ST. PAUL, Minn. — Bemidji State University Football fell to Concordia University, St. Paul 34-31 on Saturday in St. Paul, Minn.
Bemidji State sustained drives with possession and conversion success, holding the ball for 31:42 while converting 9 of 17 third downs and all four fourth downs. Concordia-St. Paul generated 518 yards at 7.8 per play, including 352 passing yards, while BSU paired 242 passing yards with 183 on the ground. The team generated 12 first down rushes, above their season average of 8.0.
The Beavers opened the first quarter with a 63-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by
Antonio Brown's 33-yard run and finished by
Connor Carver's 21-yard rushing score before
Mack Molander ran in the conversion for an 8-0 lead. The defense kept the Golden Bears off the board after a 15-play drive ended with a missed 33-yard field goal, and Bemidji State answered with another possession that reached the Concordia-St. Paul 19 as the quarter ended with BSU ahead 8-0.
In the second quarter, Carver converted fourth-and-1 with a 3-yard touchdown run, and
Kyle Nadler's extra point pushed the lead to 15-0. Concordia-St. Paul answered with a 75-yard scoring drive to make it 15-7, but
Tavon Rice's sack helped Bemidji State force a punt on the next possession.
Bart McAninch hit
Kaleb Miller for 28 yards on the final snap, moving Bemidji State to the Concordia-St. Paul 19 as the first half ended with a 15-7 lead.
A safety at 14:31 of the third quarter moved BSU ahead 17-7, but CSP answered with two touchdowns and took a 20-17 lead on BJ Davis' 91-yard run. The Bemidji State offense did not score in the quarter, though
Bart McAninch connected with Miller for a 24-yard third-down conversion and
Rodrigo Castaneda later placed a 37-yard punt at the Concordia-St. Paul 14. BSU closed the quarter with a drive into CSP territory, converting fourth-and-2 on Carver's 3-yard run before ending the quarter at the 33 trailing 20-17.
In the fourth quarter, the Beavers answered the Golden Bears' touchdown with a 75-yard drive, capped by Carver's 2-yard run and Nadler's kick that put Bemidji State ahead 31-27 with 1:52 left. Earlier in the quarter,
Bart McAninch converted fourth-and-6 with a 28-yard touchdown pass to
Tyree Lockett, and Nadler's extra point made it 24-20. Concordia-St. Paul responded with a touchdown and extra point at :15, and Bemidji State's final possession reached the BSU 46 before the last pass fell incomplete in a 34-31 final.
Bart McAninch completed 15 of 26 passes for 235 yards and one touchdown while adding 16 rushing yards. Carver rushed 10 times for 48 yards and three touchdowns, setting a career high. He also had one reception for 8 yards.
Lucas Peterson caught four passes for 85 yards, while Miller added four receptions for 73 yards.
Ray Iglesias led the defense with eight tackles.
Bemidji State is 1-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play. Concordia-St. Paul is 2-2 overall and 1-2 in conference play. Up next, Bemidji State hosts Minot State University at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, for Homecoming.
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).
