The final stretch of the 2021 Bemidji State University football season begins with a home matchup against Southwest Minnesota State University at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30 at Chet Anderson Stadium. The (RV) Beavers hope to continue its recent success against the Mustangs with 15 wins over the last 16 meetings in the series.
THE SERIES
Bemidji State leads the all-time series, 24-21-1.
BSU has won 15 of the last 16 games against SMSU, including eight straight in Bemidji.
Bemidji State scored 25 fourth-quarter points in a 25-24 win over Southwest Minn. State during the most recent meeting on Oct. 12, 2019 in Marshall, Minn. BSU scored four touchdowns over the final 10:08 of the game, including a 27-yard game-winning touchdown catch by senior wide receiver Malik Williams with six seconds to play.
Williams and fellow senior wide receiver Brendan Beaulieu both topped 100 receiving yards in the 2019 meeting, marking the first 100-yard receiving game by a Beaver in the series since 2005.
The series first began Oct. 17, 1970, a 30-20 win by Southwest Minn. State in Marshall.
SCOUTING BEMIDJI STATE
(6-2, 4-0 NSIC NORTH)
Bemidji State completed a second-half comeback in back-to-back games following a 42-35 win at the No. 16 University of Minnesota Duluth, snapping an 18-game losing streak and 21-game, 80-year road losing streak in the series.
BSU improved to 6-2 overall and leads the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division with a 4-0 record in division play. The Beavers scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and held the Bulldogs to just 14 yards during the final quarter.
Trailing 35-21 heading into the fourth quarter, BSU’s defense forced three three-and-outs, an interception and a game-clinching fumble on UMD’s five fourth-quarter drives. Sophomore quarterback Brandon Alt threw three touchdowns to three different receivers over the final 15 minutes to secure BSU’s first win in Duluth since 1941.
The Beavers recorded four turnovers against the Bulldogs, their fifth game with at least three takeaways, and improved to 5-0 when winning the turnover battle. The “Gang Green” defense also forced UMD to a season high six three-and-outs and tied a season-high seven punts forced. BSU continued a three-game streak without allowing a rushing touchdown in the red zone and forced two turnovers in the red zone for the first time since Sept. 21, 2019.
BSU has scored at least 38 points in four games this season and improved to 29-3 under head coach Brent Bolte when scoring at least 30 points.
The Bemidji State offensive line, comprised of three freshmen and two sophomores, ranks eighth in the nation in sacks allowed this season.
Alt went 20-of-40 for 269 passing yards and six touchdowns, tying the BSU single-game record set by Nathan Sanners in 2005. Alt has thrown for at least 250 yards in all eight games this season, the longest such streak in BSU history, topping the previous streak of six games set by assistant coach Jordan Hein.
Williams was named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Week after recording 10 catches for a career-high 176 yards and three touchdowns. He is the first receiver in the conference to earn the offensive player of the week honor this season and is the first BSU receiver to earn the honor since Anthony Schreiber in 2006.
Williams is the first Beaver to ever record multiple touchdown catches in four straight games.
After having one receiver with three touchdown catches in a game between 2009-19, BSU has had two such games this season (Bubba Peters 9/11/21 and Williams 10/23/21). BSU also had just one 10+ reception game by a Beaver between 2008-18 before Williams and Beaulieu combined for four such games over the past two seasons.
Beaulieu moved into ninth all-time at BSU in career receiving yards with 1,620 in 99 games. Beaulieu and Williams are both within 73 receiving yards of the top-10 single-season marks in BSU history.
Williams’ 12 touchdown catches this season ranks second most in a season in BSU history. Williams moved into sixth all-time at BSU in career touchdown receptions with 21 while Beaulieu is three away from tying for 10th all-time.
Senior defensive back Hameed Oyedele led BSU in tackles three times this season and has been among the top two tacklers in six of seven games played.
Bemidji State received votes in the AFCA Top 25 Poll for the third time this season and was named No. 6 in the initial NCAA Division II Super Region 4 ranking. The regional ranking is the first for BSU since being ranked No. 8 in 2016.
SCOUTING SOUTHWEST MINN. STATE
(2-6, 1-3 NSIC SOUTH)
The Mustangs are led by 12th-year head coach Cory Sauter, who is 45-74 all-time leading SMSU.
SMSU fell to 2-6 this season following a 38-16 loss to Wayne State College at home.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 31-3 lead at halftime and limited the Mustangs to a season-low 11 first downs and 257 total yards through the game.
Junior running back Jesse Sherwood led the SMSU offense with 83 rushing yards and one touchdown on 18 carries while freshman wide receiver Keilan Smith set career-highs with four catches for 88 yards. Three quarterbacks saw action for SMSU, led by senior Andrew Haidet with 106 yards and one interception.
Senior linebacker Gage Roberson racked up a career-high 13 tackles, including two for a loss, and one interception to led the Mustang defense. Sophomore defensive back Jordan White added a career-high 11 tackles while senior defensive back Adihia Bell totaled six stops.
BEMIDJI STATE ROSTER
No. / Name / Position / Height / Weight / Year / Hometown / Previous School
1 / Sage Booker / RB / 6-0 / 190 / So.-1L / Minneapolis, Minn. / DeLaSalle HS
2 / Hameed Oyedele / DB / 5-10 / 190 / Sr. / Alexandria, Va. / Indiana State
3 / Jashon Roundtree / DB / 6-2 / 200 / Sr.-1L / Vanceboro, N.C. / Itasca CC
4 / Keontay Shorter / DB / 5-10 / 155 / So.-1L / Minneapolis, Minn. / Academy of Holy Angels
5 / Maalik Knox / DB / 5-11 / 170 / Fr. / Phoenix, Ariz. / Cesar Chavez HS
6 / Malik Williams / WR / 5-8 / 190 / Sr.-1L / Lake Worth, Fla. / Northland CC
7 / Jaylen Jenkins / LB / 6-0 / 205 / Sr.-2L / Chicago, Ill. / Davenport
8 / Colton Herman / DB / 6-0 / 190 / Fr.-RS / Anchorage, Alaska / Anchorage East HS
9 / Gabe Ames / OLB / 6-0 / 240 / Sr.-3L / Rosemount, Minn. / Rosemount HS
10 / Brandon Alt / QB / 6-2 / 200 / So.-1L / Cottage Grove, Minn. / Park HS
14 / Dhel Duncan-Busby / WR / 6-2 / 200 / Jr.-1L / Madison, Ohio / Midwestern Prep Academy
15 / Mike Wandmaker / WR / 6-3 / 210 / Jr. / Andover, Minn. / South Dakota State
16 / Cade Baumgardner / QB / 6-3 / 190 / Fr.-RS / Sauk Rapids, Minn. / Sauk Rapids-Rice HS
17 / Sam McGath / QB / 6-0 / 215 / Fr. / Brookfield, Wis. / Brookfield East HS
18 / Zollie Kaplan / LB / 6-2 / 235 / Jr.-2L / St. Louis Park, Minn. / St. Louis Park HS
19 / Brendan Beaulieu / WR / 6-3 / 210 / Jr.-2L / Cottage Grove, Minn. / Park HS
20 / Jamel Stone / DB / 5-9 / 180 / Fr. / Sun Prairie, Wis. / Sun Prairie HS
21 / Jake West / DB / 5-11 / 195 / Jr.-2L / Woodbury, Minn. / Woodbury HS
22 / Caleb Young / DB / 5-11 / 190 / Fr.-RS / Tampa, Fla. / West Florida
23 / Brice “Bubba” Peters / WR / 5-10 / 190 / Fr. / White Bear Lake, Minn. / White Bear Lake HS
24 / Joe Odom III / DB / 5-10 / 180 / Sr.-1L / Fresno, Calif. / Sierra College
26 / Max Buduris / LB / 6-0 / 185 / So.-1L / Shorewood, Ill. / Minooka Community HS
29 / Willie Spears III / DB / 5-9 / 175 / Jr. / Chicago, Ill. / St. Cloud State
30 / Brady Bartz / TE/FB / 5-8 / 235 / So.-1L / Mequon, Wis. / Homestead HS
31 / Makaio Harn / RB / 5-7 / 195 / So.-1L / New London, Minn. / New London HS
32 / Ty Guden / LB / 5-10 / 195 / Fr.-RS / Edgar, Wis. / Edgar HS
33 / Jarrett Klein / DB / 6-4 / 210 / So.-1L / DeForest, Wis. / DeForest HS
35 / Spencer Wehr / LB / 6-2 / 220 / So.-1L / Cloquet, Minn. / Cloquet HS
37 / Dorrell Bratton / DB / 5-10 / 190 / So. / St. Paul, Minn. / Southwest Minn. State
38 / Bryce Duffy / TE/FB / 6-3 / 240 / Jr.-2L / DeForest, Wis. / DeForest HS
40 / Jarrett Gronski / TE/FB / 6-1 / 215 / Fr. / Superior, Wis. / Superior HS
42 / Tim O’Neill II / DB / 6-0 / 195 / Fr. / Flower Mound, Texas / Centennial HS
43 / Ricky Thompson II / LB / 6-2 / 225 / So.-1L / Carol Stream, Ill. / Glenbard North HS
44 / Michael Bailey II / LB / 6-3 / 200 / So. / Brooklyn Park, Minn. / Southwest Minn. State
45 / Colbey Wadsworth / DE / 6-4 / 240 / Jr.-2L / Boone, Iowa / Boone HS
46 / Aaron Castillo / LS / 6-1 / 210 / Jr. / Mesa, Ariz. / Gila River JC
47 / Dylan Wheeler / TE/FB / 6-2 / 240 / So. / Arlington, Texas / Minnesota Crookston
50 / Ryan Schnobrich / DL / 6-3 / 250 / Jr.-2L / Brooklyn Park, Minn. / Park Center HS
51 / Zach Shaffer / LB / 5-11 / 205 / Fr. / Blaine, Minn. / Blaine HS
52 / Spencer Shaver / LB / 5-11 / 210 / Fr.-RS / Savage, Minn. / Prior Lake HS
54 / Cole Sorby / LB / 6-0 / 220 / So.-1L / Thompson, N.D. / Thompson HS
55 / Theodus Ringgold / LB / 6-1 / 235 / Fr.-RS / Oconomowoc, Wis. / Oconomowoc HS
58 / Jack Sharon / LB / 6-1 / 220 / Fr. / Andover, Minn. / Andover HS
59 / CJ Dean / LB / 5-11 / 205 / Fr.-RS / Madison, Wis. / Madison East HS
60 / Zach Ott / OL / 6-2 / 330 / Fr. / Mason City, Iowa / Rockford HS
62 / Jake Gannon / OL / 6-2 / 290 / So. / Franklin, Minn. / Franklin HS
63 / Carter Fredericksen / OL / 6-2 / 275 / Fr.-RS / Breckenridge, Minn. / Breckenridge HS
64 / Kellan Wandtke / OL / 6-1 / 290 / Fr.-RS / Scandinavia, Wis. / Iola-Scandinavia HS
65 / Arian Garcia / OL / 6-1 / 320 / Fr. / Gretna, Neb. / Gretna HS
68 / William LeMire / OL / 6-3 / 285 / Fr. / White Bear Lake, Minn. / White Bear Lake HS
69 / Conor Kovas / OL / 6-2 / 300 / Fr. / Joliet, Ill. / Joliet Catholic Academy
71 / Ryan Fuller / OL / 6-3 / 275 / Sr.-3L / Neceedah, Wis. / Neceedah HS
75 / Joshua Wleh / DL / 5-10 / 290 / Sr.-3L / Brooklyn Park, Minn. / Park Center HS
76 / Ty Cobb / OL / 6-3 / 285 / So.-1L / Mounds View, Minn. / Irondale HS
77 / Carter Trom / OL / 6-1 / 285 / Fr. / Blaine, Minn. / Blaine HS
79 / James Huwe / OL / 6-2 / 315 / Sr.-3L / Detroit Lakes, Minn. / Detroit Lakes HS
80 / Shawn Steffan / WR / 6-2 / 195 / Jr.-2L / Dickinson, N.D. / Dickinson HS
83 / Jake Hill / WR / 5-11 / 165 / Fr. / Osseo, Minn. / Osseo HS
84 / Maximo Rodriguez / K/P / 5-9 / 195 / Jr. / Linden, Calif. / Delta College
86 / Zack Anderson / TE / 6-2 / 235 / Fr.-RS / Woodbury, Minn. / Woodbury HS
87 / Joey Baron / WR / 5-8 / 180 / Fr.-RS / St. Peter, Minn. / St. Peter HS
88 / Andrew Manuele / TE/FB / 6-3 / 205 / Jr.-2L / Chino, Calif. / Los Altos HS
89 / Nick Gerlach / TE/FB / 6-3 / 245 / Fr.-RS / East Bethel, Minn. / Northern State
90 / Mason Hoffer / K/P / 6-0 / 195 / Sr.-3L / Minot, N.D. / Minot HS
91 / Darnell McCrea / DT / 5-10 / 270 / Fr. / Minneapolis, Minn. / Minneapolis North HS
93 / Cade Barrett / DL / 6-5 / 255 / Fr. / Lake Shore, Minn. / Pillager HS
94 / Stephen Hoffman / DE / 6-6 / 270 / So.-TR / St. Paul, Minn. / St. Cloud State
95 / Elijah Brown / DL / 5-10 / 280 / Fr. / Minneapolis, Minn. / Benilde-St. Margaret’s HS
97 / Sammy Byrd / DL / 6-0 / 265 / Jr. / Circle Pines, Minn. / South Dakota /
98 / James Moe / DL / 6-3 / 275 / Sr.-3L / Wausau, Wis. / DC Everest HS
COACHING STAFF
Brent Bolte / Head Coach
Jamie Bisch / Defensive Coordinator
Karson Pike / Offensive Coordinator
Jordan Hein / Special Teams Coodinator
Charles Alexander / Defensive Ends
Nick Anderson / Running Backs
Brandon Labath / Tight Ends & Fullbacks
Alex Ney / Outside Linebackers
Nick Nissen / Offensive Line
Waylon Roberson / Defensive Tackles
Kristin Farris / Director of Operations
BEAVERS SCHEDULE
Sept. 2 / • at (RV) Sioux Falls / W, 24-16
Sept. 11 / • Wayne State / W, 38-28
Sept. 18 / • at (19) Minnesota State / L, 45-24
Sept. 25 / • (22) Augustana / L, 52-24
Oct. 2 / • Minot State ^ / W, 49-35
Oct. 9 / • at Concordia-St. Paul ^ / W, 42-14
Oct. 16 / • MSU Moorhead ^ / W, 22-19
Oct. 23 / • at (16) Minn. Duluth ^ / W, 42-35
Oct. 30 / • Southwest Minn. State / 1 p.m.
Nov. 6 / • at Northern State ^ / 1 p.m.
Nov. 13 / • UMary ^ / 1 p.m.
• NSIC Contest
^ NSIC North Contest
SOUTHWEST MINN. STATE ROSTER
No. / Name / Position / Height / Weight / Year / Hometown / Prev. School
0 / Onte Burns / LB / 6-0 / 205 / Jr. / Plymouth, Minn. / Robbinsdale Cooper
1 / Adihia Bell / DB / 6-1 / 205 / Sr. / Milwaukee, Wis. / Wisconsin Lutheran/ Ridgewater College
2 / Gage Roberson / LB / 6-3 / 215 / Sr. / Newport Beach, Calif. / Newport Harbor / Saddleback College
3 / Marshawn Reese / CB / 6-1 / 180 / Sr. / Elk Grove, Calif. / Franklin / American River College
4 / Steven Nava / QB / 6-2 / 190 / Sr. / Rosemead, Calif. / Rosemead / Mt. San Antonio College
5 / Alan Giron / DB / 5-11 / 200 / Jr. / Torrance, Calif. / La Habra / Fullerton College
6 / Duce Reynolds / RB / 5-10 / 195 / So. / San Diego, Calif. / Kearny
7 / Ken Truitt / CB / 5-10 / 170 / Sr. / LaGrange, Ga. / Troup County / College of the Siskiyous
8 / Albert Lemon / WR / 6-2 / 175 / So. / San Diego, Calif. / Mira Mesa
9 / Zeke Robinson / WR / 5-9 / 175 / Jr. / Vermillion, S.D. / Elk Point-Jefferson / University of South Dakota
10 / Andrew Haidet / QB / 6-5 / 220 / Sr. / Plano, Texas / John Paul II / Northern Illinois
11 / Carter Damlo / TE / 6-6 / 215 / Sr. / Waconia, Minn. / Waconia
12 / Jakob Olson / QB / 6-1 / 180 / So. / Bismarck, N.D. / Century / Central Lakes College
13 / Adrian Tolbert / WR / 6-5 / 220 / Jr. / San Diego, Calif. / Castle Park / Grossmont College
14 / Jordan White / DB / 6-0 / 190 / So. / Lynwood, Calif. / Chapparal / Central Washington University
15 / AJ Martinez / DB / 6-0 / 175 / RFr. / Eastvale, Calif. / Roosevelt
17 / Nathan Stearns / P / 6-5 / 195 / RFr. / Olathe, Kan. / Olathe South
18 / Evan Oetter / LB / 6-3 / 210 / RFr. / Chaska, Minn. / Chaska
19 / BJ Phillips / WR / 5-9 / 150 / RFr. / Las Vegas, Nev. / Legacy
20 / Justin Pinkney / CB / 6-1 / 170 / RFr. / Carson, Calif. / Junipero Serra
22 / David Quintanilla / CB / 5-11 / 190 / So. / Temecula, Calif. / Chaparral / Palomar College
23 / Shaylar Burnell / CB / 6-0 / 170 / Sr. / Rockford, Ill. / Hononegah
24 / Jesse Sherwood / RB / 5-10 / 195 / Jr. / Minneapolis, Minn. / Robbinsdale Armstrong / Central Lakes College
26 / Contae Cason / RB / 5-10 / 191 / Fr. / Brooksville, Fla. / Central
27 / Hunter Bohannon / DB / 6-0 / 190 / Fr. / Del Mar, Calif. / Westview
31 / Jizreel Jeudy / DB / 6-1 / 200 / Jr. / South Miami Heights, Fla. Miami Palmetto / Arkansas Baptist College
32 / Isaiah Loera / DB / 6-1 / 200 / RFr. / Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Upland
33 / Jake Hawkins / DE / 6-3 / 240 / So. / Waconia, Minn. / Waconia
35 / Rickey Jones / DE / 6-5 / 200 / RFr. / Las Vegas, Nev. / Arbor View
37 / Blake Allen / RB / 5-8 / 180 / Fr. / Murrieta, Calif. / Rancho Christian
39 / Carter Dicker / K / 6-2 / 165 / Fr. / Gilbert, Arizona / Perry
40 / Mark Person / DT / 6-1 / 245 / RFr. / Las Vegas, Nev. / Bishop Gorman
41 / Faavae Leomiti / LB / 6-1 / 220 / RFr. / San Diego, Calif. / Mira Mesa
42 / Dustin Pampel / TE / 6-3 / 235 / So. / Johnson Creek, Wis. / Lakeside Lutheran
43 / Markus Sullivan / DE / 6-5 / 230 / Jr. / Mill Creek, Wash. / Jackson / Saddleback College
44 / Thomas Mergen / LB / 6-0 / 225 / RFr. / Rochester, Minn. / Rochester Century
45 / Anthony Sola / DE / 6-1 / 210 / Jr. / Skyline, Calif. / Morse / Grossmont College
46 / Bayley Schuman / DE / 6-3 / 240 / Sr. / Lincoln, Neb. / Lincoln / Sacramento City College
47 / Jordan Nolan / LB / 6-1 / 215 / RFr. / Blaine, Minn. / Coon Rapids
48 / Aiden Ferguson / TE / 6-5 / 260 / RFr. / Rice Lake, Wis. / Rice Lake
49 / Turner Tonkovich / LB / 6-1 / 220 / Jr. / San Clemente, Calif. / San Clemente / Saddleback College
50 / Bradley Gould / OL / 6-6 / 300 / So. / Las Vegas, Nev. / Bishop Gorman
51 / Sala Lologo / OL / 6-1 / 305 / So. / Oceanside, Calif. / Oceanside / San Diego Mesa College
52 / Cam Irvin / DT / 6-3 / 270 / So. / North Branch, Minn. / North Branch
53 / Alex Maxwell / OL / 6-4 / 300 / RFr. / Lynnwood, Wash. / Meadowdale
54 / Austin Moore / DE / 6-5 / 245 / Jr. / San Clemente, Calif. / San Clemente / Saddleback College
55 / Gary Barnes / DE / 6-4 / 250 / So. / Madison, Wis. / Madison La Follette
60 / Jackson McMillen / OL / 6-3 / 300 / RFr. / Omaha, Neb. / Westside
65 / Khalif Spry / OL / 6-4 / 290 / So. / Gig Harbor, Wash. / Peninsula / College of the Siskiyous
66 / Dylan Lauer / OL / 6-3 / 310 / Sr. / Cloquet, Minn. / Cloquet / St. Cloud State
71 / Jay Atherton / OL / 6-7 / 290 / Sr. / Rolla, Mo. / Rolla / CSU Pueblo
75 / Tyler Nebelung / OL / 6-6 / 285 / Fr. / Ramsey, Minn. / Anoka
76 / Cedric Williams / OL / 6-2 / 285 / RFr. / Minneapolis, Minn. / Robbinsdale Cooper
80 / Peter Osman / WR / 6-1 / 180 / So. / Rochester, Minn. / Rochester Mayo / Rochester Community and Tech College
81 / Paddy Devlin / WR / 6-6 / 180 / Sr. / Chicago, Ill. / Saint Patrick / South Dakota State
82 / Billy West / TE / 6-2 / 245 / Fr. / Port St. Lucie, Fla. / Treasure Coast
84 / Eli Jefferson / WR / 5-8 / 165 / Jr. / Mission Viejo, Calif. / Jserra Catholic / Saddleback College
86 / Keilan Smith / WR / 5-10 / 150 / Fr. / Los Angeles, Calif. / Fairfax
88 / Keaton Rommel / TE / 6-4 / 225 / Sr. / Davenport, Iowa / Davenport West
91 / Ernest Moore / TE / 6-7 / 300 / Sr. / San Francisco, Calif. / George Washington / University of Hawaii
93 / Lee Wilson / DT / 6-2 / 295 / RFr. / North Las Vegas, Nev. / Legacy
94 / Fred Hardy / DT / 6-0 / 295 / RFr. / Dallas, Texas / Carter
95 / Toiva Tufaga / DT / 6-1 / 300 / Jr. / Laie, Hawaii / Kahuku / Snow College
97 / Adam Mier / DT / 6-3 / 255 / Jr. / Sacramento, Calif. / McClatchy / Sacramento City College
99 / Avery Johnson / DT / 6-4 / 260 / Fr. / Lomira, Wis. / Lomira
COACHING STAFF
Cory Sauter / Head Coach
Shay McClure / Defensive Coordinator
Levi Bullerman / Assistant Coach
Miguel Black / Assistant Coach
Harrison Tsimouris / Assistant Coach
Joe Gatz / Assistant Coach
Sebastian DeMartini / Assistant Coach
Virnel Moon / Assistant Coach
Michael Everett / Assistant Coach
Anders Faaren / Assistant Coach
Devon Fortin / Student Assistant
MUSTANGS SCHEDULE
Sept. 2 / MSU Moorhead / L, 33-21
Sept. 11 / at Northern State / L, 30-13
Sept. 18 / UMary / L, 45-23
Sept. 25 / at Concordia-St. Paul / W, 34-24
Oct. 2 / at Upper Iowa ^ / W, 20-14
Oct. 9 / Sioux Falls ^ / L, 35-7
Oct. 16 / at Winona State ^ / L, 26-14
Oct. 23 / Wayne State ^ / L, 38-16
Oct. 30 / at Bemidji State / 1 p.m.
Nov. 6 / Minnesota State ^ / 1 p.m.
Nov. 13 / at Augustana ^ / 1 p.m.