FOOTBALL: Beavers scorch Dragons with benchmark dominance for 46-7 win

Oct. 15—MOORHEAD — Saturday's edition of the Battle Axe rivalry didn't escalate into much more than a skirmish.

With a menacing blitz, a downhill offense and everything in between, the Bemidji State football team dominated Minnesota State Moorhead to the tune of a 46-7 road victory — and one of historical proportions.

"Not a lot to complain about from Beaver Land today," BSU head coach Brent Bolte said.

The Bemidji State defense racked up 10 sacks — the program's most since sacking the Dragons 10 times in 2017. The Beavers have now also produced at least 44 points in four straight weeks, marking the first time that's ever happened in 96 years of BSU football.

"That's pretty wild to say that," Bolte said. "We've had some good offenses, so that's pretty amazing considering what we've been able to put on the field for the last couple decades."

Saturday's 39-point win is Bemidji State's largest in the rivalry since a 42-0 blowout over MSUM in 2004, and it keeps the legendary Battle Axe Trophy in Bemidji for another year. More importantly, it's the Beavers' fifth straight victory as they continue to recover from an 0-2 start to the season.

"After we had the 0-2 start, this was really the vision: Find a way to win each week and put yourself in a position to win the North (Division)," Bolte said. "After the start we had, I wasn't sure we'd be in this position. So I'm happy for the guys to battle back, show some resiliency and get us in this spot."

BSU spared no expense when it came to fireworks. Zollie Kaplan started the showcase with a sack in the end zone on the Dragons' first drive, handing Bemidji State (5-2) a quick 2-0 lead. It was the Beavers' first safety since 2015.

Jalen Frye quickly extended the lead with his first of three touchdown rushes, scoring on a 1-yard run. The air attack joined in on the fun in the second quarter, when Jake Hill hauled in a 55-yard TD catch.

They weren't done there, because Sage Booker added a 1-yard touchdown rush, and then Frye scored from the 5-yard line for a 29-7 lead over the Dragons (2-5) by halftime.

Frye and Jarrett Gronski added touchdown runs in the second half, while Connor Cusick added a third-quarter field goal to rack up another 40-plus points on the scoreboard by afternoon's end.

"It starts with getting balance," Bolte said of the hot offense. "We ran the ball effectively today. We don't always have to put it on (quarterback) Brandon Alt to be able to throw the ball around. We've got a lot of skill guys. It's hard to defend that offense, and you've got to pick your poison."

Frye ended his day with 92 rushing yards and three TDs on 24 carries, while Alt went 20-for-27 passing with 311 yards and one score in three quarters of work. Hill led the receivers with 122 yards on five catches, and Brendan Beaulieu had 90 yards on five receptions.

Defensively, Spencer Wehr led the defense with six tackles and an interception, while Kaplan had four sacks to spearhead the pass rush.

Next up for BSU is the marquee game of the regular season. Minnesota Duluth will visit for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Saturday, Oct. 22, at Chet Anderson Stadium, and it's likely to be a season-defining game. The winner will be in prime position to win the NSIC North.

"Duluth's playing really good right now, and they've got a really veteran team," Bolte said. "It's going to be a tough task. ... But I think you'll see two really prolific offenses going at it next week. Expect a battle."

In the second quarter, Bemidji State senior tight end/fullback Bryce Duffy left Saturday's game on a stretcher.

On a rushing play with Duffy blocking, Duffy got hit and fell to the ground. A long injury delay ended with Duffy getting put on a stretcher and leaving the stadium in an ambulance.

"He got knocked out, is what happened, during the play," Bolte said from the hospital after the game. "I'm hoping that he'll be on the mend here and feeling good. I know he's awake and moving. They did some scans. From what I've heard, it's all been good."

Duffy's mother, Cathy, tweeted an update on Sunday morning, saying: "Bryce is at Fargo Trauma Center. He's doing better today. It wasn't a helmet to helmet hit, it was neck injury causing a spinal contusion. He's getting some movement back, his arms and legs not so much."

Bemidji State 46, MSU Moorhead 7

BSU 9 20 10 7 — 46

MSUM 0 7 0 0 — 7

First quarter — BSU SAFETY, Kaplan 1-yard sack, 2-0 BSU; BSU TD, Frye 1-yard rush (Cusick PAT), 9-0 BSU.

Second quarter — BSU TD, Hill 55-yard catch from Alt (Cusick PAT), 16-0 BSU; BSU TD, Booker 1-yard rush (Cusick PAT missed), 22-0 BSU; BSU TD, Frye 5-yard rush (Rodriguez PAT), 29-0 BSU; MSUM TD, Florence 5-yard catch from Strand (Schroeder PAT), 29-7 BSU.

Third quarter — BSU TD, Frye 23-yard rush (Rodriguez PAT), 36-7 BSU; BSU FG, Cusick 32-yard kick, 39-7 BSU.

Fourth quarter — BSU TD, Gronski 1-yard rush (Rodriguez PAT), 46-7 BSU.