BEMIDJI, Minn. – (RV) Bemidji State University football travels to Winona, Minn. Saturday to kick off the 2025 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schedule against Winona State University.
Bemidji State Notes
- The Beavers enter the weekend after a tough, 37-17, loss to Michigan Technological University last Thursday.
- Though the loss knocked the Beavers out of the top 25 in the AFCA and D2Football.com polls, the team is still receiving votes in the AFCA poll.
- Offensively, the Beavers struggled through the air against the Huskies, marking just 98 passing yards with a completion percentage of under 50 percent. Zach Romak led the passing efforts with 57 yards on seven completions with a QB rating of 78.59.
- Just behind Romak in the air was Connor Carver, marking 38 passing yards with five completions on 11 attempts. Carver did lead the charge on the ground, gaining 105 yards and losing nine for a net total of 96 yards. His push on the ground included the Beavers' two touchdowns in the first half of the game.
- On the receiving end of the quarterback duo's passes, Imarion Kelly led with 36 receiving yards on three targets, averaging 12 yards per catch. Drayton Lehman followed close behind with 31 yards on four catches.
- Four members of the Gang Green Defense split for the top spot, with Caden Bolte, Tyler Sapit, Nah'Shawn Keith and L'Shawn Taylor each grabbing six tackles. Sapit marked four solo and two assisted while the others each had six solo. The Beavers came away with one interception from Owen Dukowitz (4 ua) and seven players grabbing tackles for a loss.
- Connor Mantelli has taken the top kicking and punting spot for the Beavers, adding five points to the Beavers' total last week with two extra-point kicks and one 14-yard field goal. He is averaging 54.8 yards on kickoffs and 35.25 punting.
Winona State Notes
- Winona State enters the weekend also at 0-1 after falling to (RV) University of Minnesota Duluth 35-7 last Thursday in a neutral site game at the Minnesota Vikings' TCO Stadium in Eagan, Minn.
- Winona State struggled to find the endzone last weekend, grabbing just one rushing touchdown from Josh Buri at the one-yard line.
- On the rushing front, Jackson Flottmeyer emerged as the top option against UMD, marking 24 net yards with 41 gained and 17 lost. Buri followed close behind with 22 net yards and his touchdown.
- Flottmeyer is the team's leading passer after week zero, marking a 96.07 rating with 12 completions on 23 attempts with one interception. He threw for 144 yards with a long of 48 against the Bulldogs.
- Leading the charge on the receiving front is Jim Curtin and Joe Sikma with 48 and 43 receiving yards, respectively. Curtin earned his top spot with just one target while Sikma made six catches for an average of 7.17 per catch.
- Blake Schraufnagel led the Warriors' defensive unit with three solo and six assisted tackles with one tackle for a loss. Close behind, Jacob Anderson marked four solo and three assisted.
- Following this weekend, the Warriors head on the road to Minnesota State University Moorhead on Sep. 13 for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
Following this weekend, the Beavers will open their home schedule on Sep. 13 with (RV) University of Sioux Falls for Senior Day and the annual Lion's Club Game. A full lineup of the exciting changes and events for the weekend will be released later this week. All NSIC games are available on the NSIC Network for streaming.
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).
