowns. He has also rushed for 513 yards and three touchdowns. Tyler Flanagan adds 1,017 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Darius Morrison has caught 32 passes for 478 yards and five touchdowns.

On defense, Tanner Volk is one of the top safeties in the nation with 108 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 12 interceptions. Brett McCalla adds 84 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Josiah Cochran leads the team with three sacks. As a team, Central Washington has 12 sacks and 16 interceptions.

The game will be broadcasted on the NSIC Network and on Beaver Radio Network. The live stream will be a pay to view with it being the NCAA Playoffs. Bemidji State moved to cashless tickets at the start of the fall season. Tickets can be purchased through HomeTown Tickets and can be found here.

Game Notes        NSIC Network        Live Stats         Beaver Radio Network

Bemidji State Notes

-        Brent Bolte stands alone in second in program history for wins by a head coach with 60. His .741 winning percentage is the best all-time and he is second in program history for conference wins at 57

-        Bemidji State had just their second home loss over the past two seasons, both against Minnesota State. Bolte is 30-9 during his time as head coach at home

-        Bemidji State enters this week ranked No. 21 in the AFCA Poll and No. 15 in the D2Football.com Poll. The Beavers opened the season ranked eighth in the Lindy's College Football Preseason Poll

-        BSU leads or is tied for the NSIC lead in 5 categories following the regular season

-        In 82 games under Bolte, BSU has scored less than 20 points just nine times, which occurred once last year and twice this season

-        Forty-seven of Bolte's wins have come when scoring at least 30 points, which has happened in seven games this season. The 27-14 win over MSU Moorhead was the first victory when scoring under 30 points this season and first time since Nov. 5 last year against Northern State (24-14). BSU made it two games this year winning while scoring under 30 with their 10-3 playoff road win last week at Texas-Permian Basin

-        Bemidji State is 15-4 on the road over the past two-plus seasons and Bolte is 31-12 away from Bemidji

-              BSU has allowed 14 or less points in seven of 11 games this season and has won by at least 20 points in five of the nine victories. Three times the Beavers have won by over 30 points

-       This will be the first meeting between the teams. Central Washington last played a team from the NSIC in 2010 falling at home to Minnesota Duluth, 35-10. Last week's win at Western Colorado was the first postseason victory for the Wildcats since 2009.

-              BSU leads the NSIC in third down conversion percentage on defense (.308), blocked punts (5), and team passing efficiency on defense (100.35). The Beavers rank in the top 30 nationally in third down conversion percentage on defense (23^rd), blocked punts (3^rd), 17^th in fewest penalties (50), 16^th in kickoff return yards allowed (16.06), 11^th in passes intercepted on defense (17), 13^th in passing offense per game (264.8), 17^th in red zone defense (.667), 15^th in sacks allowed per game (1.00), 19^th in scoring defense (16.9), 23^rd in tackles for loss allowed per game (4.73), team passing efficiency on defense (13^th), 14^th in team sacks per game (3.09), 20^th in team tackles for loss per game (7.7), 24^th in turnovers gained (23) and 18^th in winning percentage (0.818).

-              Individually, Alt ranks in the top 30 nationally in multiple categories including 14^th in passing yards per game (250.9), 16^th in passing yards (2,760), 17^th in completions per game (19.36), 17^th in passing touchdowns (25), and 28^th in total offense per game (252.9). Jacob Drietz is tied for 15^th nationally in blocked punts (2). Hansen is tied for the NSIC lead and 23^rd nationally in forced fumbles per game (0.27). Duncan-Busby is 15^th nationally in receiving touchdowns (10).  

-        Bolte is 1-1 against the Lone Star Conference after recording his first win against the LSC at Texas-Permian Basin last week. In 2022, the Beavers lost 33-7 at Angelo State in the second round of the NCAA Playoffs

-        Bemidji State picked up their 400^th program victory at Wayne State and are now at 404

-        Including his time as an assistant, Bolte is 169-89 with the Beavers

-        The defense didn't allow any team to rush for over 200 yards last year and seven times held teams under 100 rushing yards. So far in 2023, the Beavers have limited five teams to under 100 rushing yards and only two teams to rush for over 200 yards. The game against CSP, the Beavers held the Golden Bears to just 64 passing yards. The last home game against MSU Moorhead, BSU limited the Dragons to just one net rushing yard. It's the lowest total of the season just behind the four net rushing yards by UMary

-        When BSU leads at the half, they hold a 25-0 record in the last two-plus seasons. The only loss this season against Minnesota State was the only time trailing at the break. BSU was tied at half against MSU Moorhead (7-7) for the first time this season and trailed at Augustana to end the regular season

-        BSU has continued to dominate in the red zone during 2023 season. The Beavers have scored on 41 of 52 chances so far this season for 246 points. The drives have ended with 33 touchdowns and eight field goals

-        On the flip side of that, the defense has allowed just 33 trips inside the 20 and 22 scores for 118 total points. UMD was just the second team to go perfect on red zone trips this season converting on 4-4 times inside the 20 for 24 points. There have been two other times a team went perfect in the red zone was Winona State going 1-1 for just three points in the third game of the season. To end the regular season, Augustana went 2-2 for 14 points. BSU has forced seven turnover on downs and both two interceptions and fumble inside the red zone

-        The defense forced four interceptions in week one, which is the most in a game since tallying four against Minnesota Crookston during the 2019 season. BSU added two more in week three, five and seven, before a three interception game in week eight. It was another multi-interception game against MSU Moorhead and UTPB with two interceptions for 17 on the season to rank second in the NSIC and 11^th nationally in INT

-        Six times last year Bemidji State tallied at least four sacks in a game. The high was nine against MSU Moorhead on Oct. 15, 2022. This season the defense continues to post high sack numbers. Eight times this season the Beavers have at least a sack and have 34 on the season to rank second in the NSIC and 14^th nationally. It was another high sack number against MSU Moorhead this year with the Beavers posting six sacks

-        For the first time in the last 33 games, Bemidji State had more rushing than passing yards against CSP, the Beavers rushed for 223 and passed for 127. Five times during the 2019 season the Beavers had more rushing than passing yards. It was a balanced attack against the Bulldogs passing for 271 yards and rushing for 212 yards. BSU threw for 372 yards and rushed for 57 against the Vikings

-        Bemidji State ranked in the top-25 nationally last year in passing offense (4th), red zone defense (13th), rushing defense (22nd), sacks allowed (5th), scoring defense (25th), scoring offense (11th), team passing efficiency (10th), team passing efficiency defense (22nd), team sacks (9th) and total offense (10th)

Central Washington Notes

-              The Wildcats are led by Chris Fisk who is 29-15 in his fifth season at Central Washington. This will be CWU's first game against an NSIC school since facing Minnesota Duluth back in 2010 (L,10-35).

-              CWU was picked to finish second in the Lone Star Conference and finished the season second with a 7-1 conference record.

-              Kennedy McGill has taken over as the starting QB. He has thrown for 807 yards and six touchdowns. He has rushed for 513 yards and three touchdowns. Tyler Flanahan has 1,017 rushing yards and 12 TD. Darius Morrison leads the receivers with 478 yards and five TD. Tanner Volk leads the defense with 108 tackles and 12 INT.

-              Last time out, CWU won in OT to upset Western Colorado (16-13). The Wildcats tied the game late with a field goal and scored the game-winning touchdown on third-and-15.

-              The Wildcats are averaging 24.2 points and allowing 22.5. The team averages 348.4 yards per game and allows 334.0.

-              CWU is 5-2 on the road this season and will be traveling for the fourth straight week, Texas (twice), Colorado and now Minnesota.

-              Some big wins during the season defeating then No. 9 Angelo State (27-24) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (21-17) before the win at Western Colorado.