Kristin Farris, Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations
BEMIDJI, Minn. — Bemidji State University Football (4-5, 4-4 NSIC) held off a late rally by Minnesota State University Moorhead (5-4, 4-4 NSIC) to reclaim the Battle Axe with a 37-34 victory Saturday afternoon at Chet Anderson Stadium.
The Beavers build a 17-point advantage before the Dragons battled back, scoring three fourth-quarter touchdowns to pull within three points with 1:04 remaining. Quarterback Connor Carver accounted for five touchdowns to lead BSU, throwing for 323 yards and four scores while adding 173 net rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. The Beavers finished with 566 yards of total offense, including 243 net rushing yards, and controlled possession for 38:14.
MSU Moorhead opened the scoring with a touchdown pass from Drew Hubner to Kalen Lucas, but BSU answered with a touchdown pass from Carver to Lucas Peterson to tie the game at 7-7 late in the first quarter. The Beavers took control in the second quarter. Kyle Nadler connected on a 23-yard field goal to give BSU a 10-7 lead before Carver found Tyree Lockett for a 70-yard touchdown pass. Carver then connected with Antonio Brown on a six-yard scoring strike, extending the lead to 23-7.
Bemidji State carried its momentum into the second half when Carver connected with Lockett again for a 37-yard touchdown late in the third quarter, pushing the Beavers’ advantage to 30-13. Carver added a one-yard rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter, capping a 66-yard drive and giving BSU a 37-20 lead with 4:01 remaining.
The Dragons refused to go quietly, scoring on a five-yard touchdown pass from Timmy Guler to Kelly Johnson with 1:33 remaining before Guler added a nine-yard rushing touchdown with 1:04 left. The final score brought MSUM within three, but BSU held on to secure the second oldest traveling trophy in NCAA Division II.
Tyree Lockett led the Beavers’ receiving corps with five catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns, including the 70-yard scoring reception. Peterson added seven receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown, while Brown recorded two catches for 10 yards and a score. BSU’s ground game provided another major advantage. The Beavers recorded 49 rushing attempts for 243 net yards, compared to 21 attempts for 62 yards by the Dragons. Carver led BSU with 173 net rushing yards, while Antonio Brown added 38 yards on five carries.
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BEMIDJI, Minn. — Bemidji State University Football junior quarterback Connor Carver has been named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season following a dominating offensive performance in the Beavers’ 37-34 victory over Minnesota State University Moorhead.
Carver accounted for 496 yards of total offense and five touchdowns, finishing with more than 100 additional yards of individual offense than the entire MSUM offense. He completed 17-of-27 passes for 323 yards and four touchdowns while adding 173 net rushing yards and another score on 30 carries.
Carver connected with Tyree Lockett for two touchdown passes and found Lucas Peterson and Zavery Guerra for the other two scores through the air. His longest completion of the afternoon covered 70 yards, the longest of his career, while he averaged 5.8 yards per rushing attempt.
The Beavers finished with 569 yards of total offense, including 246 net rushing yards, as they secured the three-point victory in the Battle Axe Rivalry game.
The weekly honor marks Carver’s second NSIC Offensive Player of the Week selection of the 2026 season.