The Bemidji State University football team owned a 17-7 lead heading to the fourth quarter of a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game at Minnesota State University Moorhead Saturday, but allowed 28 points in the final frame to suffer a 35-17 loss, its sixth straight.

The Beavers (2-8; 2-8 NSIC, 0-6 NSIC North) are now 0-3 with a lead heading into the fourth quarter this season. Bemidji State had won 12 of the last 13 meetings with the Dragons (4-6; 4-6 NSIC, 4-2 NSIC North) and had won the last four in the series and in The Battle Axe Game, a traveling trophy decided between the two teams since 1948. The six straight losses matches the worst skid in the head coach Jeff Tesch-era, which occurred in 1996 and 1997, his first two seasons at Bemidji State.

Bemidji State struck first on a 24-yard field goal by senior Zach Pulkinen (K/P, Minot, N.D.) to own the 3-0 lead with 4:09 left in the first quarter. The lead went to 10-0 when senior quarterback Alex Hass (Milaca, Minn.) rushed 16 yards to the end zone to cap a three-play, 66-yard drive that included a 29-yard reverse to true freshman Juwaan Richard (WR, Schaumburg, Ill.).

The Beaver defense allowed MSU Moorhead past the BSU 35-yard line five times in the first half, but only allowed one Dragon score. MSUM went 0-for-4 on fourth down in the first half, while the Beavers recovered a fumble at their own 21-yard line. The one score by the home team came with just 1:03 remaining in the first half, cutting the Beaver lead to 10-7 at halftime.

The BSU defense continued to stifle the Dragon offense past the 50 yard line in the third quarter to keep them off the scoreboard, while the Beavers were able to post a 15-play, 79-yard drive to the end zone that ate up 7:36 of game clock. The drive time was the longest by BSU this season, while the 15 plays was the second longest in 2013. A Hass one-yard rush up the middle handed Bemidji State a 17-7 advantage and capped the scoring drive.

MSUM scored just a minute into the fourth quarter, then proceeded to post 28-unanswered points to own the victory and the Axe. In the fourth, BSU was out-gained 203-54 in total yards, 11-3 in first downs and turned the ball over twice, while MSU Moorhead owned nearly 10 minutes of the game clock.

In the end, the Beavers were out-gained 518-280, with 218 of BSU’s yards coming on the ground. BSU was guided by senior running back Avery Walker (Milwaukee, Wis.), who fell just eight yards shy of his sixth, 100-yard game of the season. He totaled 92 yards on 28 carries (3.3 yards per carry).

Defensively, senior linebacker Buckley Wright (Sioux City, Iowa) led the Beavers with 13 tackles (six solo) with one tackle for loss, a fumble recovery and a pass break-up. Sophomore Greg Button (ILB, Eau Claire, Wis.) added 12 tackles (five solo) with 1.5 tackles for loss (-6 yards) and a sack.

The Battle Axe

Since 1948 Bemidji State and MSU Moorhead have been playing for more than just a W. Now 66 times the two teams have met on the gridiron to stake claim of a traveling trophy called The Battle Axe – an ancient weapon from New Guinea. Currently the second longest traveling trophy in Division II history, the Beavers and Dragons have played every season for the coveted bragging right with BSU trailing in the all-time Axe series 28-35-3, but have now won 12 of the last 14 games.

Quickly

• The Beavers and Dragons have met 80 times, the longest rivalry in BSU’s history. The Beavers trail the all-time series 33-44-3.

• With 92 yards, Walker moves into ninth on BSU’s single-season yards list with 1,120.

• Pulkinen’s first quarter field goal was his 16th of his career to move into third all-time at Bemidji State. He owns 129 career points kicking to sit four points shy of tying for fourth all-time at BSU.

Next Up

The Beavers will close the disappointing 2013 season on the road Dec. 16 at Minot State University. The NSIC North contest is set for 1:30 p.m.