Article

Too Little Too Late at Bemidji

MSU's comeback attempt falls short as Bemidji State takes advantage of a late personal foul; fall to 1-2 overall.

by Dan Myers
September 13, 2005

The Minnesota State football team (1-2 overall, 0-0 in NCC) fell behind early and came up short in their comeback attempt as the Beavers of Bemidji State held on for a 28-23 victory over the Mavericks Saturday at a windy Chet Anderson Stadium in Bemidji.

With the wind blowing hard off of Lake Bemidji, MSU junior kicker Jason Thompkins capped an 11-play, 63-yard drive by nailing a 34-yard field goal with the wind at his back to open the scoring and give the Mavs a 3-0 lead.

Both teams failed on ensuing drives but the Beavers charged down the field near the end of the first quarter. Senior safety Kevin Adams halted the BSU drive and picked off Bemidji quarterback Nathan Sannes' long pass attempt, which hung in the air long enough for the Maverick to get in position.

It may have been that turnover–typically a play that changes a team's fortunes for the good–that spurned the Mavericks on Saturday.

Unable to capitalize on the sudden change after switching sides to start the second quarter, the same wind which had assisted the MSU defense bit them on special teams. Punter Jamie VanDenElzen's punt sailed high into the air but was caught in the wind, giving the Beavers great field position at the Maverick 38-yard line.

The Beavers took advantage six plays later when running back Alvaro Carvajal punched the ball into the end zone from 1-yard out, giving BSU the 7-3 advantage.

The Mavericks could not respond and were forced to punt into the stiff breeze once again. Another kick affected by the wind provided BSU with a short field. Four plays and 45 yards later - the last 20 for a touchdown on a reverse by Brandon Schreiber - BSU had a 13-3 lead. Kicker Michael McDonald missed the extra point allowing MSU to stay within 10.

But the Beavers and Schreiber would strike one more time in the second quarter, when Sannes hooked up with Schreiber on a 37-yard connection. Sannes also completed his next pass, this time to Dan Nagengast to convert the two-point conversion and extend Bemidji's lead to 21-3.

"Bemidji came out early and played really well," said senior linebacker Leonardo Enriquez, who finished with seven tackles, an interception and a sack. "I think as a team we underestimated them. We practiced hard, prepared and watched film, but we just didn't have it all together. It's a sign, and we have to go on and learn from our mistakes."

21-3 appeared to be the score heading to halftime, as Bemidji punted the ball deep into MSU territory with under 30 seconds to play. The Mavericks missed on their attempt to block the punt, sending Tyrell Smith back to his 12-yard line to haul in the kick. A series of quality blocks, a dazzling display of athleticism and 88-yards later, the score was 21-9 as Smith tied a school record for the longest punt return in MSU history, equaling a record first set in 1965. The return also answered a plea from embattled head coach Jeff Jamrog, who challenged his return team all week in practice.

"We haven't done much in the first two games in the punt return game," Jamrog said. "Our guys did a nice job after the all-out block of getting a nice wall set up and Tyrell made a nice cut and used great speed down the sideline."

Thompkins' extra point was blocked and the Beavers staked a 21-9 advantage at the half.

MSU struck again in the final minute of the third quarter, when senior I-back Sean Treasure brought the Mavericks within a touchdown with a two-yard score. Thompkins added the extra point to make the score 21-16, but the Beavers answered with another touchdown of their own, extending the lead to 27-16 on a Tyler Olson three-yard plunge. McDonald's extra point was good, and with just 10:49 to play, the Mavericks trailed by 12.

"The effort wasn't there the first three quarters and we didn't come out and play like we are supposed to play," said senior wide-out Kyle Krivoruchka. "We didn't respect Bemidji and the outcome showed it."

Treasure answered on MSU's ensuing drive with a one-yard touchdown–his second of the game and fifth of the season–capping a 13-play drive. Thompkins added the extra point to close out the scoring, as the Mavericks would not touch the ball again. BSU capitalized on a key third-down personal foul penalty that allowed a stalled Beaver drive to continue and eventually to run out the clock.

"Our effort and execution was not where it needed to be in order to win a game like that on the road," said Jamrog. "It's frustrating and the players are frustrated; they can't come out and play like they did. Too many penalties and too many mistakes."