BISMARCK, N.D. — Bemidji State University Football (6-5, 6-4) scored 20 unanswered points in the first quarter and defeated the University of Mary (3-8, 2-8) 34-14 on Saturday. Bemidji State rushed for 306 yards and four touchdowns while holding Mary to 227 total yards.
The Beavers scored 20 unanswered points across three scoring drives from the start, giving the visitors a lead they carried through the rest of the game. The offense leaned on 306 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns, with
Connor Carver finishing with 149 yards and three scores on the ground while also throwing for 83 yards and a touchdown. Bemidji State also held Mary to 227 total yards, including 78 rushing, and recorded three sacks.
BSU turned
Caden Bolte's interception and 25-yard return into an early
Antonio Brown 2-yard touchdown, then finished all three first-quarter possessions with touchdowns on the way to a 20-0 lead. Carver added a 2-yard rushing score and later connected with
Jadon Hellerud for a 5-yard touchdown with 17 seconds left, while BSU went 6-for-6 on third down and 3-for-3 in the red zone. The defense added a fourth-down stop by
Tavon Rice and held Mary scoreless through the quarter.
The Marauders scored the only points of the second quarter, finishing a 16-play, 75-yard drive with a touchdown and extra point to make it 20-7. The Beavers were held without a first down on its two full possessions in the quarter and punted twice. The defense limited Mary's final drive with
Luke Owen's tackle for loss and
Mike Watkins' sack before Bemidji State ended the quarter with the ball at its own 10.
Bemidji State did its damage on the ground in the third quarter, rushing for 160 yards and getting touchdown runs of 26 and 11 yards from Carver. Mary recovered a muffed punt and converted it into a touchdown to make it 27-14, but Bemidji State answered with a 75-yard drive capped by Carver's 11-yard score.
Kyle Nadler made both PATs, and Bemidji State entered the fourth quarter ahead 34-14.
In the fourth quarter, Bemidji St. kept Mary off the scoreboard, stopping a 10-play drive on downs at the BSU 23 and later forcing another turnover on downs after
Dominick Battle III broke up a fourth-down pass. The offense reached Mary territory on two possessions but came away without points, including a turnover on downs at the Mary 14 and a lost fumble after moving to the Mary 16. Bemidji St. closed out the 34-14 win.
Carver rushed 22 times for 149 yards and three touchdowns and completed 6 of 13 passes for 83 yards and one touchdown. Brown added 92 rushing yards and one touchdown on 13 carries. Watkins recorded three tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble. Bolte led Bemidji St. with five tackles and added an interception with a 25-yard return.
Bemidji State finishes the season 6-5 overall and 6-4 in conference play with the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division title. Mary finishes 3-8 overall and 2-8 in conference play.
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).
