MOORHEAD, Minn. - For a second time in three weeks Minnesota State University Moorhead will face a nationally ranked club on Saturday against Bemidji State University in a 1 p.m. match at Chet Anderson Stadium by the shores of Lake Bemidji.
While the setting is sure to be spectacular, the Dragons, 2-4 overall and 1-4 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, will have little time for sightseeing. Bemidji State, 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the NSIC, is ranked 18th on the latest NCAA Division II national chart. The Beavers' lone loss was a narrow 26-23 defeat by reigning national champion Minnesota Duluth.
In addition to the traditional league spoils, the Battle Axe will also be on the line on Saturday afternoon. One of the longest trophy traditions in NCAA Division II, MSU Moorhead and Bemidji State began playing for the Axe in 1948, and the Dragons last won the trophy in 2008.
Last weekend Bemidji State toppled Concordia University 20-7 while MSU Moorhead fell to visiting Southwest Minnesota State 45-13.
Kevin Koch completed 13 of 21 passes for 169 yards for the Dragons, including a 23-yard touchdown pass to
Kendall Hendon, and scored on a five-yard run. Inside linebacker
Jeff Schuette topped the Dragon defensive chart with 16 tackles, including three unassisted stops, while
Lomumba Ismail and
Tyler Brody recorded 15 tackles each.
Once again, MSU Moorhead will face some serious challenges on Saturday. Junior quarterback Lance Rongstad is triggerman of an explosive BSU offense. Rongstad has completed 65 of 111 passes for 722 yards and four touchdowns. Junior tight end Brian Leonhardt has 22 catches for 324 yards and one touchdown while junior Matt Gandrud has caught 14 balls for 172 yards and one TD. Junior Dustin Kroeplin has shouldered much of the rushing load for the Beavers, averaging 100.6 yards in five league games
Bemidji State defensive strongholds include senior safeties Brody Scheff and Dusty Sluzewicz, senior lineman Josh Beste junior linebacker Cory Crosby and sophomore linebackers Jason Bromm and Buckley Wright. Scheff tops the BSU defensive chart with 51 tackles and five interceptions and is the latest D2 Defensive Player of the Week after intercepting three passes in last week's victory over Concordia University, 20-7. Bromm (44) and Crosby (40) have combined for 40 stops.
BSU will have some defensive worries of their own, especially defusing Koch and Hendon. After five NSIC games Hendon ranks first in all-purpose yards, 184.8, and receptions, 5.6, third in receiving yards, 84.2, and ninth in kickoff returns, 25.1. Koch is fourth in total offense, 219.4, fifth in passing, 196.0, and seventh in pass efficiency, 140.8.
PRESS RELEASE LIVE STATS LIVE STREAMING LIVE RADIO
