By Kristin Farris, Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Bemidji State University Football fell to Concordia University,
St. Paul 34-31 on Saturday in St. Paul, Minn.
Bemidji State sustained drives with possession and conversion success, holding the
ball for 31:42 while converting 9 of 17 third downs and all four fourth downs.
Concordia-St. Paul generated 518 yards at 7.8 per play, including 352 passing yards,
while BSU paired 242 passing yards with 183 on the ground. The team generated 12
first down rushes, above their season average of 8.0.
The Beavers opened the first quarter with a 63-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by
Antonio Brown’s 33-yard run and finished by Connor Carver’s 21-yard rushing score
before Mack Molander ran in the conversion for an 8-0 lead. The defense kept the
Golden Bears off the board after a 15-play drive ended with a missed 33-yard field
goal, and Bemidji State answered with another possession that reached the
Concordia-St. Paul 19 as the quarter ended with BSU ahead 8-0.
In the second quarter, Carver converted fourth-and-1 with a 3-yard touchdown run,
and Kyle Nadler’s extra point pushed the lead to 15-0. Concordia-St. Paul answered
with a 75-yard scoring drive to make it 15-7, but Tavon Rice’s sack helped Bemidji
State force a punt on the next possession. Bart McAninch hit Kaleb Miller for 28
yards on the final snap, moving Bemidji State to the Concordia-St. Paul 19 as the
first half ended with a 15-7 lead.
A safety at 14:31 of the third quarter moved BSU ahead 17-7, but CSP answered with
two touchdowns and took a 20-17 lead on BJ Davis’ 91-yard run. The Bemidji State
offense did not score in the quarter, though Bart McAninch connected with Miller for
a 24-yard third-down conversion and Rodrigo Castaneda later placed a 37-yard punt at
the Concordia-St. Paul 14. BSU closed the quarter with a drive into CSP territory,
converting fourth-and-2 on Carver’s 3-yard run before ending the quarter at the 33
trailing 20-17.
In the fourth quarter, the Beavers answered the Golden Bears’ touchdown with a
75-yard drive, capped by Carver’s 2-yard run and Nadler’s kick that put Bemidji
State ahead 31-27 with 1:52 left. Earlier in the quarter, Bart McAninch converted
fourth-and-6 with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Tyree Lockett, and Nadler’s extra
point made it 24-20. Concordia-St. Paul responded with a touchdown and extra point
at :15, and Bemidji State’s final possession reached the BSU 46 before the last pass
fell incomplete in a 34-31 final.
Bart McAninch completed 15 of 26 passes for 235 yards and one touchdown while adding
16 rushing yards. Carver rushed 10 times for 48 yards and three touchdowns, setting
a career high. He also had one reception for 8 yards. Lucas Peterson caught four
passes for 85 yards, while Miller added four receptions for 73 yards. Ray Iglesias
led the defense with eight tackles.
Bemidji State is 1-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play. Concordia-St. Paul is 2-2
overall and 1-2 in conference play. Up next, Bemidji State hosts Minot State
University at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, for Homecoming.