MOORHEAD, Minn. – Bemidji State University Football took down the Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons, 25-14, in the Battle Axe Rivalry game, claiming the traveling trophy for the fifth-straight season. The Beavers grabbed 25 unanswered points starting in the second quarter to earn the win.
 
The Beavers struggled to get on the scoreboard in the first quarter and were shutout 7-0 going into the second. Things started rocky for BSU when Sam McGath threw an interception to MSUM's Jack Bungarden who brought it to the endzone for a pick six, a copy from last week's pick six against Wayne State College. 
 
The Dragons continued with a 13-play, 78-yard drive into the second quarter, ending with another MSUM touchdown and putting the Dragons up 14-0. After a three-and-out for the Beavers, the Dragons got the ball back at their own one-yard line which proved to be problematic on their second play of the drive when the Beavers' Cade Barrett sacked Jack Strand in the endzone to get the Beavers on the scoreboard with a safety. This sparked BSU's game, allowing just 12 plays, two three-and-outs, up to the final drive of the second quarter. With 53 seconds remaining in the half, the Beavers drove deeper into MSUM territory to the MSUM 28-yard line. With just one second left on the clock, Sam McGath threw Brice Peters a Hail Mary touchdown pass to move the Beavers to eight points, followed by Connor Mantelli's point-after kick bringing the score to 14-9 at half. McGath's pass was the first Hail Mary touchdown pass thrown in over 15 years. 
 
In their first drive of the second half, the Beavers ended in the endzone with a short, two-yard rushing touchdown from McGath to take the lead 15-14. This was the only scoring of the third quarter due to a large showing from the Beaver Gang Green Defense which grabbed four sacks from Cade Barrett, Marco Cavallaro, Tyler Sapit and Stephen Hoffman. 
 
The final frame finished the game with 25 unanswered points for BSU, 10 in the fourth quarter. The quarter began with a Beaver touchdown at the 11:23 mark, a 25-yard connection between McGath and Peters for their second of the day. Around six minutes later, another drive from the Beavers put Connor Mantelli into range for a 38-yard field goal, his longest of the season and his career. In the end, it was 25-14 Beavers, and the Battle Axe remains in Bemidji for another year. 
 
Quarterback Sam McGath was the Beavers' top scorer this afternoon, grabbing three touchdowns, two passing and one rushing. McGath went 16-for-31 and marked 186 yards through the air. On the ground, he netted two yards, but that rush was just enough to earn his rushing touchdown. Bubba Peters marked nine receptions for two touchdowns and 133 receiving yards, leading the receiving core. On the ground, it was Jayden Washington with the most yardage, taking 43 yards on 9 attempts. 
 
Defensively, Caden Bolte and Colton Hinrichs each marked team-high six tackles with both grabbing three solo and three assisted. Marco Cavallaro was the Beavers' top tackle for loss earner, marking 2.5 for 12 yards and a sack for 11. Cade Barrett marked two sacks for 20 yards, one of which earned him a strip sack. Gabe Ward dominated the Dragons' wide receivers, grabbing two interceptions for 16 yards. Five Beavers marked pass breakups with Jamel Stone and Kamron Gothard each grabbing two and Ward, Bolte and Zachery Drake grabbing ones of their own. 
 
Connor Mantelli proved why he was last week's Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Special Teams Player of the Week, grabbing two points off point-after kicks, one field goal at 38 yards and eight punts for 335 yards, a long of 51 yards. 
 
The Beavers are now 7-3 this season with a 6-3 record in the NSIC. 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).