DATE: Sept. 9, 2006
Beavers force four turnovers, pick up fifth road victory in five tries in “Beaver Bash” rivalry series

MINOT, N.D. (Herb Parker Stadium) - Bemidji State picked up two second-quarter touchdown passes from junior quarterback Josh Williams to blow open a 7-3 game, and rode a defense which forced four turnovers and allowed just 68 yards rushing in a 30-9 victory over the Minot State Beavers in the annual “Beaver Bash” rivalry series. The victory gives BSU five wins in five all-time trips to Minot, and the Minnesota Beavers have outscored their North Dakota foes by a combined margin of 184-46 in those five contests.

Bemidji State set the tone early, scoring on its first possession of the contest after assembling a 12-play, 80-yard drive off the game’s opening kickoff. Tyler Olson (Alvarado, Minn.) started at running back for the Beavers and carried six times on the drive as BSU picked up 67 of the 80 yards on the drive on the ground. Josh Williams continued to showcase his running ability, adding a 21-yard scamper late in the drive to move the ball into the Minot State red zone. Eurice Watson capped the drive with a 10-yard scamper for his first collegiate touchdown.

Jeremiah Johnson (Glidden, Iowa) intercepted Minot State’s Ryan Jutras on the first Beaver snap from scrimmage, and Minot State turned the ball over on downs at the BSU two-yard line on its next possession after assembling a 10-play, 87-yard drive.

The Beavers pulled within 7-3 on a 35-yard Nik Levnaich field goal with 22 seconds to play in the first quarter, but would draw no closer.

BSU put the game away with the two second-quarter touchdown passes from Williams. The second Jutras interception of the afternoon, this one gathered by cornerback Willy Plancher (), set BSU up at its own 32 yard line. Williams drove BSU 68 yards down field and found sophomore George Kadlec () in the corner of the end zone on a fade pattern from 19 yards out and helped stake BSU to a 14-3 advantage.

Plancher recovered a fumble on the ensuing Minot State drive, and Williams needed six plays to again find the end zone. He connected with Anthony Schreiber (Berkeley, Ill.) from 18 yards out with 29 seconds to play in the second quarter, and with the extra point BSU led 21-3.

The touchdown grab was the 11th of Schreiber’s career, moving him into sole possession of 10th place on BSU’s career list.

The Beavers scored a safety on a sack of Jutras in the end zone in the third quarter, and after the third interception of Jutras left BSU with a first and goal at the six, Williams capped the BSU scoring by hitting Kadlec for his second touchdown of the day from six yards out.

For the second consecutive week, BSU received a strong outing from its veteran defense. “Gang Green” forced four turnovers, including three interceptions of Minot starting quarterback Ryan Jutras, recorded eight tackles-for-loss and four sacks and scored a safety in the third quarter. Linebackers Josh Templin and Ben Baratto tied for team-high honors with seven tackles apiece, and Templin added a 10-yard sack. Willy Plancher had six tackles, a fumble recovery and a 13-yard interception return, and linebacker Zach Garrison recorded his second interception in as many weeks.

BSU held Minot State to 68 yards rushing on 34 carries, an average of 2.0 yards per rush. Neil Graham had 51 yards on 12 carries to pace the host Beavers, and Manny Gutierrez added 37 yards on 11 carries. Beyond that duo, the remainder of the Minot State team combined to rush for -20 yards on 11 rushes.

Jutras completed 16 of 25 passes for 156 yards and three interceptions before being lifted for Jon Meier in the fourth quarter. Meier completed four of seven passes for 62 yards, and led the only Minot State touchdown drive which he capped with a 46-yard scoring pass to Kevin Hanson. Josh Kringen caught eight passes for 108 yards for Minot State, pacing all players in the contest.

Bemidji State (1-1) ran its all-time record over Minot State to 7-1, including a 5-0 record in Minot, and ran its winning streak to a series-best four games.

The Beavers open Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play next weekend, when they travel to Moorhead, Minn. to tackle Minnesota State, Moorhead in the 59th annual “Battle for the Axe” traveling trophy rivalry. The Beavers and Dragons have duelled for the Battle Axe each year since 1948, making it the fourth-oldest traveling trophy in NCAA Division II football. BSU enters the contest with a series-best six consecutive wins over the Dragons and seven wins in the last eight meetings.

--beavers--