The Bemidji State University football program is clicking on all cylinders heading into the second game of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division schedule Saturday, Oct. 7 against University of Mary in Bemidji, Minn. The Beavers are looking for their fourth straight win against the Marauders with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. from Chet Anderson Stadium.
Bemidji State leads the all-time series against U-Mary, 7-4, and has won three straight meetings. BSU set a single-game program record with 480 rushing yards in a 52-3 win during the last meeting Oct. 1, 2016. The series first began Oct. 7, 2006 in Bemidji, a 27-21 win for the Marauders.
The Beavers will attempt to push its first winning streak of the season to three games after taking down the Golden Eagles of University of Minnesota Crookston, 56-0, Saturday, Sept. 30 in Crookston, Minn. The shutout was the program’s first since a 49-0 win over Minot State University Nov. 10, 2012. Both the offense and defense continued to roll while totaling over 500 yards on offense and allowing just 104 yards to UMC. The offense and special teams got the ball rolling in the second quarter with 27 points to take a 33-0 lead heading into the half. Junior kicker Isaac Aanerud converted three field goals on the day from 50, 47 and 42 yards while totaling 12 points in the game. The “Gang Green” defense added the next two touchdowns on an interception return and fumble return on back-to-back possessions midway through the third quarter to extend the lead, 49-0. The defensive unit forced eight three-and-outs on 10 UMC punts throughout the game.
Senior wide receiver Blake Holder played a large part in the Beavers’ first half success with two touchdown receptions, first a 29-yard catch early in the first quarter and a 33-yard grab late in the second. Holder and junior wide receiver Christian Lunde each topped 100 yards, Holder with 120 and Lunde with 119. Senior quarterback Jordan Hein threw to Holder and Lunde, and also found senior wide receiver Brad Birchfield for a touchdown in the second quarter while finishing the day with three touchdown throws. Hein added 301 passing yards for his first 300-yard game since the season-opener.
Senior corner back EJ Olszewski led the charge against the Golden Eagles with a single-game program record three interceptions, returning one 26 yards for a touchdown midway through the third quarter. Sophomore Cole Schmitz added another return for a touchdown on the following possession as sophomore defensive end Alex Hoffman recorded a strip-sack to set up Schmitz’s 13-yard touchdown. Four Beavers recorded sacks on the day, led by junior outside linebacker Justin Van Houtan with 1.5 for a loss of 15 yards. The defensive unit also helped BSU win the time of possession for the first time this season, 32:00-28:00.