BEMIDJI, Minn. – The No. 25/20 Bemidji State University Football team travels to Mankato, Minn., Saturday, Sept. 7 to take on the No. 13/8 Minnesota State University Mankato Mavericks. The game will be the first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matchup of the season for both teams and begins at 6 p.m., from Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato.
 
Bemidji State Notes 

• No. 25/20 Bemidji State heads to Mankato, Minn. to take on the No. 13/8 Minnesota State University Mankato Mavericks on Saturday for the first NSIC matchup of the season. 
• The Beavers started their season with a thrilling 19-13 overtime victory on Aug. 29 against the Michigan Technological University Huskies. 
• Beaver kicker Joey Prondzinski was named the NSIC's Special Teams Player of the Week after scoring seven of the Beavers' 19 points against the Huskies, making two field goals and one extra-point kick. 
• After week zero, the Beavers have found themselves atop of NCAA Division II in multiple statistical categories. The Beavers lead Division II in red zone offense and sacks allowed and are second in punt returns and rushing defense. 
• In the NSIC, the Beavers rank first in punt returns and sacks allowed, as well as ranking second for rushing defense. 
• Bemidji State's offense struggled to find its footing during the first three quarters of play last week, but scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to take a lead over the Huskies. 
• Bubba Peters and Sam McGath led the Beaver offense, tabbing a pair of passing/receiving touchdowns, including the overtime, game-winning score. 
• On the ground, Jayden Washington and Jarrett Gronski have proved to be a force to be reckoned with for defensive lines as they combined for 110 rushing yards and averaged of 4.4 yards per carry. 
• Linebacker Jacob Drietz leads the Gang Green defense this season with seven total tackles, three solo and four assisted. 
• Behind Drietz, Stephen Hoffman has become a nightmare for quarterbacks, earning 1.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks plus three quarterback hurries. 
• After this weekend's matchup, the Beavers return home to celebrate Senior Day and the annual Shrine Game against Southwest Minnesota State University on Sep. 14 at Chet Anderson Stadium. 

Minnesota State Notes 

• The Mavericks enter this weekend after defeating then ranked No. 22 Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats, 36-22, on Aug. 29. 
• MSU shutout NMSU in the first half of play, entering the second half up 22-0. 
• Maverick quarterback Hayden Ekern found his name next to the Beavers' Prondzinski on the NSIC's Player of the Week honors with Ekern earning the offensive nod.
• Ekern completed 18-of-25 passes for 205 yards, one touchdown and allowed just one interception. Additionally, he grabbed 56 more yards on the ground and tabbed four rushing touchdowns. 
• Just in front of Ekern on the rushing leaderboard, Sam Backer earned 104 yards off 16 rushing attempts with a long rush of 42 yards. 
• Defensively, the Mavericks held the Bearcats' offense to three touchdowns through the air. On the ground, the Maverick defensive line blocked rushers from making it anywhere, ending the game with -17 rushing yards on 20 attempts. 
• Matching BSU's Drietz, Cody Brown also tabbed seven total tackles last week, six solo and one assisted. He also earned three tackles for a loss and two sacks. 
• The Mavericks defense tallied three forced fumbles and four pass breakups against the Bearcats. 
• Following this weekend's matchup, the Mavericks head to Wayne, Neb. to take on the (RV) Wayne State College Wildcats on Sep. 14. 

Tickets for this weekend's matchup are available online through the MSU Website. Additionally, the game will be available on NSICNetwork.com and begins around 15 minutes prior to kickoff.
 
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).