BEMIDJI, Minn. – The RV/21 Bemidji State University Beavers defeated the University of Mary Marauders on Saturday afternoon. In typical Homecoming win fashion, the Beavers took a dip in Lake Bemidji following the 41-7 victory.
The Beavers kicked off the game causing four straight three-and-outs against the Marauders. The scoring began midway through the first quarter with
Sam McGath sending
Drayton Lehman a seven-yard ball, ending a 11 play, 70-yard drive in the endzone. This was the Beavers' first drive of the afternoon.
BSU turned up the head in the second quarter, grabbing 14 points and not allowing UMary a single trip to the endzone or an opportunity to put the ball through the uprights.
Sam McGath grabbed the first points of the quarter with a one-yard run just over a minute and a half into the quarter.
Jayden Washington did the same exactly five minutes later to add six of his own points.
Joey Prondzinski added a PAT kick to both scoring opportunities, making it 20-0 heading into halftime.
The Beavers added two touchdowns and two PAT kicks to the scoreboard in the third frame. McGath and Lehman grabbed their second scoring connection of the afternoon just under five minutes into the quarter. The Marauders were able to get onto the scoreboard with 3:41 remaining in the quarter after 11 plays and driving 81 yards down the field. With just 55 seconds left in the quarter,
Jarrett Gronski added six more points to the Beavers' side, a 13-yard rush.
Rounding out the afternoon,
Theodus Ringgold set the Beavers up in great field position after marking a pass breakup and interception and returning the ball to the UMary 19-yard line.
Antonio Brown then tallied six points with a four-yard rush, ending the five-play, 19-yard drive for the Beavers.
Jayden Washington led the Beavers' charge on the ground, grabbing 57 yards on eight attempts with one touchdown. Three Beaver quarterbacks found time in the backfield, led by
Sam McGath who went 14-23-2 with 263 yards passing, 28 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Zack Romak grabbed one rush for five yards and
Connor Carver marked his first game of his career with a 100% passing efficiency, 38 passing yards and 17 yards on the ground.
Brice Peters marked 108 yards receiving,
Drayton Lehman marked two touchdowns with 92 yards on the receiving end of McGath's pass game.
Defensively,
Colton Hinrichs and
Marcus Hansen led the charge. Both marked four solo tackles and two assisted. Hansen also grabbed a sack for three yards and two quarterback hurries. Also proving to be a menace to backfields everywhere,
Stephen Hoffman tallied a sack for seven yards and the duo of
Luke Hessenauer and
Cade Barrett each earned a half sack. The Beavers marked five tackles for a loss, three sacks, one interception, two pass breakups and two punt blocks.
The Beavers now head to Aberdeen, S.D. to take on the Northern State University Wolves Oct. 5. They'll then relax with a bye week before hosting the Beavers of Minot State University for the annual Lion's Club Game Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. from Chet Anderson Stadium. Tickets are available online at
Hometown Ticketing and the game will be available on the 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).
