It was all about the Gang Green defense Thursday on a muddy and snow-surrounded Chet Anderson Field in the annual Green and White Spring Game. The defense prevailed 14-2 in a shortened scrimmage (30 plays in lieu of the 60 plays).
Due to a shortened spring practice season because of lingering snow in the Bemidji area, BSU was forced to get some real practicing in Thursday and shorted the scoring scrimmage portion of the annual get together.
It took the offense until their seventh drive to gain a first down on an eight-yard rush by freshman redshirt quarterback Matt Knapp (Eau Claire, Minn.) to give the Wicked White its first point of the scrimmage to trail 12-1. A defensive facemask penalty on the next play moved the chains again and took two points away from Gang Green and added a tally for the offense to move the score to 10-1. The defense would come up and stop the offense after they crossed midfield and then posted a three-and-out on the eighth and final drive of the game to win 14-2.
The defense was led by six players who each totaled three tackles. Redshirt freshman Zach Rynning (Kennedy, Minn.) posted all three of his tackles for loss to lead the defensive unit.
Box score (unofficial)
Passing (c-a-yds-int-td): King 1-1-7-0-0, Hass 1-4-(1-)-0-0, Ragsdale 0-2-0-0-0.
Rushing (att-yds-td): Knapp 3-14-0, Hass 2-9-0, Shields 1-7-0, Washington 1-3-0.
Receiving (rec-yds-td): Koziol 1-7-0, Malone 1-(-1).
Tackles: Rynning 3 (3 for loss), Longtin 3 (2 for loss), Syrstad 3 (1 for loss), Olson 3, Al-Khouri 3, Blascyk 3, Fuller 2 (1 for loss), Quinn 2, Dibble 2, Ostby 1, Kiebler 1, Reinke 1 (1 for loss), Pflum 1, Street (1 for loss), Tismer 1, Dufault 1, Supler 1.
Sacks: Longtin 1, Reinke 1, Street 1.
Pass Breakup: Valentine 1.
Green and White Spring Game Scoring
BSU uses a unique scoring system for the Green and White Game, as the defense and offense each can score points based on scoring plays and success at stopping the opposition.
• Offensive points
The offense earns a point for gaining a first down, six points for a touchdown, three points for a field goal and a point for a successful point-after attempt.
• Defensive points
The defenders earn two points for preventing the offense from getting a first down, a missed field goal or a safety and a point for a missed point after attempt and six points for a fumble recovery or an interception (a fumbled snap is not considered a fumble for scoring purposes).
Teams will lose two points for each penalty committed during the contest.
The Beavers are coming off a 7-4 season where they finished 6-1 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North to tie for the North Division title. BSU lost the majority of its offense in 2013 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.