BEMIDJI, Minn. – Playing in tough conditions at Chet Anderson Stadium in Bemidji, Minnesota, the Winona State University football team fell to Bemidji State, 31-7 in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Division II Football postseason.

Winona State and Bemidji State met during the NSIC regular season with the Beavers outlasting the Warriors, 34-24 on Sept. 17 in a contest with a game time kickoff temperature of 68 degrees.

On Saturday, things were different.

WSU and BSU kicked off with a game time temperature of 12 degrees and a stiff breeze blowing in off Lake Bemidji. Both teams entered the contest in the 'Receiving Votes' section of the AFCA poll and were two of four NSIC squads playing in the NCAA Division II postseason. 

In the end, Bemidji State used a quick-strike third-quarter offense to pull away from Winona State, as Brandon Alt connected with Brendan Beaulieu for three touchdown passes in the space of nine minutes to stake the home team a 24-0 lead, with BSU kicker Connor Cusick also connecting on a 22-yard field goal during that stretch. 

Head coach Brian Bergstrom and his team used a stingy defense to hold the Beavers scoreless in the first half, as the two teams went into the locker room tied at 0-0.

In the opening 30 minutes, Winona State used a pair of interceptions and a strong defensive line presence to hold the Beavers scoreless at the half, the first time in 2022 a Beaver opponent managed that feat. The Winona State defense - a calling card component of the WSU 8-3 regular season mark - stood their frozen ground during the first half, limiting Bemidji State to just six first downs and 30 receiving yards in the game's first 30 minutes. 

After the break, the contest turned on a series of turnovers and subsequent scores by the Beavers in the third quarter. 

Winona State received the ball to start the second half, but was unable to get traction on their first drive.  After the ensuing Warrior punt, Bemidji State struck first on the scoreboard when Alt connected with Brendan Beaulieu for a 38-yard touchdown. Following the BSU PAT, Winona State faced a 7-0 deficit.

WSU then suffered their first turnover of the game when a Warrior fumble was recovered by the Beavers on the WSU 28-yard line.  BSU leveraged the takeaway into a field goal moments later to take a 10-0 advantage over Winona State midway through the third quarter.

Another Winona State fumble provided Bemidji State another red zone opportunity in the third quarter, and BSU struck again with the Alt-to-Beaulieu connection to move the scoreboard 17-0 in favor of BSU. Then, it happened again, with Alt finding Beaulieu for the third WSU passing TD of the game – and the quarter – pushing the home team's tally to 24-0.  BSU would add one more passing TD in similar fashion at the start of the fourth quarter taking a 31-0 lead in the fourth frame.

Winona State quarterback Trevor Paulsen scrambled for a 42-yard Warrior touchdown in the fourth quarter to help WSU avoid the shutout.  Paulsen finished the day with 54 yards on the ground while Ty Gavin was the Warriors' leading rusher with 87 yards on 17 carries. Paulsen and Warrior QB teammate Kyle Haas combined for a 19-of-43 passing day, good for 186 yards. 

WSU was led on defense by Clay Schueffner who had 19 tackles and an interception on the day, marking the fifth time this year the St. Cloud, Wis. product notched double-digits in stops.  In addition, Mitch Snitker notched 12  tackles against the Beavers and three Warriors, Schueffner, Aarion Lacy and Brian Corbins, Jr., all notched interceptions. 

The Winona State special team's unit – a group that has been the positive difference in several Warrior wins in 2022 – was held mostly in check on day in which the conditions had an adverse effect on the kicking game. 

With the loss, Winona State (8-4, 8-3 NSIC) concludes an impressive season under first-year head coach Brian Bergstrom, as the Warriors earned a share of the NSIC South Division title with a 5-1 division mark and 8-3 overall regular season mark. The 2022 Winona State team earned just the seventh NCAA postseason opportunity in the history of the program.