Senior running back Avery Walker (Milwaukee, Wis.) became the first Bemidji State University football student-athlete to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season since 2004, Saturday. The Beavers lost to No. 21 St. Cloud State University, 45-6 in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North contest at Chet Anderson Stadium. The meeting marked the final home game of 2013 for BSU, which also served as senior day for 14 players.

Walker totaled 102 yards versus the Huskies to reach 1,028 yards for the season. The last Bemidji State player to reach the milestone was Tyler Olson in 2004 when he rushed for 1,234 yards. Walker becomes the 10th player to rush for 1,000 or more yards in a season at BSU since 1971.

The 100 yard game for Walker was his fifth time reaching the century mark this season. He scored Bemidji State’s lone touchdown in the game on a 55-yard catch and run to the end zone early in the fourth quarter.

The Beavers (2-7; 2-7 NSIC, 0-5 NSIC North) allowed 363 yards running and four touchdowns on the ground to St. Cloud State (8-1; 8-1 NSIC, 4-1 NSIC North). In all, SCSU gathered 521 yards on 57 plays to average 9.1 yards per play.

The Huskies led 17-0 at halftime after a fairly evenly matched first half. SCSU held slim advantages in total offense (179-105) and first downs (12-8), while BSU led in time of possession (15:42-14:18).

SCSU scored 21 points in the third quarter to run away with a 38-0 lead after three quarters of play. BSU got its lone score on a dump off pass from junior quarterback Sam King (Grand Forks, N.D.) to Walker on the second play of the fourth quarter. King was the third quarterback to see time in the game, as redshirt freshman Ryan Shields (Roseville, Calif.) started and played the first half, senior Alex Hass (Milaca, Minn.) then entered after halftime before being knocked out of the game due to injury in the third quarter.

The loss marked the fifth straight for the Beavers, their longest losing streak since falling six times in a row in 1997.

Stat of the Game

363 – St. Cloud State yards rushing. The last time BSU allowed more than 300 yards on the ground was Sept. 17, 2005, when University of Wisconsin River Falls totaled 313 yards on the ground.

Offensive Player of the Game

Avery Walker (Sr., RB, Milwaukee, Wis.) totaled 102 yards on 28 carries for 3.6 yards per carry. His only reception went for 55 yards and a score for 157 all-purpose yards.

Defensive Player of the Game

Larry Miller (Sr., CB, Dallas, Tex.) recorded six tackles (three solo) and picked off his first pass of the season. He also totaled two break-ups to move his season total to a team-best 11.

Next Up

The Beavers hit the road for the final two games of the season, beginning with Minnesota State University Moorhead Nov. 9 beginning at 1 p.m.