BEMIDJI, Minn. – RV/24 Bemidji State University football travels to Mankato, Minn. to compete in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Playoffs against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foe RV Minnesota State University Mankato at 2 p.m. Saturday. 
 
The matchup is available on ESPN+ and will be broadcasted on the Beaver Radio Network. For fans attending the game, it is suggested to get tickets online and beat the gameday lines. There will be a section reserved for Beaver fans behind the team bench. Those looking to enjoy the pregame tailgate are invited to set up on the East side of parking lot 20 on the MSU campus. 
 
Bemidji State Notes

• The Beavers enter the weekend with a 10-3 overall record after taking down Western Colorado University and Angelo State University in the first two rounds of the 2024 NCAA Division II Championships.
• Last weekend, the Beavers and Mountaineers kept things interesting with a final score of 20-19. A forced fumble by Stephen Hoffman followed by a recovery and touchdown return from Gabe Ward sealed the game for BSU. 
• The Beavers and Mavericks met during week one to kick off NSIC play in Mankato. MSU defeated BSU by a walk-off field goal and took the 31-29 win, giving the Beavers their first loss of the season. 
• This week, BSU looks to earn its first win over MSU since Nov. 10, 2016 when the Beavers defeated the Mavericks 45-17 in Mankato. 
• Beaver sophomore running back Jayden Washington surpassed the 1,000-career rushing yards mark against Western Colorado. Washington now sits at 757 rushing yards this season with four rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns. 
• The Gang Green defense has cemented itself as one of the best in Division II football by claiming 7th place in the NCAA for total defense, 15th in passing yards allowed, 28th in red zone defense, 19th in rushing defense, 15th in scoring, 17th in team passing efficiency defense and 11th in sacks. 
• Three Beavers grabbed All-Super Region Four honors with center Jake Gannon and defensive lineman Marcus Hansen taking first team honors while Brice Peters found himself on the second team's offense. 
• Gannon was also named as a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award. As one of eight finalists, Gannon is in the running to be named the top lineman on either side of the ball in Division II football. 
• Following this weekend, the four winning teams from quarterfinals will be reseeded and compete in the NCAA Division II Football semifinals. 

 
 
Minnesota State Notes 

• After wins against Augustana University and Colorado State University Pueblo to kick off the playoffs, Minnesota State is 10-3 overall. 
• They finished third in the NSIC at the end of the regular season, then began playoffs against conference opponent Augustana, defeating the Vikings 20-19 with a walk-off field goal to move into the second round.
• Last weekend's matchup ended similarly, with the Mavericks down by three points and hitting two field goals in the final minute to take the lead over the Thunder Wolves. 
• The Mavericks have totaled 5087 total yards of offense and have allowed 4552 yards on defense. Of that 5087, 2178 came from the run game and 2909 through the air. 
• MSU sits in the top middle of NCAA Division II Football rankings, taking 48th in passing offense, 50th in punt return defense, 31st in red zone defense, 41st in rushing offense, 35th in sacks allowed, 51st in passing efficiency, and 34th in total offense.
• Minnesota State's offense is led by quarterback Hayden Ekern who has gone 222-367-7 through the air this season for 2860 yards and 22 passing touchdowns. On the ground, Ekern is third on the team with 421 net rushing yards and leads the team with 12 rushing touchdowns.
• TreShawn Watson is the Mavericks' leading receiver with 708 yards and eight touchdowns. Averaging 15.06 yards per catch, he grabs an average of 54.46 yards per game. 
• Sam Backer leads the run game with 855 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He averages 63.77 yards per game and 5.2 per carry. 
• Antonio Alzheimer leads the Mavericks' defensive stampede with 97 total tackles, 58 solo and 39 assisted. He has marked 5.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks with two pass breakups and one quarterback hurry. 
• MSU's strength is in its kicker, Matthew Jaeger, who has been the deciding points scorer in multiple games this season, including the early-season matchup against the Beavers and both playoff games. He is 12-18 on field goals and thrives in the 30-39-yard range where he has gone five-for-five.

 
 
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).