MANKATO, Minn. — Bemidji State University Football fell to Minnesota State University 30-13 on Saturday. The Beavers scored all 13 of their points in the second quarter and were held scoreless after halftime.
The Beavers matched the Mavericks nearly yard-for-yard through the air, 159 passing yards to 157, but Minnesota State produced 278 rushing yards while the Beavers finished with 61. The Mavericks also had 28 first downs to the Beavers' 15 and recorded four sacks for 29 yards. The Beavers' sustained scoring possession came on a 10-play, 74-yard touchdown drive.
The Beavers were held scoreless in the first quarter, with their three possessions producing one first down and ending in
Rodrigo Castaneda punts. The first down came on
Bart McAninch's 11-yard rush during the Beavers' final drive of the quarter. Minnesota State turned a long drive into a touchdown and later added a 46-yard field goal after starting at the BSU 35, leaving the Beavers trailing 10-0 at the end of the quarter.
The Beavers put together two touchdown drives in the second quarter, including a 10-play, 74-yard march capped by
Jayden Washington's 2-yard run that made it 17-7.
Bart McAninch later finished a nine-play, 75-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown run, and the Beavers converted all four third-down chances in the quarter. Minnesota State added a field goal as time expired, leaving the Beavers trailing 23-13 at halftime.
The Beavers' defense kept the Mavericks out of the end zone on a 16-play, 92-yard drive, with
L'Shawn Taylor breaking up a pass from the BSU 6 before a missed 23-yard field goal kept the score at 23-13. The Beavers went three-and-out on their first possession, and MSU later scored on Mitchell Thompson's 3-yard run and the extra point to make it 30-13. The Beavers closed the quarter with
Bart McAninch completions of 12 yards to
Tyree Lockett and 16 yards to
Lucas Peterson, reaching the BSU 42 as the quarter ended.
The Beavers were held scoreless in the fourth quarter, with their deepest chance reaching the Minnesota State 10 before a false start and two sacks led to
Bart McAninch's fumble at the 31. Earlier, the defense forced a punt after Minnesota State started at its own 7 and later kept the hosts off the board on a missed 53-yard field goal. Minnesota St. ran out the final 4:09 after the turnover, and the Beavers fell 30-13.
The Beavers are 1-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play. Minnesota State is 3-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play. Up next, the Beavers visit Concordia University, St. Paul on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 12 p.m. in St. Paul, Minn.
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).
