Fourth quarter rally comes up short in 37-24 loss

Saturday, October 27

St. Cloud, Minn.

1:00 p.m.

St. Cloud State

6-3 , 6-3

Bemidji State University

6-3 , 6-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Bemidji State

St. Cloud State

Sam Hartman (86) caught both touchdowns for the Huskies in the loss to Bemidji State.

Photo by: Kylie Macziewski

10/27/2018 4:19:00 PM | Football

Box Score

ST. CLOUD, MINN. – Everything was rolling for the St. Cloud State University football team. The team was 6-2 overall and in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play, its best record through eight games in recently years, and received its first regional ranking since the 2013 season. Unfortunately, the Huskies learned that all good things must come to an end Saturday afternoon. Despite a second half surge, St. Cloud State was unable to overcome early mistakes, falling to its NSIC North rival Bemidji State University 34-27.

The Huskies looked like they were off to a hot start thanks to Dwayne Lawhorn (Germantown, Wis. / Germantown) and the receiving game. In fact, Lawhorn connected with three different receivers for major gains on the first drive, including seniors John Pass (Elk Grove Village, Ill. / Elk Grove) and Sam Hartman (West Des Moines, Iowa / West Des Moines Valley) and junior John Solberg (Cambridge, Minn. / Cambridge-Isanti). Unfortunately, Lawhorn also connected with Beavers linebackers Yaquub Mohamed, resulting in a field goal and 3-0 Bemidji State lead.

St. Cloud State, unfortunately, was unable to score on its next two offensive possession, as another interception by Lawhorn resulted in a pick-six and 10-0 lead for the Beavers at the end of the first quarter.

Bemidji State added 17 points to its lead in the second quarter, as Husky turnovers and penalties proved costly. Another interception by Lawhorn resulted in a Beaver field goal, then a turnover on downs and penalties resulted in the final 10 points, giving Bemidji State a 23-0 lead midway through the second quarter.

St. Cloud State managed to get the goose egg off the floor at 2:47 in the quarter, when Adam Stage (Appleton, Wis. / Kimberly) converted a 44-yard field goal to cut the lead to 23-3. The drive was the Huskies best of the afternoon, highlighted by a fourth-and-one conversion at the Beaver 41-yard line. Lawhorn found sophomore tight end Joey Nelson (Milwaukee, Wis. / South) wide open on the side line to give St. Cloud State its best field position of the game to that point. Unfortunately, a penalty by Tristan Kinder (Sugar Grove, Ill. / Kaneland) cost the Huskies on a third down conversion and led to the eventual field goal by Stage.

Bemidji State opened the second half by going right down the field and scoring a touchdown, extending its lead to 30-3 just three minutes in. However, St. Cloud State was able to answer with a touchdown of its own for the first time all afternoon. After an impressive drive down field, Lawhorn managed to find Hartman in the end zone, cutting the lead to 30-10.

Every time the Huskies seemed to get something going offensively, the Beavers would snuff out any momentum. While the St. Cloud State defense did manage to hold Bemidji State scoreless on its next offensive possession, the Beavers recorded their fourth interception of the day to go ahead 37-10. Still, the Huskies had a chance to cut the lead back to 20 points at the end of the third quarter, as a forced fumble and recovery by Jack Horter (Sussex, Wis. / Marquette) on a botched punt recover gave St. Cloud State possession on the Beaver 30-yard line.

A goal line stand prevented the Huskies from scoring on that possession. However, the defense again managed to keep Bemidji State from scoring, and a blocked punt by Kaiser Kastner (Greenfield, Wis. / Greenfield) once again gave St. Cloud State excellent field position deep in Beaver territory. This time the Huskies were able to convert, as freshman running back Paris Howell (Brookfield, Wis. / Wauwatosa West) scored his first touchdown of the season to cut the lead to 37-17.

The Huskies defense picked up their game in the fourth quarter, forcing a quick three-and-out to give St. Cloud State offensive possession. Lawhorn then led the Huskies downfield to the Bemidji State 12, again prime position for another score. Unfortunately, St. Cloud State was unable to convert on fourth-and-one, turning the ball over on downs and ending the potential scoring drive.

The Huskies again had another chance to score after another big three-and-out by the defense. This time, the result was seven-points in St. Cloud State's favor, as Lawhorn again found Hartman deep in the end zone, cutting the Beaver leave to 37-24. Unfortunately, it was too little too late for the Huskies, as the onside kick was recovered by Bemidji State, resulting in the 34-27 victory by the Beavers.

Lawhorn threw for 277 yards in defeat, connecting with nine different receivers while converting 27 of 51 pass attempts. The junior quarterback also added two touchdowns and four interceptions.

Greg Lewis (Milwaukee, Wis. / Wauwatosa West) was the team's leading rusher for the fourth consecutive week, recording 74 yards on 20 attempts with no carries for loss. Solberg was the top receiver with 85 yards, while Hartman caught both touchdowns for the Huskies and tallied 61 yards.

With the loss, St. Cloud State's overall and conference record falls to 6-3 and the team is now 3-2 in NSIC North play. The Huskies will return to action in November, when they travel to Minot, North Dakota to take on Minot State at 1 p.m.