Alex Eisen/MDN Bemidji State receiver Malik Williams (left) catches a touchdown pass in the first quarter with Minot State defensive back Roma'n Grissett (30) in coverage Saturday afternoon at Herb Parker Stadium.

Quick three-and-out, a four-play touchdown drive and a blocked punt scooped up for six more points, the Minot State football team couldn’t have wished for a better start to its senior day finale.

Herb Parker Stadium was buzzing with the home Beavers jumping out to a 13-0 lead in the first four minutes of the 21st annual Beaver Bash contest against Bemidji State.

All of that excitement was drained entirely in the second half, as Bemidji State (8-3) racked up 758 yards of total offense en route to a 66-30 road win over Minot State (3-8) to wrap up the regular season.

“The start was good, a lot of energy,” MSU head coach Mike Aldrich said. “That created a little bit more belief out of our guys. Then, coming out for the second half, we didn’t create enough belief to try and get back into it.”

MSU junior quarterback Ben Bolinske started despite missing last week with a strained ligament in his thumb on his throwing hand.

“It’s what separates us from all the other animals in the animal kingdom, we can grip things with our thumbs and I wasn’t able to do that,” Bolinske said about his injury. “It helped with the glove, obviously, but it’s still tough to grip stuff, especially a football.”

Bolinske only completed four passes on the day, with one going to senior Lane Torgerson on a one-yard roll-out to score the first of 13 touchdowns between the two teams in the high-scoring affair.

“We found out early in the week that I could throw a little bit with the glove on,” said Bolinske, who also rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown. “Just a little bit with the glove on.”

Without a consistent passing attack, MSU had to rely on the ground game.

True freshman running back Ali Mohamed made history on the first play from the line of scrimmage. No. 21 Mohamed fittingly ripped off a 21-yard run to break MSU’s Division II era record for most rushing yards in a single season.

“We knew that was going to happen; I had to go get it with a bang,” Mohamed said. “I came here knowing I could make a change. The offensive line and I got together, and we did it.”

Mohamed ended up with 817 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the year.

Another freshman, Cory Carignan, was in the end zone for the Beavers after a blocked punt by Bishop Ryan graduate Jaxon Lundeen. Bemidji State blocked the ensuing extra point, 13-0.

BSU then scored back-to-back touchdowns on a 28-yard touchdown catch from Emmett Enright to Malik Williams and a 68-yard breakaway run by Jalen Frye.

Frye was just getting started. The standout sophomore rushed for 316 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries.

“We knew that if we could fill our gaps and take away his lateral seems, then we would have success,” Aldrich said. “That’s what we did until the ones that we didn’t. Then, bam, he was out of the gates on us. He’s pretty good. When I was at Southwest (Minnesota State), we recruited him out of high school, so I knew exactly how good he was. Our whole goal was to try and contain him.”

An eight-play touchdown drive was capped by an eight-yard run from Bolinske to put Minot State up 20-14 after the first quarter.

Enright answered with two out of his five touchdown passes in the second quarter. He finished with 325 passing yards.

Bemidji State led 28-27 at halftime. Seventeen unanswered points for Bemidji State in the third quarter effectively put Minot State away for good.

Frye scored on a fourth-down 47-yard run up the middle, Minot High graduate Mason Hoffer booted through a 19-yard field goal and 6-foot-5 receiver Jacob Anderson hauled in a 15-yard touchdown pass.

Minot State senior kicker/punter JoseLuis Moreno ended his collegiate career with a 46-yard field goal make with 11:27 remaining. That also turned out to be MSU’s final points of the season.

“We built this chemistry, this love, this brotherhood,” an emotional Moreno said after the game. “That’s what is making this tough to realize this was my last career game at Minot State. It’s nothing but wonderful memories and lifelong friendships.”

Bemidji State, chasing the 69 points they scored last season against Minot State, scored three more touchdowns in the fourth quarter to rub salt in the wound. That included another explosive 74-yard touchdown reception for Brendan Beaulieu and a pick-six for Michael Junker off backup quarterback Sean Kuenzinger.

“Once we were chasing points, really the only way you can do that is by throwing yourself back into it,” Aldrich said. “Giving up explosive plays just kills your morale.”

MSU racked up 307 total yards of offense with 273 yards coming on the ground. Bolinske, Mohamed and Isaiah Hall each had more than 10 carries and 50 rushing yards.

Senior Lavante Bushnell made two catches to break MSU’s Division II era record for the most career receptions (159).

“I left my legacy, left my name,” Bushnell said. “It was wild (playing my last collegiate game). I couldn’t wrap my mind around it. When I walked out for the senior ceremony, I lost it. My family was out there. I just can’t believe all this happened so fast.”

Minot State ends the season at 3-8 overall. Two wins better than last season (1-10), but one win shy of being the program’s winningest season since joining the NSIC in 2012.

“We improved drastically from last year — going from a one-win season to a three-win season,” Aldrich said. “I know three wins isn’t a great number by any means, but still triple what we had last year. We were very competitive and had a couple of games that were really close — games where we would like to have one play back. Now, we have to learn and continue to grow.”

Alex Eisen covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.