Kari Gibb/MDN Minot State University redshirt sophomore running back Tyler Stonebraker (32) makes a cut behind a block for a solid gain in the game against visiting Valley CIty State on Thursday, August 29, as the Beavers opened season play at Herb Parker Stadium

The Vikings from Valley City State (VCS) made the trip to Minot to take on the Beavers in the Minot State University (MSU) season opening game. The sun was shining, the wind was blowing and the home team ground out yardage with a running attack that netted a 38-7 game one win.

The Beavers moved the ball into field goal range within the first five minutes of the game to go up 3-0 over the Vikings. Roughly three minutes later, MSU scored the games first touchdown on a 36 yard scamper by MSU running back Evan Lovett to extend the lead to 10-0.

With two and change left to play in the first quarter, Carson Chrisman drove in from four yards out to put the host team up 17-0 to start the second quarter of play.

With just under nine minutes to play in the first half, Chrisman would tack on another score on a 17 yard bootleg to cap off an 8-play, 80-yard march down the field that set the tempo of the first half of play.

The Vikings would regroup from the high energy effort by the Beavers in the first half and hold MSU to no scores in the third quarter of play. Valley CIty State would score at just over the nine minute mark on the clock when Dominic Sotomayor hauled in a 39-yard pass from Noah Chambers for the lone visitor score.

MSU would add two scores in the fourth quarter- both runs by Chrisman- for the final score. Making his first start at quarterback for the Beavers, Chrisman ran the spread option well and came away with four rushing touchdowns of the five on the ground.

MSU would end the game with 22 of 24 first downs by rushing and two by penalty. The Beavers posted 416 rushing yards on 58 carries for a 7.2-yard average.

Next up for the Beavers is a trip to Minnesota to take on Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foe, Southwest Minnesota State University on Saturday, September 7, in Marshall.