Via Wayne State College Athletics:

WAYNE - Bemidji State built a 24-14 halftime lead, then held off Wayne State in the second half for a 26-21 Northern Sun Conference football victory over the Wildcats Saturday afternoon in the Hall of Fame Game at Cunningham Field in Wayne.  WSC drops to 3-4 overall and 3-3 in NSIC games while Bemidji State improves to 2-5 on the season and 2-4 in the league while notching a sixth straight win over WSC in the series.

Wayne State forced a Bemidji State turnover on the opening drive of the game as Jes Krcil intercepted a Beaver pass and returned the ball 17 yards to the WSC 49.

The Wildcats could not convert on the turnover and was forced to punt.

BSU then scored on four of their next five possessions to close out the first half.  The first score came on a Connor Carver 38-yard run, giving the Beavers a 7-0 lead with 10:34 to play in the first quarter.

Wayne State answered with a score on their next drive as Dawson Forgy found the end zone on a one-yard plunge, evening the score at 7-7 with 6:40 to play in the first quarter.

Bemidji State wasted little time regaining the lead as Carver broke loose on a 71-yard run, putting the Beavers back in front 14-7 to close first quarter scoring.

Early in the second quarter, WSC quarterback Brady McGill was intercepted by Bemidji State and the Beavers converted the turnover into a 21-yard field goal by Connor Mantelli giving BSU a 17-7 lead.

The Wildcats responded on the ensuing drive, covering 70 yards on just seven plays with Forgy finding the end zone again on a four-yard run to reduce the Beaver lead to 17-14.

But another big play from Bemidji State allowed the Beavers to take a 24-14 advantage as Carver was on the receiving end of a 70-yard scoring pass from Bart McAninch to close first half scoring.

WSC received the second half kickoff and on the first play from scrimmage Forgy broke loose for a 64-yard run to set up the Wildcats at the BSU 15.  Four plays later, Forgy scored his third touchdown of the game on a two-yard rush cutting the Bemidji State lead to 24-21 for the lone score of the third quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, WSC was pinned inside their own one-yard line and Bemidji State's Caden Bolte tackled Forgy in the end zone for a safety to give BSU a 26-21 lead.

WSC had the ball just two more times in the fourth quarter and moved the ball to the BSU 41 before turning the ball over on downs. 

The 'Cats stopped Bemidji State several times in the fourth quarter, but with just under three minutes left in the game WSC fumbled the ball on a punt return giving BSU the ball at the WSC 33 and the Beavers ran out the clock to end the game and hang on for the 26-21 victory.

Bemidji State ended the game with 451 yards to 336 for the Wildcats.  WSC gained 160 yards on the ground and 176 passing. 

Forgy produced his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season, leading the Wildcats with 119 yards on 19 carries and three TD's. 

Throwing the ball, McGill completed 16 of 29 passes for 176 yards with two interceptions.  Junior tight end Dane Peterson had a game-high six catches for 77 yards while Keaton Bonderson added three receptions for 29 yards.

Defensively, sophomore linebacker Jes Krcil recorded a game-high 14 tackles with one interception, one sack and one pass breakup.  Graduate student linebacker Alex Kowalczyck chipped in 10 tackles and one fumble recovery.

The Wildcats have a bye week next weekend and return to play on Saturday, October 25th hosting #14 Minnesota State at Bob Cunningham Field in Wayne starting at 1 p.m.