BEMIDJI, Minn. - The Winona State University football team met up with the Bemidji State Beavers for the third time in two seasons, playing on the road but in familiar territory against BSU on Saturday, Sept. 16.
Winona State played at Chet Anderson Stadium twice in 2022, resulting in a 34-24 setback on Sept. 17 and a 31-7 loss in the NCAA Division II postseason, a game with kickoff temperatures hovering around zero. On Saturday, Winona State found the playing conditions better, but unfortunately, so did the Beavers, as BSU dealt WSU a 36-10 setback.
Final Score: Bemidji State 36, Winona State 10
Attendance: 1750
Winona State matched the nationally-ranked Beavers on the ground but the Bemidji State aerial attack was the difference in the contest, as BSU racked up 341 passing yards. For the Warriors,
Ty Gavin notched his first rushing TD of the year, while
Jacob Scott extended his field-goal streak to three games.
How it Happened
For the second time in two games, Winona State used an interception by the Warrior defense and a
Jacob Scott field goal to stake an early lead.
Sam Shutter picked off BSU's Brandon Alt with 7:45 on the clock in the first quarter and Scott connected on a 31-yard field goal at 6:28 to put the visitors up 3-0.
Bemidji State answered with a Beaver touchdown in the first quarter, with Brandon Alt connecting with Joey Barron from five yards out for the score. Following a Marko Jovisic PAT, the home team took a 7-3 lead.
Jovisic would extend the Bemidji State lead to 10-3 with a 31-yard field goal early in the second quarter.
Winona State would tie the game at 10-10 when
Ty Gavin scored a 36-yard touchdown, capping an 8-play, 71-yard drive.
Unfortunately, BSU would answer again, with five minutes remaining in the first half, when Alt connected with Dhel Duncan-Busby for a 36-yard score. Jovisic missed the PAT, but the Beavers led 16-10 at the break.
At The Half: Bemidji State16, Winona State 10
In the third quarter, Bemidji State flipped the script on the Warriors, scoring first when Alt found Brice Peters from 15 yards out, moving the BSU lead to 23-10.
Jake Van Hulzen would come on at quarterback for Winona State in the fourth quarter, going 6-for-10 for 84 yards.
Bemidji State would tally the final two touchdowns of the game; a Alt-to-Duncan Busby 30-yard pass proved to be one of Alt's last plays of the day.
Sam McGath came on in relief at QB for BSU and found Kurt Heerdegen on a three-yard scoring toss. BSU would again miss the PAT but set the final score at 36-10.
Beyond The Boxscore
In scoring first against the Beavers, WSU became the first team to play with a lead over BSU this season.
Winona State had won three in a row against Bemidji State between 2015 and 2019, a feat now matched by the Beavers, who currently own a three-game streak in the series.
Jacob Scott has now hit a field goal in every 2023 contest for WSU; Scott scored at least one attempt in the first three games of the 2022 campaign as well.
Winona State Statistical Standouts
Cair'ron Hendred, 10 carries, 74 yards.
Ty Gavin, 5 carries, 2 receptions, 69 total yards and 1 TD.
Kaleb Skelly, 5 catches, 59 yards.
Trey Borske, 7 tackles
Clay Schueffner, 6 tackles, 1 TFL
Sam Shutter, 3 tackles, 1 INT
Jake Van Hulzen, 6-of-10, 84 yard passing, 1 INT
Kyjuan Vengrowsky,
Joseph Demro, 1 Sack
Winona State Team Notables
WSU outgained Bemidji State on the ground, 144-143, and had a higher yards-per-carry, 4.0 - 3.6.
The Warriors notched three sacks in the game, a season-high.
BSU Stat Standouts
Quarterback Brandon Alt was 22-of-36 for 338 yards and four scores.
Dhel Duncan Busby had three catches for 86 yards and two TDs.
Marcus Hansen had four tackles-for-loss, including 1 sack.
Up Next for Winona State
Winona State returns home for week four, hosting Northern State University. The Warriors and Wolves will kick off at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23 in Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium
