Bemidji State University Football defeated No. 10 Western Colorado University Saturday afternoon to earn the program’s first trip to the NCAA Playoffs Quarterfinal round.
The Mountaineers started the scoring with a field goal kick by Adam Tasei. The Beavers followed this up with a huge momentum shift, a passing touchdown from Sam McGath to Brice Peters to take the lead at 7-3. The Beavers held this lead for the remainder of the quarter and into part of the second.
This is the first time in program history that the Beavers have made it past the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs. Now 10-3 this season, they finished the regular season receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches’ Poll and at 25th on D2Football.com’s poll. The team came into playoffs unseeded and has taken down the No. 2 team and No. 3 teams so far. The two teams remaining in Super Region Four are both unseeded and are Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foes.
Next Saturday, the Beavers face a familiar team by heading to Mankato, Minn. to take on fellow NSIC members Minnesota State University Mankato. The game will be a high-stakes rematch after the Beavers were defeated earlier this season with a walk-off field goal from the Mavericks. The game is available on the Beaver Radio Network
Coach Pregame Brent Bolte Pregame
Player Pregame Connor Mantelli Pregame
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Highlights1 – 1st – 4:09 – WCU – 20 yard field goal Adam Tasei 0-3
Highlights2 – 1st – 1:33 – BSU – 40 yard pass Sam McGath to Brice Peters (Matellie PAT) 7-3
Highlights3 – 2nd – 7:57 – WCU – 1 yard run Drew Nash (Tasei PAT) 7-10
Highlights4 – 2nd – 3:31 – WCU Blask Nieslanik safety 7-12
Highlights5 – 3rd – WCU – Drew Nash 52 yard run (Tasei PAT) 7-19
Highlights6 – 3rd – BSU 3 yard pass Sam McGath to Jayden Washington (Mantelli PAT) 14-19
Highlights7 – 4th – BSU 75 yard fumble recovery for TD Gabe Ward (2pt fails)
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