Minnesota State Tops Bemidji State in Close Road Victory: Game Recap and Highlights

2023-09-30 23:41:56

27

Winner Minnesota St. MSU 5-0, 5-0

24

Bemidji St.
BSU

4-1 , 4-1

Winner

Minnesota St. MSU

5-0 , 5-0

27

24

Bemidji St.
BSU

4-1 , 4-1

Score By Quarters

Team

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

F

MSU
Minnesota St.

3

10

7

7

27

BSU
Bemidji St.

7

3

14

0

24

Game Recap: Football | 9/30/2023 6:40:00 PM

Next Game:

MSU Moorhead

10/7/2023 | 2:00 p.m.

1230 The Fan

Oct. 07 (Sat) / 2:00 p.m.

MSU Moorhead

History

BEMIDJI, Minn. — It went do to the closing minutes Saturday afternoon at Chet Anderson Stadium, but it was #4 Minnesota State that was able to come away with the 27-24 road victory over #9 Bemidji State.

With the win, MSU improves to 5-0 on the season, including a 5-0 NSIC record. With the loss, BSU drops to 4-1, including a 4-1 conference record.

“I’m proud of our players and coaches on winning the football game” Head Coach Todd Hoffner said. It’s an impressive win on the road for the Mavericks as we beat a top-10 nationally ranked team. We played exceptionally well on defense and on offense we put up enough points to help our team win.

“The game-winning blocked field goal by Dakota Smith was outstanding way to finish the game.”

The scoring remained low in the first half as the Mavericks took a 13-10 lead into halftime.

BSU got the first score of the game with 5:41 to go in the first quarter as Sam McGath connected with Dhel Duncan-Busby on a two-yard touchdown pass. The Mavericks followed up with a scoring drive of their own. Junior Shen Butler-Lawson managed to rush 51 yards down field before junior Matthew Jaeger connected on a 30-yard field goal to cut BSU’s lead to 7-3.

In the second quarter, junior Hayden Ekern put the Mavericks in front 10-7 with a 37-yard touchdown pass to freshman Mason Perich. Both teams would then exchange field goals as BSU’s Marko Jovisic connected on a 32-yard attempt, before Jaeger made a 27-yard attempt, to bring the halftime score to 13-10 in favor of the Mavericks.

On BSU’s opening drive of the third quarter the Beavers marched down to the MSU 18, before senior Jacob Dalton intercepted a pass from Brandon Alt in the end zone to end the scoring threat. Butler-Lawson then rushed 80 yards down field for the touchdown on MSU’s first play following the pick to go up 20-10.

The Beavers would bounce back with two touchdown drives to take a 24-20 lead. Ali Mohamed rushed for a three-yard touchdown, before Sage Booker notched a 14-yard touchdown carry of his own with 5:58 to go in the third quarter.

With 12:06 to go in the game, the Mavericks took over on their own 43. Seven plays later, including a 30-yard pass from Ekern to sophomore Jeremiah Howardthe Mavericks found themselves with a 1st and goal from the BSU 5. Butler-Lawson then power his way forward for his second touchdown of the day to put MSU up 27-24 with 7:17 remaining.

After exchanging possessions, BSU had one last chance as it took over on its own 25 with 2:07 to go. The Beavers managed to get down to the MSU 24 to set up a 42-yard field goal attempt but Jovisic’s kick was blocked by senior Dakota Smith as the Mavericks locked down the 27-24 win.

Butler-Lawson finished with a career-high 225 rushing yards and two touchdown carries. Ekern threw for 198 yards and a touchdown, while Perich caught one pass for a 37-yard touchdown.
As a team, MSU notched 483 yards of offense, including 285 rushing yards.

Daulton led the Maverick defense with 10 tackles, including one for a loss and a sack, to go along with one interceptions. Junior Khai West recorded four tackles and one fumble recovery also, while junior Cody Brown posted one strip sack, to go along with two tackles.

As a unit, the Maverick defense came up with three turnovers as it limited BSU to 127 rushing yards.

Minnesota State returns home for its annual Homecoming game on Saturday, October 7, as it hosts MSU Moorhead. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., at Blakeslee Stadium.

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#Mavericks #Edge #Beavers #Improve #Minnesota #State #University

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