Beavers win home opener in overtime stunner - Bemidji State University (2024)

BEMIDJI, Minn.– The No. 25/20 Bemidji State University Football Team started its season with a 19-13 victory over the Michigan Technological University Huskies on Thursday, Aug. 29 at Chet Anderson Stadium. The duo of quarterback Sam McGath and wide receiver Brice Peters combined for 12 of the Beavers' 19 points.

The Huskies came out strong and were the first to get on the scoreboard halfway through the first quarter. A 10-yard pass from Alex Fries to Ethan Champney, Champney took the ball an additional 17 yards to the endzone. A good point after attempt from Avery Kucharski added an additional tally to the Huskies' lead. The score would remain for the rest of the first half of play, putting the Beavers at a seven-point deficit to start the second half. Additionally, the Beaver offense was shaken up at the end of the quarter when Michigan Tech's Sam Ahern intercepted Sam McGath's pass just one yard from the endzone.

The third period was the time to shine for both teams' special teams units. Michigan Tech added a field goal to its score, making the score 10-0, just 2:25 into the third quarter. The Beavers were able to find a spark when redshirt-junior Joey Prondzinski sent the ball between the uprights from the 12-yard line, a 22-yard field goal.

Prondzinski added three more points to Bemidji State's side of the scoreboard around five minutes into the fourth quarter, making the score 10-6 in favor of Michigan Tech. Prondzinski's 21-yard field goal ended a 16-play drive for the Beavers, spanning 77 yards and taking 6:46 off the clock. The pair of field goals gave the Beavers a spark as Brice Peters would find a four-yard pass from Sam McGath in the endzone, giving the Beavers their first lead of the night. This lead would be taken away when Michigan Tech's Avery Kucharski found his second field goal of the night, closing out regulation play and forcing overtime.

The Beavers won the overtime coin toss and elected to begin the extra time on defense. With each team being given possession of the ball, the Beaver defense worked tirelessly to prevent a change to the Huskies' scoreboard. The Beavers held the Huskies to 13 yards of gain during their possession, ending the drive with a missed field goal attempt from Kucharski at 27 yards. Bemidji State took possession of the ball and made quick work of their drive, needing just two plays to get into the endzone. A short gain on a rush from Jayden Washington brought the Beavers to the 21-yard line and set up field position for a Sam McGath passing play. McGath found Brice Peters on a 21-yard pass to the far-left corner of the endzone, ending the game with a 19-13 Beaver victory.

In his first game with the freshly minted "Quarterback No. 1" title, McGath landed 20 passes into the hands of his receiving core. He marked a career-high 195 yards and earned the Beavers 12 points from two touchdowns. Brice Peters and Drayton Lehman were McGath's top targets with Peters finding five targets for 72 yards and two touchdowns and Lehman earning 38 yards off six receptions. On the ground, Jayden Washington led the Beavers' in rushing yardage, netting 69 yards off nine attempts, averaging 7.7 yards per carry.

Jacob Drietz led the "Gang Green" defense with seven total tackles, three solo and four assisted. Behind him, Stephen Hoffman and Colton Hinrichs each tallied six tackles, Hoffman with three solo and three assisted plus 1.5 tackles for a loss and one quarterback hurry and Hinrichs with four solo tackles and two assisted. Cade Barrett stopped two Michigan Tech passes, marked one tackle for a loss of five yards and one quarterback hurry.

On special teams, Jamel Stone was the Beavers' go-to punt returner, returning four punts for 71 yards with his longest return marking 30 yards. Connor Mantelli started his Beaver career with four punts and 161 yards, averaging 40.2 yards per punt and a long punt of 43 yards. Mantelli also took all four Beaver kickoffs and tallied 217 yards. Joey Prondzinski grabbed six points with his two good field goals on three attempts. Prondzinski added one additional point with a single PAT.

The Beavers now prepare to head to No. 13/11 Minnesota State University, Mankato next week to kick off their Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schedule. Kicking off at 6 p.m. from Blakeslee Stadium, the game will be broadcasted on NSICNetwork.com. For fans attending the game in person, tickets are available online throughMSU's website.

For more information on the Bemidji State Football program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on X (@BSUBeaversFB), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and like them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversFB).

Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's and women's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).