Nathan Beitler/MDN Minot State senior quarterback Carson Chrisman runs down the field to score the Beavers’ first touchdown of their game against Bemidji State at Herb Parker Stadium on Saturday, Sept.27.

The Minot State Beavers earned their first win of the 2025 season while at home against the Bemidji State University Beavers on Saturday, September 27.

Turnovers and interceptions were the name of the game for Minot State during their Saturday bout against Bemidji State, giving them the edge and letting them walk away with their first win of the season with a final score of 28-21. Minot State was the first to get the ball rolling in the “Battle of the Beavers,” putting the first points on the board with a 15 yard rushing touchdown by senior quarterback Carson Chrisman. The drive went a total of 81 yards over eleven plays and a successful extra point by sophomore kicker Brandon McCary gave Minot State an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Bemidji did not let Minot lead stand for long, as they scored a touchdown of their own with just 45 seconds left in the first quarter. Bemidji’s Lucas Peterson scored on a nine-yard pass from their quarterback Bart McAninch. Bemidji’s own successful extra point attempt tied the game at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter of the game saw Minot State take and keep the lead, first breaking the tie less than five minutes into the quarter off of a one-yard rushing touchdown by redshirt senior Evan Lovett. Minot State scored their extra point to take the lead for the second time with a new score of 14-7. The rest of the quarter would remain scoreless until just under two minutes remained in the half, where freshman quarterback Gage Cavanaugh ran a six-yard touchdown, giving Minot State an even wider lead. The successful extra point gave Minot State a two-touchdown lead heading into the second half.

Minot’s lead helped create a safe enough buffer, as Bemidji tried to mount their comeback in the third quarter. First, Bemidji scored a 14-yard rushing touchdown with eleven and a half minutes left in the quarter, brought in by Isaiah Tisdle, bringing them within a touchdown of tying the game. Then, with exactly one minute remaining in the quarter, Connor Carver ran a 36 yard touchdown, giving Bemidji State their third touchdown and tying the game right before the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter remained largely scoreless, and it looked like the game might head into overtime, until Minot State’s sophomore cornerback Nalu Cordeiro intercepted a pass from Bemidji State and ran a 49 yard pick six interception to put the Beavers back in the lead with less than two minutes left in the ball game. Bemidji State managed to make their way back down the field until they were first & goal on the six yard line. They had less than 30 seconds remaining in the game when they threw a pass right into the endzone, only for Cordeiro to intercept the ball once again. Cordeiro was able to run the ball back all the way to the endzone again, but a holding call against Minot State back on the 26 yard line kept the interception from becoming an official touchdown. But with just eight seconds left on the clock, it did not matter much. The game ended with Minot State’s first victory of the 2025 season with a score of 28-21.

This was Minot State’s first franchise victory over Bemidji State, having previously lost all first 19 games against them.

Turnovers helped push Minot State over the edge in Saturday’s game, as Minot forced three turnovers with one resulting in a touchdown without giving up any themselves. The Beavers were also efficient in the redzone, scoring all three times they were able to make it within the 20-yard line. Minot State was able to out run Bemidji, earning a total of 319 rushing yards over the four quarters, outpacing Bemidji by 89 yards.​ After Saturday’s game, Minot has improved to an overall record of 1-4 and a conference record of 1-3. They will head back on the road for their game on Saturday, October 4 when they will take on Minnesota State University at Moorhead, Minnesota.