BEMIDJI, Minn. - The Bemidji State University football team wrapped up the 2008 spring season Saturday with its annual Green/White game at Chet Anderson Stadium. The defense, designated the 'Green Team', set the tone early taking advantage of offensive miscues and penalties to put 'White' in a hole and would hold off a 20-point second-half comeback to win the game 38-28. The defensive victory marks the third consecutive spring scrimmage that has been controlled by the defense.

Sam Wedin (So., LB, Grand Forks, N.D.) led the Green squad with five tackles and a pass broken up, while Aaron Roland (So., DB, Wahpeton, N.D.) collected a tackle, broke up a pass and intercepted another and Bryan Wick (Jr., DL, Duluth, Minn.) and Kyle McMartin (Sr., DE, Osceola, Wis.) each posted a pair of quarterback sacks.

Derek Edholm (So., Anoka, Minn.), front runner to be under center to begin 2008, paced the offense completing 10-of-15 pass attempts for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

After a pair of failed drives and consecutive offside's penalties put the offense down eight points early, "Tiger" Ellison (Jr., DB, Columbus, Ohio) ended the Beavers fourth of the afternoon by drive intercepting a pass and returning it 38 yards for six points. The play put Green up 12- -3.

The offense climbed into the black mid-way through the second quarter.

Set up by a three-and-out and a 28-yard punt into the gusting wind, the White squad took over on the Green's 44-yardline. With his unit's best field position of the day, Edholm found his groove. The offense piled up a pair of first downs, marching 44 yards for its first touchdown of the day. The drive was capped by a 38-yard scoring strike from Edholm to freshman Cameron Abrams (WR, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) that brought the offense to within 16-5.

Abrams was one of two fresh-faced receivers to shine in the spring contest. He hauled in four passes for 65 yards and a TD, while Justin Lee (Fr., Burlington, Ill.) led all pass-catchers with five receptions for 90 yards.

Gang Green hunkered down and stopped the Beavers' offense on its next opportunity to finish the first half up 18-6.

Edholm engineered the Beaver offense to its second touchdown of the day in the opening drive of the second half. The sophomore completed 5-of-6 passed for 56 yards, which included his second touchdown pass of the afternoon--a 17-yard, catch in the back of the end zone by sprawled out wide receiver Andrew Schultz (So., Grand Forks, N.D.). The extra point by Jesse Sundby (So., K/P, Argyle, Minn.) gave the White squad its first lead of the afternoon, 17-16.

It wouldn't take the defense long to bounce back.

After forcing a three-and-out on White's next possession, Green picked up a fumble recovery and an interception on the next two drives to take a commanding 30-17 lead into the fourth quarter.

The defense stymied White's next two possessions and Roland grabbed his interception late in the quarter to put Green up 40-17. But with five plays to go, the offense, led by Josh Williams (Sr., Downey, Calif.), extended the game with a pair of first downs. The squad would later score on a 1-yard plunge by senior running back Eric Newman (Naperville, Ill.) to bring the bring the score to 38-26 to end the game.

Newman finished the game with 14 runs for 35 yards and a score to lead a contingent of ground-gainers. Zach Wold (Fr, RB, Hatton, N.D.) piled up 12 yards on a pair of runs in his first appearance in the BSU backfield, while Mike Brown (Fr., RB, Lake in the Hills, Ill.) totaled seven yards on six carries.

BSU uses a unique scoring system for its annual spring scrimmage. The game is divided into four 15-play quarters, with play allowed to continue beyond 15 plays if the offense is driving. The offense is awarded one point for a first down, six points for a touchdown, one point for an extra point, three points for a field goal and two points for a penalty against the defense. The defense can score two points for preventing the offense from gaining a first down or a missed field goal, six points for a turnover and two points for a penalty against the offense.

Jeff Tesch, who is in his 13th season as Bemidji State's head football coach, returns 11 regulars from his 2007 squad. Despite key losses at wide receiver, safety and on the offensive and defensive lines, a large portion of the defensive secondary and the bulk of the skill positions are back in pads this spring.

Bemidji State posted an overall record of 7-4 in 2007 while it recorded a mark of 6-3 versus Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference competition to finish fourth in the league standings. The Beavers set out in search of its 11th consecutive winning season Aug. 27 with a road trip to Minot, N.D. to battle Minot State University in the annual 'Beaver Bash.' The tilt is set for 7 p.m. kickoff.

Box score (unofficial)
Passing (c-a-yds-int-td): Edholm (10-15-142-0-2), Williams (7-11-92-0-0), Sathre (1-4-5-3-0).  Rushing (att-yds-td): Newman (14-35-1), Wold (2-12-0), Brown (6-7-0). Receiving (rec-yds-td): Lee 5-90-0), Abrams (4-65-1), Schultz (3-27-1), Kadlec (3-48-0). Tackles: Wedin (5), Karch, Wagner, Lardinois, Wick (4), Eagan, Beste, McMartin (3). Sacks: McMartin, Wick (2), Jauch, Karch, Knutson (1). Interceptions: Ellison, Roland (1). Fumble Recoveries: Eagan (1).

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