BEMIDJI, Minn. — Bemidji State University Football hosts Minnesota State University on Saturday at 1 p.m. The game is set to celebrate Halloween and bring the festivities from the tailgate to the game.
 
Starting with the tailgate at 11 a.m. in Diamond Point Park, fans are encouraged to decorate their tailgate spaces for Halloween as one lucky setup will go home with a 43" smart TV from Midco. Bemidji State clubs and organizations will also be in attendance at the tailgate with games and candy for fans. During halftime of the game, six fans, three adults and three kids, will be brought on the field to see who has the best Halloween costumes. Fans are encouraged to dress up for the chance to win prizes. We ask that props such as weapons, knives, guns, etc. are left at home and costumes are kept appropriate for a family-friendly day at the Chet!
 
BSU NOTES

• BSU enters the weekend at 3-5, identical to when the Beavers and Dragons met a year ago in Moorhead when MSUM was 5-3, also matching this year's record. Bemidji State comes off a 33-0 shutout victory over the University of Jamestown last weekend where Connor Carver's arm dominated the scoring. Carver threw three touchdown passes, two to Tyree Lockett and one to Lucas Peterson, totaling 189 passing yards. 
• Against UJ, Carver added 81 net rushing yards, for a combined offensive total of 270 yards, 21 more than the Jimmies' combined offensive total. He has now tied his record from last season for scoring with 54 points.
• The Beavers' pass defense has become a strong point for the team after last week. The Gang Green Defense allows just 145.5 passing yards per game, ranking in the top 10 nationally (9th) and taking first in the conference. This effort is led by the Beaver secondary, including Dominick Battle III with five breakups, Luke Owen with four, L'Shawn Taylor and Cameron Steele who have each tallied an interception and three breakups and Caden Bolte and Kamari Debose who each have an interception and a breakup. 
• This weekend's match up has more than just a win on the line as the Beavers and Dragons compete in the 78th installment of the Battle Axe Rivalry game. Since 1948, BSU and MSUM have played for the second-oldest traveling trophy in NCAA Division II football, with MSUM holding the 39-35-3 advantage. The Beavers have been on the up since 2000, with BSU taking 20 of the past 25 meetings.
• Bemidji State has just two games remaining in the 2026 campaign after this weekend, closing out the 100th season of Beaver Football. Next week, the Beavers host the No. 20/16 University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs at 1 p.m. for the Beavers' annual "Tackle Cancer" pink out game. The following week, the season ends with a 1 p.m. match up at the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D.

 
MSUM NOTES

• Minnesota State University Moorhead enters the weekend at 5-3 overall and 4-3 in the NSIC after falling to Northern State University by one point last weekend. Prior to that match up, the Dragons had been on a three-game winning streak, which began on Sep. 26 with an overtime win over, then No. 13, Minnesota Duluth. MSUM's two other losses came at the hands of the University of Sioux Falls, 29-28, in overtime and to, then No. 20, Augustana University, 45-21. 
• After losing a crucial member of the Dragon offense from last season, now an Atlanta Falcons quarterback Jack Strand, the MSUM passing game has lost over 100 passing yards per game, on average. The Dragon offense now averages 226.13 passing yards and 174.4 on the ground, combining for 400.5 per game. 
• Quarterback Drew Huebner is a strong point in the Dragons' efforts, ranking third in the NCAA and first in the NSIC for points responsible for and points responsible for per game, marking 176 total points and 22.0 per game. On the receiving end, Kalen Lucas leads the conference and is top five in the NCAA for receptions per game, averaging 7.63 catches. 
• MSUM heads on the road next week to take on the Jamestown Jimmies at 1 p.m. They will then also close their season the following week, hosting No. 5/3 Minnesota State University, Mankato at noon on Nov. 14 at the Fargodome in Fargo, N.D.

 
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).