Huskies football withstands Beaver attack in 30-27 NSIC North win

Saturday, November 1

St. Cloud, Minn.

1 p.m.

St. Cloud State

4-5 , 3-2

Bemidji State University

3-6 , 3-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Bemidji State

St. Cloud State

Photo by: Bella Rose Photography

Huskies football withstands Beaver attack in 30-27 NSIC North win

11/1/2014 5:46:00 PM | Football

Box Score

St. Cloud, Minn. – Bemidji State scored 21 second half points but it wasn't enough for the Beavers to overcome St. Cloud State in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) North Division football game Saturday afternoon at Husky Stadium as five different players scored for the Huskies in a 30-27 win.

St. Cloud State improved to 4-5 overall and 3-2 in the NSIC North. Bemidji State moved to 3-6 overall and 3-2 in the North.

After forcing the Beavers to punt on the first drive of the game, the Huskies went 50 yards on four plays scoring on a 37-yard run by Jaden Huff giving St. Cloud State an early 6-0 lead.

An interception by the Huskies Adam Josephson, the first of his career, set up the Huskies second score, a thee-yard run by Donte Starlin-Merriam and the lead was 13-0 with nine minutes left in the first quarter.

The Huskies scored twice in the second quarter on a 22-yard field goal by Eric Mielke and a nine-yard Nate Meyer run to take a 23-0 lead. Bemidji State scored with :47 seconds left in the half on a 17-yard pass play from Jordan Hein to Blake Holder. The PAT failed and St. Cloud State held a 23-6 lead at the half.

St. Cloud State led 30-8 late in the third quarter following a 70-yard pass play from Meyer to Taylor Berger.

It was all Bemidji State in the fourth quarter as the Beavers scored on a seven-yard run, a ten-yard pass play and the final score, a 19-yard pass from Hein to Holder with 1:11 remaining in the game. The Huskies Grant Thayer recovered the ensuing on-side kick and the Huskies held the ball for the final minute for the win.

The Huskies are on the road to Minot State next Saturday for a 1:30 kick-off.

Huskies Notes

Five different players scored in the game for the Huskies.

St. Cloud State used a balanced attack gaining 416 yards of offense with 256 in the air and 208 on the ground.

Runningback Donte Starlin-Merriam, playing in his fourth game of the season, rushed for a career high 85 yards on 15 carries and scored a touchdown, the first of his collegiate career. He finished the day with 129 yards of total offense.

Runningback Jaden Huff, in his first collegiate start, gained a career high 72 yards on 14 carries and scored his first collegiate touchdown.

Quarterback Nate Meyer completed 11 of 22 passes for 256 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for 30 yards and a touchdown.

Wide receiver Taylor Berger went over the 1,000 yard career receiving mark in the game. He had his second 100-yard receiving game of the season. He finished the game with five catches for 129 yards and one touchdown. He has 1,037 career receiving yards.

Linebacker Brady Westart had a team high nine tackles to lead the Huskies. He added two quarterback sacks, three tackles for loss an forced a fumble.

Defensive end Jeff Bias had two quarterback sacks, a forced fumble and a blocked extra point.

Bemidji State Notes

Quarterback Jordan Hein completed 17 of 37 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for a team high 38 yards.

Blake Holder was the Beavers top receiving target as he caught five passes for 75 yards, including touchdown receptions of17 and 19 yards.

Two players, cornerback Troy Beckett and linebacker Colton Blascyk finished in double figures with tackles. Beckett led all players with 12 tackle while Blascyk had ten tackles, three tackles for loss and one fumble recovery.