Beaver Fever Friday – Football – Bryce Duffy

23rd annual Shrine Game features battle between Beavers and No. 13 Bulldogs

Bemidji State University and No. 13 University of Minnesota Duluth meet for the 59th time in the series history Saturday, Sept. 28 during the 23rd annual Shrine Game. The Beavers kickoff at 4 p.m. from Chet Anderson Stadium, searching for their first win against the Bulldogs since Oct. 23, 1999 in Bemidji, Minn.

Minnesota Duluth leads the all-time series against Bemidji State, 47-10-1. BSU’s most recent win against UMD came Oct. 23, 1999, a 35-26 victory in Bemidji. Three of BSU’s last four games against UMD have come down to seven points or fewer.

Saturday’s game will be the 11th time the Beavers have faced a ranked Bulldogs team, coming in as No. 13 in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 Poll. The series first began Nov. 14, 1931 with a 14-0 BSU win in Bemidji.

BSU moved to 3-0 for the second straight season after a 27-10 win on the road against University of Minnesota Crookston.

Facing wet field conditions, the Beavers opened the game with two first quarter touchdowns but allowed the Golden Eagles to score 10 points before a 14-10 halftime lead. The “Gang Green” defense held UMC scoreless in the second half while two rushing touchdowns gave BSU its sixth straight win in the series.

Senior quarterback Jared Henning and sophomore running back Jalen Frye each ran for over 100 yards, including three combined rushing touchdowns from the duo.

In addition to 135 rushing yards, Henning added 124 passing yards and one passing touchdown. Henning ranks fourth among quarterbacks since at least 2000 at BSU in rushing yards with 660. Henning’s 135 rushing yards versus UMC was the second-most in a single game during his career.

The “Gang Green” defense recorded six sacks against the Golden Eagles, the most for the unit since August 2017. Bemidji State’s defensive unit has recorded at least three takeaways in every game this season, including four against Northern State and Minnesota Crookston.

BSU continues to lead the NSIC in turnover margin at 2.33 and interceptions at eight.

BSU ranks among the top half of nearly every offensive and defensive statistical category in the NSIC, including leading red-zone defense (17%), passing efficiency (164.8), scoring defense (8.0) and sacks (13).

BSU has outscored its opponents 112-24 this season and 68-10 in the first half. BSU has yet to give up a point in the first quarter.