Kari Gibb/MDN Minot State redshirt sophomore Damon Darling (89) makes the catch and runs for a first down while sophomore Aidan Shumate (62) and senior DJ Schneibel (69) trail after him in the first quarter of action between the visiting Northern State University Wolves and the Hosting Beavers on Saturday at homecoming.

The Minot State University football team kicked their winning field goal with 1:46 left to play in the game and leaned on their defense to keep Northern State University from scoring again in the 17-14 win for the Beavers in their 2024 homecoming game at Herb Parker Stadium on Saturday, September 14.

The Beavers started the game the way they ended it, with a field goal in the first quarter with only three seconds on the clock. The three point action was the only score for either team in the first quarter that highlighted defensive action by each team.

The second quarter was the Wolves for the scoring opportunity. Wide receiver Tanner Branson caught an 11-yard pass from Northern State quarterback Daniel Britt with 2:06 left in the first half of play. The touchdown gave the visiting Wolves the 7-3 lead going into halftime.

MSU kicker Diego Nunez-Smith got the Beavers back on the scoreboard with his second field goal of the game half way through the third quarter of play to make it a one point game.

Roughly two minutes later, NSU quarterback Britt scored the second touchdown of the game for the Wolves on a 38-yard scamper for the 14-6 lead over the hosts.

As time ran out in the third quarter, MSU running back Evan Lovitt ground out a 44-yard run for the Beavers only touchdown of the game. Tyler Stonebreaker caught the two point conversion pass to tie the game at 14-14 with one quarter to play.

MSU had the edge in first downs 16-11, rushing yards 196-159 as well as passing yards 92-84 in the game. The Beavers had 288 yards of total offense while the Wolves tallied 243 yards on 45 plays compared to Minot State University’s 66 plays.

The number of plays for the hosting team was reflected in the time of possession as MSU held the ball for 36:25 compared to NSU having it for 25:35 of the game. MSU also had 5-15 third down conversions compared to NSU with 2-10 in the same stat line. The Beavers were also 2-3 in fourth down conversions attempted while NSU was 0-1 in the same category.

Minot State University travels to Mankato, Minnesota, to play the Minnesota State University – Mankato Mavericks on Saturday, September 20.

At 2-0, the Beavers share the top spot among the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) standings with the Mavericks and the Sioux Falls Cougars.