BEMIDJI, Minn. – The No. 13/9 Bemidji State University Football team fought off a tough challenge from MSU Moorhead to claim the 27-14 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference win Saturday at Chet Anderson Stadium. In the process the Beavers retain the Battle Axe for the fourth straight season.
Bemidji State (8-1, 8-1 NSIC) picked up their fourth straight win and eighth overall on the season. It was a rare moment this season that the Beavers trailed. After the teams struggled to get much traction going on some early drives, MSU Moorhead (6-4, 5-4 NSIC) broke the scoreless tie with a 12-play drive that chewed up 75 yards. BSU looked to have the drive stopped on fourth-and-16, but Jack Strand found Ryan Bieberdorf for a diving touchdown pass from 27 yards out for the 7-0 lead for the Dragons midway through the first quarter.
In a game that was set to be high scoring with a couple of power offenses, the defenses were matching each other throughout the first half. It remained 7-0 well into the second quarter when the Beavers broke through. Starting at the BSU 37, the Beavers marched down the field to even the score. After Brandon Alt found Brice Peters for a 22-yard reception down to the six, Jayden Washington capped the drive with a four-yard rushing touchdown for the 7-7 tie midway through the second quarter.
The score held up into halftime. Out of the break, a couple of quick turnovers ushered in the second half. On the kickoff to start the third quarter, the Beavers fumbled the return to set up the Dragons at the BSU 32. The defense held tough and eventually got the ball back when Cade Barrett came away with the strip-sack that was recovered by Stephen Hoffman at the BSU 35.
On the ensuing drive, the Beavers went right down the field to take their first lead of the game. A big third-and-seven was picked up when Alt found Jake Hill for nine yards out near midfield. Then an Alt pass to Peters near the far sideline turned into a 42-yard touchdown when Peters avoided the first tackle and went untouched for the 14-7 lead with 10:54 to play in the third quarter.
MSU Moorhead didn't go away. On their ensuing drive, the Dragons moved 65 yards that was finished with a seven-yard TD pass to tie the game at 14.
Late in the third quarter, the Beavers went ahead for good. Starting out near midfield, Alt found Hill for 15 yards and a Washington 11-yard run had the ball in the red zone and the 14. On the next snap, Alt hit Peters over the middle for the 14-yard TD strike for the 21-14 lead with 2:37 to play in the third quarter.
A big defensive play helped swing momentum early in the fourth quarter. With the Dragons out near midfield, Theodus Ringgold tipped Strand's pass and then intercepted it. Ringgold returned it for a touchdown, but there was a penalty that moved the ball back to the BSU 40.
Bemidji State sealed the win with a clock killing drive that chewed up over six minutes off the clock and ended in the end zone. Along the way, BSU kept the drive alive converting a fourth-and-one with a two-yard rush up the middle by Jarrett Gronski. BSU continued to run it, handing the ball off nine times on the drive that eventually ended with a one-yard TD run by Gronski for the 27-14 lead with 7:05 to play.
After the teams traded possessions, another turnover ended any threat of a comeback attempt. With just under three minutes to play, Strand looked for a receiver over the middle, but found Spencer Wehr who intercepted the pass at midfield and returned it 29 yards to the 21. Victory formation followed for the Beavers to secure the 27-14 victory.
Bemidji State held the 394-311 advantage in total offense. The Beavers passed for 320 yards, while the Dragons threw for 310. BSU held MSU Moorhead to just one rushing yard following the six sacks. Barrett led the sack party with two sacks for a loss of 16 yards. Marco Cavallaro and Marcus Hansen each had 1.5 sacks, while Hoffman added a sack.
Alt completed 28-41 for 320 yards and two touchdowns. Peters caught five passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Hill had nine receptions for 75 yards. Dhel Duncan-Busby added five catches for 63 yards, while Mike Wandmaker had two receptions for 52 yards. Sage Booker rushed nine times for 47 yards, Washington added 11 carries for 41 yards. Gronski had seven carries for 19 yards and a score. Wehr had nine tackles, six solo, along with an interception and a tackle for loss. Max Buduris had eight tackles (six solo) and a pair of pass breakups.
The win sets up a big matchup next week both in the NSIC standings and for regional rankings and playoff implications. The top three teams in the conference won this week with Minnesota State holding off a late push by Winona State (49-42) and Augustana fought off Northern State (31-21) to keep it a three-way tie at the top of the NSIC standings all at 8-1. The Beavers will travel to Sioux Falls to face Augustana next Saturday with a 1 p.m. kickoff at Kirkeby-Over Stadium.
For more information on the Bemidji State Football program, follow the Beavers on X (@BSUBeaversFB). Like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and follow them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversFB).
Nestled in Northern Minnesota's wooded 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).
