Minot State football opens season at home
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The Minot State Beavers football team officially kicked off their 2026 season on Thursday evening, August 27, with a home game against the Emporia State Hornets.
Though the Beavers fell 30-36 to the Hornets on their opening night, the Beavers’ performance on the field was evidence of their drive heading into the new season.
The Beavers struck first in the first quarter, earning their first touchdown of the evening on a 23 yard run by the Beavers’ junior quarterback Matthew Shinn. The Hornets scored a touch down of their own in the first quarter, earning the extra point and putting themselves 7-6 in the lead.
The Beavers took their lead back to kick off the second quarter with fifth-year slot back Brandon Hines Jr. running the ball 11 yards up the middle for another Beavers touchdown.
The Beavers stayed scoreless through the rest of the second inning and into the third.
Meanwhile, the Hornets took their lead back and widened it to a 17 point deficit at 29-12 at the end of the third quarter.
Hines scored his second touchdown of the game early in the fourth quarter, and sophomore quarterback Jett Lundeen completes a five yard pass to fifth year b-back Sam Buckhanan for their second touchdown of the quarter.
The Hornets scored again not ten seconds after the Beavers to put them at a 36-24 advantage over Minot State.
The Beavers were only able to score a single more touchdown before the end of the fourth quarter, leaving them with a 36-30 loss in the season opener.
The Beavers will be back at home on Thursday, September 3, for their next game, as they play Wayne State College still in search of their first win.