Battle Axe Rivalry heads to Moorhead Saturday

Beavers and Dragons kickoff Saturday for the annual Battle Axe Rivalry game

Bemidji State University Football travels to Moorhead, Minn. Saturday to take on the Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons at 12 p.m. The Beavers are currently 6-3 with a 5-3 record in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play while the Dragons are at 5-4 overall with a 5-3 record in conference competition.

The Beavers and Dragons have met 89 times, a series that began almost 100 years ago on Sep. 28, 1929, in Moorhead. MSUM holds the lead in the series, 47-39-3, but BSU has claimed the last four games, taking last season’s win 27-14 at home. Bemidji State has struggled to get in the win column when on the road against MSU-Moorhead, marking a 16-26-1 record.

About the Battle Axe Trophy

The annual Battle Axe Rivalry game began in 1948, and the Beavers are 33-38-3. The Battle Axe traveling trophy, an ancient weapon from New Guinea, is the second longest traveling trophy in Division II football history. The trophy originated in the native village of Mount Hagon, New Guinea. Originally used to add more interest to the 1948 homecoming game, the axe is handmade and was polished underwater by its maker. Two types of axes are produced by natives in the Mount Hagon area, one with a blade of black stone for work and one of gray stone for ceremonies. Smith procured the gray trophy axe through a series of shrewd trades with the natives.

BSU is 6-3 this season and 5-3 in the NSIC after a big 37-20 win over Wayne State College last weekend.

Kicking specialist Connor Mantelli is the second Beaver this season to earn a NSIC Player of the Week nod. Against the Wildcats, Mantelli was the Beavers’ highest scoring player, grabbing 13 points off three field goals and four extra-point kicks. Beaver specialists have now collected both Player of the Week nods, the first coming in week zero for Joey Prondzinski.

BSU moved up in national statistical rankings after last weekend when they held WSC to just 225 total yards of offense with 42 on the ground and 183 in the air.

The Beaver offense is ranked in the Top 50 for rushing offense (25th), sacks allowed (34th), time of possession (6th) and total offense (37th).

Defensively, the Beavers are ranked in the Top 50 in passing yards allowed (18th), rushing defense (20th), scoring defense (25th), team passing efficiency defense (40th) and total defense (9th).

Quarterback Sam McGath is ranked in the Top 50 for completions per game (36th), passing touchdowns (29th), passing yards (43rd), passing yards per game (50th), points responsible for (27th) and points responsible for per game (35th).

On the receiving end, Brice Peters is ranked 11th nationally for receiving touchdowns, 16th in receiving yards and 17th in receiving yards per game. Peters leads the NSIC in yardage and yards per game. Additionally, Drayton Lehman is 24th out of 193 for receptions per game.

Marcus Hansen sits 12th in the nation, first in the NSIC, for sacks and 28th in tackles for loss.