BEMIDJI, Minn. – RV/23 Bemidji State University is set to host Southwest Minnesota State University Sep. 14 at Chet Anderson Stadium. The Beavers will celebrate the class of 2024 with a pregame celebration prior to the 2 p.m. kickoff.
 
Bemidji State Notes 

• The RV/23 Bemidji State University Beavers host the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs on Saturday afternoon for Senior Day and the annual Shrine Bowl Game. 
• The Beaver senior class and their loved ones will be recognized around 22 minutes prior to kickoff on the field. 
• Bemidji State fell out of the AFCA Coaches' Poll Top 25 and now sits at No. 31 after last Saturday's loss to No. 11/7 Minnesota State University Mankato. The program also moved down three spots in the D2Football.com poll and is now 23rd. 
• BSU comes off a tough 31-29 loss to Minnesota State. The Beavers led in the final seconds of the game until MSU's special teams unit added a field goal to their total, stealing the win. 
• The duo of Sam McGath and Bubba Peters led the offensive charge for the Green and White. The pair combined for three touchdowns through the air, while McGath added one on his own on the ground. 
• McGath led the ground game for the Beavers with 128 
• net yards rushing and a long rush of 59 yards. McGath averaged 8.5 yards per carry. 
• Defensively, Colton Hinrichs had a career best game, tallying 12 total tackles, three solo and nine assisted, with one sack for nine yards. 
• Behind Hinrichs, redshirt sophomore Caden Bolte marked seven tackles with three solo and four assisted. 
• Graduate captain Stephen Hoffman continued to be a menace in the backfield, marking five tackles with one tackle for a loss of three yards and a pass breakup. 
• On special teams, Connor Mantelli took four punts and four kickoffs for the Beavers, marking 173 yards punting 
• and 191 on kickoffs. 
• BSU leads the NSIC and holds 16th in the NCAA for punt returns as Jamel Stone has caught five for 81 yards, an average of 16.20 yards per return. 

 
Southwest Minnesota State Notes 

• SMSU comes into week two after starting their season with a 42-9 loss to Minot State University last Saturday. 
• The Mustangs held the MSU Beavers to 32 yards through the air and 202 on the ground but allowed two rushing touchdowns. 
• A large factor is SMSU's downfall came from MSU's defensive unit grabbing four interceptions for 203 yards and three touchdowns. 
• Minot State also added one more touchdown on one of their two fumble recoveries for 43 total yards returned. 
• SMSU out rushed MSU with 241 yards, an average of 6.3 yards per rush. 
• Defensively, the Beavers will plan to pay close attention to Gideon Ervasti and Thomas Mergen who both tallied 10 tackles against Minot State. 
• On the offensive side of the ball, Jacob Honstetter leads the Mustangs with 94 yards, 7.2 yards per carry, on 13 attempts. 
• In the air, Colin Maher found one target for 55 yards and one touchdown against the Minot State Beavers. The remaining nine receptions were spread amongst seven of Maher's teammates with Jake Anderson and Erik Vedoy each grabbing two. 

 
Class of 2024 seniors by position

• Quarterback
  • #17 Sam McGath – Brookfield, Wis. – Business Administration / Master's of Business Administration
• Wide Receiver
  • #12 Joey Baron – St. Peter, Minn. - Criminal Justice
  • #23 Brice Peters – White Bear Lake, Minn. - Exercise Science
• Running Back
  • #6 Jarrett Gronski – Superior, Wis. - Sport Management
• Tight End / Fullback
  • #48 Sam Kanne – Winona, Minn. - Project Management
• Offensive Line
  • #58 Nick Gerlach – E. Bethel, Minn. - Business Administration / Master's of Business Administration
  • #62 Jake Gannon – Franklin, Wis. - Master's of Business Administration
  • #68 Will LeMire – White Bear Lake, Minn. - Project Management
  • #69 Conor Kovas – Joliet, Ill. - Project Management
  • #73 Bill Ketola – New Brighton, Minn. - Biochemistry
• Defensive Line
  • #36 Marcus Hansen – Waseca, Minn. - Exercise Science
  • #91 Darnell McCrea – Minneapolis, Minn. - Project Management
  • #92 Luke Hessenauer – Milton, Wis. - Sport Management
  • #95 Elijah Brown – Minneapolis, Minn. - Engineering Technology
  • #97 Cade Barrett – Lake Shore, Minn. - Exercise Science
  • #99 Marco Cavallaro – Newport, Minn. - Project Management / Master's of Business Administration
• Linebacker
  • #7 Jacob Drietz – Baxter, Minn. - Communication Studies / Marketing Communication
  • #25 Colton Hinrichs – Bemidji, Minn. - Project Management
  • #55 Theodus Ringgold – Oconomowoc, Wis. - Exercise Science and Psychology
• Defensive Back
  • #1 Jamel Stone – Sun Prairie, Wis. - Sport Management
  • #5 Maalik Knox – Phoenix, Ariz. - Engineering Technology
  • #21 Savon Cameron – Calumet City, Ill. - Project Management
  • #29 Jacob Vasquez – San Antonio, Tex. – Bachelor's of Science 

After this weekend's matchup, both programs will continue NSIC competition with Bemidji State heading to the University of Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State hosting Concordia University, St. Paul, both on Saturday, Sep. 21 at 1 p.m. The Beavers return home on Sep. 28 with hopes of jumping into Lake Bemidji on Homecoming. Tickets for the Beavers' homecoming matchup against the University of Mary Marauders are available on Hometown Ticketing.
 
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).