BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State University Football travels to Moorhead, Minn. Saturday to take on the Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons at 12 p.m. The Beavers are currently 6-3 with a 5-3 record in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play while the Dragons are at 5-4 overall with a 5-3 record in conference competition.
 
The Beavers and Dragons have met 89 times, a series that began almost 100 years ago on Sep. 28, 1929, in Moorhead. MSUM holds the lead in the series, 47-39-3, but BSU has claimed the last four games, taking last season's win 27-14 at home. Bemidji State has struggled to get in the win column when on the road against MSU-Moorhead, marking a 16-26-1 record. 
 
About the Battle Axe Trophy
 
The annual Battle Axe Rivalry game began in 1948, and the Beavers are 33-38-3. The Battle Axe traveling trophy, an ancient weapon from New Guinea, is the second longest traveling trophy in Division II football history. The trophy originated in the native village of Mount Hagon, New Guinea. Originally used to add more interest to the 1948 homecoming game, the axe is handmade and was polished underwater by its maker. Two types of axes are produced by natives in the Mount Hagon area, one with a blade of black stone for work and one of gray stone for ceremonies. Smith procured the gray trophy axe through a series of shrewd trades with the natives. 
 
Bemidji State Notes

• BSU is 6-3 this season and 5-3 in the NSIC after a big 37-20 win over Wayne State College last weekend. 
• Kicking specialist Connor Mantelli is the second Beaver this season to earn a NSIC Player of the Week nod. Against the Wildcats, Mantelli was the Beavers' highest scoring player, grabbing 13 points off three field goals and four extra-point kicks. Beaver specialists have now collected both Player of the Week nods, the first coming in week zero for Joey Prondzinski.
• BSU moved up in national statistical rankings after last weekend when they held WSC to just 225 total yards of offense with 42 on the ground and 183 in the air. 
• The Beaver offense is ranked in the Top 50 for rushing offense (25^th), sacks allowed (34^th), time of possession (6^th) and total offense (37^th).
• Defensively, the Beavers are ranked in the Top 50 in passing yards allowed (18^th), rushing defense (20^th), scoring defense (25^th), team passing efficiency defense (40^th) and total defense (9^th).
• Quarterback Sam McGath is ranked in the Top 50 for completions per game (36^th), passing touchdowns (29^th), passing yards (43^rd), passing yards per game (50^th), points responsible for (27^th) and points responsible for per game (35^th).
• On the receiving end, Brice Peters is ranked 11^th nationally for receiving touchdowns, 16^th in receiving yards and 17^th in receiving yards per game. Peters leads the NSIC in yardage and yards per game. Additionally, Drayton Lehman is 24^th out of 193 for receptions per game.
• Marcus Hansen sits 12^th in the nation, first in the NSIC, for sacks and 28^th in tackles for loss. 

 
MSU-Moorhead Notes

• The Dragons sit at 5-4 overall with a 5-3 record in the NSIC. MSUM is currently on a three-game win streak, taking down Concordia University, St. Paul, Southwest Minnesota State University and Minot State University over the past three weeks. 
• Holding sixth in the conference, the Dragons are two spots behind the Beavers with the same record in conference play, but the Beavers and WSC Wildcats hold the upper hand as both have an additional win overall.
• Though the Dragons struggle with their ground game, averaging just 28 rushing yards per game, they excel through the air. MSUM's passing game is ranked as the third best in the NCAA, averaging 335.3 yards per game. 
• MSUM is ranked in the Top 50 in the NCAA for blocked kicks (9^th), blocked punts (38^th), completion percentage (42^nd), defensive touchdowns (47^th out of 47), first downs offense (12^th), fumbles lost (23^rd), fumbles recovered (45^th), passing offense (3^rd), punt return defense (8^th) and red zone offense (43^rd).
• A high point in the Dragons' game is their ability to avoid penalties. MSUM has the fewest number of penalties per game and the fewest penalty yards per game in the NCAA. They come in seconds for fewest total penalties and third for fewest total penalty yards.
• Leading their passing game, Jack Strand is the top Division II quarterback for completions per game, second in passing yards and passing yards per game and third in total offense. On the receiving end Brady Perryman is fourth in the nation for receiving touchdowns and Gage Florence has the third-place spot for receptions per game. 
• Defensively, Josiah Behm and Gavin Jarchow lead the Dragons with 69 total tackles each, 33 solo and 36 assisted for Behm and 41 solo with 28 assisted for Jarchow. Many Dragons have tallied one or more tackles for a loss with Behm marking the most at nine. Denver Sheets is MSUM's sack leader with 3.5 for 22 yards and he has marked one quarterback hurry.

 
Following this weekend, the Beavers host No. 16/10 Augustana University for the final game of the regular season. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. from Chet Anderson Stadium and all NSIC games are available on NSIC Network and Beaver Radio Network. 
 
For more information on the Bemidji State Football program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on X (@BSUBeaversFB), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and like them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversFB).
 
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 Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).