Box Score

BEMIDJI, Minn. – Northern State University scored the final touchdown of each half and held the host Bemidji State University Beavers to just two second half TD drives, but couldn't overcome an early four-touchdown deficit in falling 41-13 to the Beavers Saturday afternoon in a battle of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division foes.

The loss drops the Wolves to 1-8 overall and 1-7 in conference play with two games left on the 2010 docket.  BSU clinched a winning record with Saturday's victory, moving to 6-3 overall and 5-3 in league games.

The Beavers raced out to a quick 27-0 lead, capitalizing on an NSU interception in the process.  Dustin Kroeplin ran for two of the four TDs, including a 45-yarder that capped the frenzy, while senior quarterback Derek Edholm threw for the other two.  All four scoring drives lasted three minutes, 40 seconds or less.

NSU answered with a touchdown of its own just before the end of the half.  Junior Nick Wanner found redshirt freshman wide-out Trevor Mau on a 6-yard route with 36 seconds left on the clock to thwart the first half shutout.  The drive, officially a six play, 84-yard drive, was aided by two Bemidji State personal foul penalties, including a roughing the passer infraction on 2nd-and-15 from the BSU 25.

The Beavers added another two TDs in the second half before the Wolves scored again.  BSU ground out an 16-play, 99-yard drive that took nearly eight and a half minutes off the clock in the third quarter.  Edholm capped the drive – which began after the Beavers recovered a Chad Morrison fumble on the BSU 1-yardline – with a five-yard strike to Andrew Schultz.

Edholm then found Brian Leonhardt for a second time near the start of the fourth quarter for his 53rd career TD pass, making him BSU's all-time leading TD passer.

The Wolves answered late in the fourth on a 10-yard Morrison scamper.  Senior Thomas Parrott added the extra point to make it a 41-13 final.

BSU racked up 450 yards of total offense, including a 350 on the ground.  Edholm, despite the four TD passes, threw for just 100 yards on seven completions.

NSU's Morrison ran for 44 yards on six carries and a TD, while Mau hauled in five catches for 33 yards and the second score.  Defensively, junior Matt Racowschi notched 10 tackles in his return to the field after mission the previous two games with an injury.

The Wolves return to Aberdeen next weekend for their home finale, hosting Minnesota State Moorhead in the annual Shrine Game.  Kick-off at NSU's Swisher Field is set for 1 p.m.