Spring ball is underway, as preparations are being made for the 2013 season. Tuesday, Bemidji State University football head coach Jeff Tesch announced the 2013 slate, which features an 11-game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schedule. The Beavers will host five games at Chet Anderson Stadium next season, beginning with a Sept. 14 contest against Concordia University, St. Paul.

The first four contests of the 2013 campaign are against NSIC South Division teams. BSU takes to the road Sept. 7 to do battle with the Winona State University Warriors at 6 p.m. The two teams haven’t met since 2009 when the Beavers hosted then-No. 20 WSU and defeated Winona State 24-19. The last time BSU visited the Warriors was a 2008 contest that saw WSU come away with a 31-7 win.

Bemidji State hosts Concordia-St. Paul in the annual Shrine Game Sept. 14. The Beavers’ only home night game of the season is slated for a 6 p.m. BSU welcomed the Golden Bears on homecoming in 2011 and celebrated a defensive effort and 20-7 victory.

BSU is on the road Sept. 21 (1 p.m.), as it travels to Sioux Falls, S.D. to play Augustana College. The last time the Beavers played Augustana on the road, they exited with a 30-27 overtime upset of the then-No. 16 Vikings in 2011. The victory snapped a four-game losing skid against AC and improved BSU’s all-time record to 2-5 versus Augustana.

The Beavers close the NSIC South portion of their schedule at 1 p.m. Sept. 28 when Southwest Minnesota State University visits “The Chet” in Bemidji State’s annual homecoming game. BSU last hosted SMSU in 2011 and defeated the Mustangs 41-10. The Beavers are 5-1 in the last six homecoming contests and 12-5 under Tesch.

Bemidji State shared the NSIC North Division Championship in 2012 and will begin defense of its title Oct. 5 at University of Minnesota Crookston in a 1 p.m. contest. The Beavers have won 14-straight against the Golden Eagles and last traveled to Crookston, Minn. in 2011 for a 31-12 victory versus UMC. The Highway 2 rivals have battled for a traveling trophy called, “The Hubcap” since 2004. BSU is 9-0 in Hubcap games.

The Beavers host University of Mary Oct. 12 at 1 p.m. in a young series that has yielded some close games. Last season BSU went on the road and came home with a 29-21 victory to take the 4-3 lead in the all-time series. The last time the Marauders visited Bemidji was in 2010 when BSU used a late field goal to slide by U-Mary by the score of 23-22.

BSU plays Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D. Oct. 19 with hopes of continuing its recent success against NSU. The Beavers have won seven of the last eight meetings, but the lone loss came on the road in 2011 when BSU was held scoreless in a 14-0 outcome.

The Beavers host University of Minnesota Duluth Oct. 26 in a 1 p.m. battle that pits the 2012 co-NSIC North Division Champions against each other. Last season BSU fell at UMD 30-0 (UMD was ranked seventh in the nation at the time), but has played the Bulldogs close at home in the last two meetings. The Beavers lost 26-23 in 2011 and missed an extra point to tie the game late in a 2009 35-34 loss. In an all-time series that dates back to 1931, BSU is looking for its first victory against Minnesota Duluth since 1999.

The schedule doesn’t get easier Nov. 2, as the Beavers close their home portion of the schedule against St. Cloud State University. The Huskies have the stronghold on the all-time series, but the Beavers have prevailed in the last two meetings. Last season at SCSU, BSU rolled to a 37-20 victory and in 2011 in Bemidji, the Beavers stunned the then-No. 6 Huskies with a 19-14 win. The 1 p.m. contest will serve as senior day at “The Chet”.

Bemidji State closes its season with two road games, starting with a trip to Minnesota State University Moorhead Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. in the annual “Battle Axe” game. The contest will continue BSU’s longest rivalry, as the teams have met 79 times since 1929. With a 35-25 home victory last season, the Beavers improved to 33-43-3 all-time against the Dragons. In the last meeting, in Moorhead, Minn., BSU won 35-10 (Oct. 15, 2011).

For the season finale, BSU travels to play Minot State University in a 1:30 p.m. showdown. BSU and MISU have met every season since 1999 with Bemidji State holding a 13-1 all-time advantage in the series. Last season, BSU hosted its fellow Beavers and won 49-0. The last time Bemidji State visited Minot, N.D. was 2010 (W, 24-7).

The Beavers are coming off a 7-4 season where they finished 6-1 in the NSIC North to tie for the North Division title.

BSU lost the majority of its offense at the conclusion of 2012 due to graduation, including its starting center, quarterback, running back, tight end and top three wide receivers. On the other side of the ball, BSU lost just three starters from a Gang Green defense that finished 15th nationally in total defense and rushing defense and 18th in scoring defense.

Head coach Jeff Tesch enters his 18th season at Bemidji State and owns a 113-71 career record.

The Beavers conclude 2013 spring ball April 25 with the annual Green and White Spring Game at Chet Anderson Stadium. The scrimmage begins at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public.