BEMIDJI, Minn. --- The second and third quarters proved decisive Saturday afternoon as #1 Minnesota State bested Bemidji State 47-20 on the road.

With the win, MSU improves to 8-0 on the season, while BSU drops to 5-3. The Mavericks have now won their last 21 NSIC outings.

The first quarter saw a total of four drives as both teams recorded a field goal. BSU's 11-play, 66-yard opening drive was capped off by a 26 yard field goal from Isaac Aanerud. The Mavericks responded on their first drive of the game as they went 52 yards down field before senior Casey Bednarski connected on a 31-yard field goal to knot up the score at 3-3. 

MSU's second drive of the game carried over into the second quarter. MSU managed to get into the red zone but the Beavers forced the Mavericks to send in Bednarski who connect on a 25 yard field goal to put MSU up 6-3 with 14:10 to go in the second quarter.

The final eight minutes of the second quarter saw the Mavericks reach the end zone twice. Junior Ryan Schlichte connected with junior Shane Zylstra on an 18-yard touchdown pass. Schlichte would later hook up with junior Tyler Schmidt on a five-yard touchdown pass as well. The Beavers managed to get Aanerud in range for a 39-yard field goal but they could get nothing else going in the second quarter as MSU carried a 20-6 lead into halftime.

MSU made three more trips to the end zone in the third quarter, including a three-yard touchdown run from junior Nate Gunn that finished a seven minute drive, and a touchdown pass from both Schlichte and sophomore JD Ekowa. Schlichte hooked up with junior Justin Arnold on a 75-yard touchdown pass, before Ekowa connect with sophomore Parker Gloudemans on a 19-yard touchdown pass. BSU's lone score of the quarter came via a 36 yard touchdown run from Alex Ogren.

The fourth quarter saw Bednarski go 2-for-2 in field goal attempts as he connected from 38 and 55 yards out. His 55 yard field goal is a season long. BSU managed to get a touchdown in the final three minutes of the game as Ogren connected with Jacob Anderson on a six yard touchdown pass.

As a team, MSU tallied 511 yards of total offense against BSU, including 248 rushing yards and 263 passing yards. The Mavericks also held the ball for 42:14 and converted on 16-of-23 (.695) of its third down attempts.

Gunn finished his game with a season-high 187 rushing yards and touchdown. This is the fifth time this season he has tallied more than 100 rushing yards in a game.

Arnold notched a career-high 123 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Zylstra finished with 84 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Schlichte finished his day completing 10-of-21 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns, while Ekowa completed 5-of-8 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. 

Junior Spencer Hermus finished the game with a team-leading eight tackles, while junior Alex Goettl and sophomore Cole Schroedermeier each tallied seven. As a team, MSU tallied six tackles for a loss and four sacks.

Minnesota State concludes its two-game road trip on Saturday, Oct. 27, as it takes on the Wayne State Wildcats. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

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