The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Golden Eagles benefited from sloppy field conditions, but Bemidji State capitalized on for UMC interceptions in a 27-10 win in an NSIC game played on Ed Widseth Field.
Minnesota Crookston’s defense benefitted from the mud-covered playing surfaces which prevented either team from any big offensive plays as players struggled to maintain their footing. On Bemidji State’s opening drive, running back Jalen Frye (Soph., Mahtomedi) lost his footing and was dropped in the backfield for a two-yard loss by UMC linebacker Austin Steele (Soph., La Crosse, WI) forcing the Beavers to punt after three plays on their opening drive.
Minnesota Crookston’s first possession of the afternoon began at their 39-yard line following an 8-yard punt return by Nathan Coy (Soph., Sun Prarie, WI). Facing third down and nine on their opening drive, Jalin Scott (Sr., Houston, TX) found Wyatt Shedrick (Fr., Scottsdale, AZ) wide-open in the Bemidji State secondary for a 27-yard connection along the far sideline as Shedrick reached the Bemidji State 33-yard line with his lone reception of the day. With a fresh set of downs, Scott rumbled for five yards on first and ten before an incompletion set up third down and five at the Bemidji State 28-yard line. Looking to extend another drive with a completion, Scott overthrew his intended receiver in the middle of the field allowing Jake West (Soph., Woodbury) to intercept the ball at the nine-yard line giving the Beavers possession 3:24 into the game.
Jared Henning (Sr., Jackson, WI) gave his team some breathing to start their second drive of the game with a 10-yard completion to Dhel Duncan-Busby (Soph., Madison, OH) moving the Beavers out to their 19-yard line. Jalen Frye ripped off a 36-yard scamper to the UMC 45-yard line. Jared Henning then completed a pass to Brendan Beaulieu (Soph., Cottage Grove, WI) for nine yards marching Bemidji State to the UMC 27-yard line. Bemidji State managed three yards over their next three plays setting up a fourth down and seven from the UMC 24-yard line. On fourth down, Jared Henning hit a Beaulieu on the far sideline with a deep lob for a touchdown giving Bemidji State a 7-0 lead after the extra-point 7:59 into the game.
Minnesota Crookston started its second drive of the game in great field position after a 34-yard kick return by Wyatt Shedrick set Minnesota Crookston up at their 39-yard line. Jalin Scott carried the ball for three yards on first, and ten before an offside penalty against Bemidji State moved UMC just shy of midfield. The Golden Eagles reentered Bemidji State territory after Scott found Andy Groebner (Soph., Andover) for a nine-yard reception the Beavers’ 44-yard line. Scott followed with a run of 15 yards to the BSU 29-yard line. Two plays later, Scott hooked up with Groebner again with a 19-yard pass down to the BSU 13-yard line. Bemidji State’s defense came up with another takeaway two plays later when Jalin Scott threw an interception to Ryan Kinard (Sr., Ontario, CA) who returned the red zone pick 31-yards to the BSU 43-yard line. “Bemidji does a nice job,” explained Minnesota Crookston head coach Mark Dufner. “They’re one of the top teams at producing takeaways, and they disguise their coverages well.”
Following Minnesota Crookston’s second turnover of the game, Bemidji State converted on a fourth down and two at midfield with a four-yard quarterback keeper executed by Henning. Henning then completed a deep pass to Brendan Beaulieu for 34-yards to the UMC 11-yard line. Henning finished the drive with his legs, keeping the football on a read-option and running into the end zone giving Bemidji State a 14-0 lead following the extra-point with 3:29 to play in the first quarter.
Minnesota Crookston failed to cross midfield for the first time on their next offensive possession punting the ball back to Bemidji State to end the first quarter. Minnesota Crookston’s defense responded by forcing a three-and-out before a 23-yard punt from the Beavers’ Jacob Anderson (Sr., Merrill, WI) gave UMC the football at their 45-yard line.
Tristan Robbins (Soph., Muskegon, MI) entered the game at quarterback and provided an immediate start for the Minnesota Crookston offense. Robinson found Nathan Coy for a 26-yard connection down to the BSU 29-yard line with his first play of the game. Joeseph Eubanks (Jr., Gilbert, AZ) followed with a 10-yard run to the BSU 19-yard line. The Golden Eagles drive stalled after reaching the red zone, but Jared McLemore (Soph., Lucas, TX) overcame the less-than-stable field conditions and put his 34-yard field goal try giving Minnesota Crookston its first points in three-years against Bemidji State while bringing the Golden Eagles within 14-3 with 12:35 to play in the first half.
Austin Steele followed the offense’s success with a sack ending Bemidji State’s next possession in three plays. The Beavers punted from their 18-yard line setting UMC up at their 41-yard line. Minnesota Crookston picked up nine yards on its next three plays bringing up fourth down and one from the 50-yard line. UMC brought Tristan Robbins in at quarterback for the fourth-down play, and he carried the football through a tiny gap along the offensive line squirming forward for one yard and extending the drive. The Golden Eagles drive failed to capitalize on the conversion as the Golden Eagles were forced to punt down to the Bemidji State 20-yard line.
Following another BSU three-and-out, Minnesota Crookston started its next drive on the UMC 43-yard line. Wyatt Shedrick ran with the ball for a 13-yard gain to the Bemidji State 44-yard line. Alex Folz (Fr., Spring Grove) carried the football for six yards over consecutive carries setting UMC up for third down and four at the BSU 38-yard line. On third down, Jalin Scott hit Eli Solberg (R-Fr., Rogers) for a 38-yard touchdown and a post route bringing Minnesota Crookston within 14-10 at halftime following the extra-point. “We were able to get some points and made it a one-possession game at halftime,” noted Dufner. “We just needed one play. Guys were playing hard, but we just needed to have that spark. We moved the ball well in the first half, and the offense moved the ball well at times, we’ve just got to take care of the football a little better.”
A sack stalled Minnesota Crookston’s first drive of the second half as both sides struggled to move the football to start the third quarter. Halfway through the third quarter Jalin Scott threw a low pass to Jonattan Mudd (Sr., Gardena, CA) who had to fall to the ground to secure the catch at the BSU 48-yard line, one yard short of the first down. Minnesota Crookston kept its offense on the field on fourth down, but Tristan Robbins quarterback run was stuffed for a loss giving Bemidji State the football at the UMC 48-yard line.
Bemidji State capitalized on the good starting field position. With UMC poised to regain possession, the Beavers went for the first down on fourth down and six at the UMC 33-yard. BSU quarterback Jared Henning ran with the ball and picked up eight yards extending the drive down to the UMC 25-yard line. Four plays later, the Beavers’ Jalen Frye carried a low snap up off the grass and into the endzone extending the visitor’s lead to 20-10 after the missed extra-point. The Beavers used eleven plays, and 4:44 to move 48-yards bleeding time off the clock while moving ahead by two scores. “It was football length there, and we wanted to send the right message to the guys that we’re going to be aggressive and go for the win,” explained Dufner of his decision to go for it on fourth down. “We certainly could have played the field position and put the defense in a better position. We talked about it as a staff, but on fourth and a football length we’ve got to be able to convert that if we’re going to win the football game.”
Minnesota Crookston’s three possessions in the fourth quarter all came up empty as the Golden Eagles offense was unable to overcome their two red-zone turnovers from the first half. The Beavers added one final touchdown to close out the win with another three-yard Jalen Frye run as Bemidji State retained the Hubcap trophy 27-10.
While Minnesota Crookston failed to win the game, coach Dufner praised his team’s performance, “they played every rep here. All sixty minutes. The guys worked hard. We just fell short on the ‘W.’ We improved here from a week ago in all three phases. There’s room for improvement in all three phases as well. We’ve just got to keep getting better and stay focused on the controllable.”
Minnesota Crookston falls to 0-3. The Golden Eagles host their homecoming game on Saturday when UMC welcomes Minot State for a Noon kick-off with the Riverview Health pregame show starting at 11:20 A.M. on KROX. Bemidji State improves to 3-0.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
| Bemidji State | 14 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 27 |
| UMC | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
1st Quarter-
7:59 – BSU – Jalen Frye 24 yard pass to Brendan Beaulieu (Mason Hoffer kick)
3:29 – BSU – Jared Henning 11 yard run (Mason Hoffer kick)
2nd Quarter-
12:35 – UMC – Jared McLemore 34 yard field goal
5:28 – UMC – Jalin Scott 38 yard pass to Eli Solberg (Jared McLemore kick)
3rd Quarter –
1:37 – BSU – Jalen Frye 3 yard run (kick failed)
4th Quarter –
4:00 – BSU – Jalen Frye 3 yard run (Mason Hoffer kick)
