BEMIDJI — Each week, it seems that someone new steps in to have an outstanding game for the Bemidji State football team.<\/p>\n
In last week’s overtime win against Northern State, it was kicker Mason Hoffer filling in for injured Isaac Aanerud. Hoffer kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime.<\/p>\n
This week against Minot State, the Beavers again needed a backup to fill in for an injured teammate.<\/p>\n
Jared Henning answered the call. The redshirt freshman quarterback stepped in for the injured Jordan Hein and Nick Mehlum and helped Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ punish Minot State on the ground en route to a 52-28 homecoming victory Saturday afternoon at Chet Anderson Stadium.<\/p>\n
It was Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ’s seventh straight homecoming win (and their seventh straight post-homecoming swim in Lake Bemidji, a Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ tradition).<\/p>\n
“Our motto this whole season has been ‘next man up,’” Henning said. “Our offensive line just played outstanding. Our receivers blocked really well. I think altogether is was a complete good game. The holes were open and we just took advantage of it.”<\/p>\n
Henning ran for 172 yards and three touchdowns, part of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ’s outstanding 430-yard running attack. It wasn’t quite the school record of 480 (which the Beavers set just two weeks ago against U-Mary) but interim head coach Brent Bolte was impressed with the showing.<\/p>\n
“Jared did a nice job running the option stuff, but give the credit to the offensive line,” Bolte said. “They did a really nice job. You’re not going to run for 400 yards, traditionally, ever. But now we’ve done it two out of the last three weeks, so we’re proud for that.”<\/p>\n
Matt Valentine, Jake Krause, Jesse Hein, Brian Johnson and Brandon Schindler started on the line for Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ (6-1, 3-0 NSIC) and helped open up those holes — not just for Henning, but also for running backs Gena Adams, who had 152 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and Tahi Nomane, who had 87 yards.<\/p>\n
With Hein out for the second straight week, the Beavers had planned on using a two-quarterback system for Saturday’s game, and Mehlum actually got the start. He did well — going 3-for-6 passing with 73 yards and two touchdowns — but he tweaked his ankle in the first half, which gave Henning the opportunity.<\/p>\n
That turned out to be a good call against Minot (1-6, 0-3 NSIC), which has the worst rushing defense in the NSIC.<\/p>\n
“Nick wasn’t running around too well, and Jared was doing a nice job, so we just rode him out and went with him,” Bolte said.<\/p>\n
Although the final score was lopsided, Minot kept it close early. It was 14-7 at the end of the first quarter. Adams scored twice — one on a 36-yard touchdown catch and another on a 22-yard run — but Minot’s Akkil Walker got them on the scoreboard with a 12-yard touchdown catch from Isaiah Weed.<\/p>\n
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ’s Juwaan Richard caught an 18-yard touchdown from Mehlum to start the second quarter before Minot again answered. This time, running back Ben Zahniser broke free for a 70-yard run down the sideline, making it 21-14.<\/p>\n
MSU never got any closer.<\/p>\n
Henning scored two straight touchdowns for Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ — on runs of 4 and 35 yards, respectively — to make it 33-14. Although Zahniser scored once more in the second quarter to make it 33-21, Henning added his third touchdown as time expired in the second quarter to take a 39-21 halftime lead.<\/p>\n
Henning credited the offensive line and offensive coordinator Craig Bagnell with Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ’s success running the option.
\n“Coach Bagnell is great at scheming up the defense and he’s really good at designing what we’re going to run, and the offensive line blocked outstanding,” he said. “All around we have great backs everywhere. When our offensive line blocks, we’re very hard to stop.”<\/p>\n
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ controlled the clock in the second half and outscored Minot 13-7; Adams added a 75-yard touchdown run while Hoffer kicked two field goals.<\/p>\n
Bemidji State outgained Minot 574-300. Zahniser led MSU with 108 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries while Weed went 12-for-20 passing for 124 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.<\/p>\n
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ heads to Minnesota Duluth next week where they will take on the 6-1 Bulldogs, who beat Northern State this week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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