The RV/16 Bemidji State University Beavers fell to the Northern State University Wolves, 14-13, Saturday afternoon.
The Beavers move to 4-2 this season with a 3-2 record in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.
The Beavers struggled to find the spark in the first half, allowing seven points from the Wolves midway through the first quarter and were unable to answer back until late in the third. BSU marked just two drives in the first frame for a total of six minutes and 13 seconds. The team grabbed just 33 yards in the first but was able to find more yardage in the second, tallying 93 yards in the second.
Bemidji State added points to their scoreboard at the 8:57 mark in the third quarter, a 12-play, 91-yard drive. At the NSU 21, Sam McGath found Aundreus Griffin open at the NSU nine-yard line, from which Griffin ran it in to earn six points. Joey Prondzinski added a point of his own to tie it up at seven points each.
The final frame saw more action on the scoreboard, with both teams adding a touchdown. NSU broke the tie with a 13-yard rushing touchdown less than a minute into the quarter, ending a 12-plau, 85-yard drive. After an interception from NSU’s Trevor Johnson, the Wolves started a three-play drive at the 50-yard line. This drive ended the same way it began, but with Colton Hinrichs grabbing the interception for the Beavers and returning it 34 yards to the NSU 27. A series of short plays, the longest being a 13-yard passing play, the Beavers were able to grab the final touchdown of the afternoon, a quick one-yard pass through the middle from McGath to Jayden Washington. BSU looked to grab an additional two points on the PAT, but McGath was taken down in the backfield with his pass not finding a receiver. The Beavers tried to get things back with four seconds remaining, trying for an onside kick, but the Wolves were able to stop that chance and keep the ball for the final wind down of the clock.
Offensively, quarterback Sam McGath went 17-28-1 with two touchdowns and was sacked four times. Jayden Washington dominated the Beavers’ ground attack with 68 rushing yards on 14 attempts for an average of 4.9 yards per rush. On the receiving end, Brice Peters tallied 70 yards with four receptions, Drayton Lehman marked seven receptions for 59 yards and Aundreus Griffin and Jayden Washington each grabbed receiving touchdowns.
On the opposite side of the ball, Marcus Hansen marked seven total tackles for the Beavers with five solo and two assisted. The Beaver Gang Green Defense grabbed two sacks for 10 yards and seven tackles for a loss with 55 tackle-for-loss yards. Colton Hinrichs’ 34-yard interception return is the Beavers’ longest interception return of the season.
Connor Mantelli marked two kickoffs for 120 total yards, one at 57 yards and the second at 63. Additionally, Mantelli grabbed the Beavers 124 yards punting with an average of 31 yards and a long of 40. He is now 13 kickoff yards shy of hitting 1,000-yards in his Beaver career and averages 54.8 per kickoff.
The Beavers will now take their week-six bye and will be back at home Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. The annual Lion’s Club Game will be a battle of the Beavers as BSU hosts Minot State University. Tickets are available on the Beaver website with gates opening 90 minutes prior to kickoff.