Box Score #24 Bemidji State 45 Wayne State 17

            Bemidji State scored on four of their first five possessions to build a 24-0 lead as the 24^th-ranked Beavers defeated Wayne State College 45-17 Saturday evening in Northern Sun Conference football played at Chet Anderson Stadium in Bemidji, Minnesota.  The host Beavers move to 3-0 on the season while WSC falls to 0-3.
            The Beavers scored on four of their first five possessions to take a 24-0 lead on the Wildcats.  Issac Aanerud booted a 37-yard field goal to give the Beavers a 3-0 lead at the 10:29 mark of the first quarter.  The second score was a six yard pass from Jordan Hein to Brady Schmidt, giving BSU at 10-0 lead with 6:39 to play in the first quarter.  Bemidji State closed out first quarter scoring when Damon Benham intercepted a Zach Osborn pass and rambled 19 yards for a touchdown with 24 seconds left in the quarter, putting the Beavers in front 17-0.
            Bemidji State scored on their first possession in the second quarter to grab a 24-0 lead before Wayne State got on the scoreboard.
            Sophomore tight end Keaton Slaughter hauled in a three yard pass from Osborn, capping a seven-play, 53 yard drive to cut the BSU lead to 24-7 with 6:19 remaining in the second quarter.
            The Beavers responded with a score on their following possession, marching 77 yards on nine plays as Hein connected with Juwaan Richard on a 14 yard pass to give the Beavers a 31-7 lead. 
            Wayne State used a BSU turnover late in the first half to get a field goal just before halftime. 
            Cam Montgomery intercepted BSU quarterback Jordan Hein to give the 'Cats the ball at the WSC 22.  Osborn completed a 63-yard pass to Slaughter, setting up the 'Cats first and goal at the BSU 3 with 35 seconds left before halftime.  But WSC had to settle for a 27-yard field goal from freshman Ethan Knudson with nine seconds left before halftime to make the score 31-10 at intermission.
            The 'Cats opened the second half with another Montgomery interception that led to a Wildcat touchdown. 
            Montgomery's second interception of the game gave WSC the ball at the BSU 30.  Four plays later, Osborn hooked up with senior Nick Roth on a 17 yard scoring play to reduce the Beaver lead to 31-17 with 12:45 to play in the third quarter.
            Bemidji State responded with a touchdown on the ensuing drive, moving the ball 63 yards on seven plays with Tahi Nomane scoring on a two yard run giving the Beavers a 38-17 lead at the 10:20 mark of the third quarter.
            The lone score of the fourth quarter came on a Nomane three yard run with 10:25 left in the game to make the final score 45-17.
            Bemidji State finished with a 408-322 advantage in total offense over Wayne State.  The Beavers had 122 yards rushing and 286 passing while WSC was held to 62 yards on the ground and 260 through the air.
            Junior Rashad Trimble was the top rusher for the Wildcats with 64 yards on 16 carries.
            Junior quarterback Zach Osborn completed 24 of 47 passes for 236 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.  Redshirt freshman Zach Glidden led the 'Cats with seven catches for 54 yards.  Sophomore tight end Keaton Slaughter accounted for four receptions for 81 yards and one touchdown. Sam Wegner had four catches for 38 yards while senior Nick Roth added four grabs for 33 yards and one touchdown.
            Senior defensive back Cam Montgomery led the Wayne State defense with 10 tackles (nine solo) to go with three interceptions.  He is just the fourth player in school history, and the first since Lamont Lewis in 1984, to have three interceptions in the same game.  Junior linebacker DeWayne Scott added nine tackles for WSC.
            Wayne State will be at home next weekend, hosting 1-2 St. Cloud State in a Saturday 1 p.m. contest at Bob Cunningham Field.