Football carries interdivisional momentum to Southwest Minnesota State

Coming off one of the most memorable Homecoming games in program history, the Bemidji State University football program will take its momentum into the second game of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division schedule Saturday, Oct. 12 at Southwest Minnesota State University. The Beavers and Mustangs kickoff from Mattke Field at 3 p.m. in Marshall, Minn.

Bemidji State leads the all-time series against Southwest Minnesota State, 23-21-1. BSU has won 14 of the last 15 games against SMSU, including a 40-22 victory in 2017. The Beavers have averaged 36.4 points per game and 18.2 points allowed over the last 15 meetings.

The series first began Oct. 17, 1970 in Marshall. a 30-20 win by Southwest Minnesota State.

The Beavers drove 95 yards in 1:12 while facing a 20-13 deficit to secure their 10th straight win on Homecoming. After a 12-yard touchdown pass brought BSU within one point of tying AU, a halfback pass from the two-point conversion secured the win with 4.6 seconds remaining.

The “Gang Green” defense did not allow an offensive score through the first half and went into the fourth quarter with a 13-5 lead.

BSU has yet to give up an offensive score in the first quarter and has allowed only 19 points in the first half of games in 2019. Junior quarterback Emmett Enright stepped under center for his first career start and led BSU on its game-winning drive, going 6-for-8 passing for 59 yards and 11 rushing yards on the final drive. Junior wide receiver Malik Williams caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Enright to set up a two-point conversion pass from true freshman running back Makaio Harn to senior fullback Matt Gross.

Sophomore wide receiver Brendan Beaulieu took a large portion of snaps behind center and finished with a stat line of 13 carries for 63 yards, three catches for 30 yards and one pass for a 75-yard touchdown.

BSU has outscored its opponents 140-86 this season and 88-19 in the first half. Heading into Week 5, BSU ranked among the top programs in the nation in red-zone defense (1st), interceptions (t-6th), sacks allowed (t-13th), sacks (t-15th), scoring defense (t-26th), passing efficiency defense (28th), total defense (31st), rushing defense (33rd) and rushing offense (36th).

Southwest Minnesota State also took a last-minute win last week with a 21-17 victory over Minot State University on the road. The Mustangs took their second straight victory after starting 0-3 on a 34-yard touchdown pass with 25 seconds left. SMSU dominated statistically with 433 yards of offense and 22 first downs compared to 251 yards and 12 first downs for Minot State.

The Mustangs rank 11th in the NSIC with 19.8 points per game and 13th with 30.6 points allowed per game. Both the SMSU offense and defense rank at the bottom of the league in total yards.

Senior wide receiver Daniel Davis, who caught SMSU’s game-winning touchdown against MiSU, ranks fifth in the NSIC with 80.4 receiving yards per game.