MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University's Johnny Lester's (WR, Sr., Miami, Fla.) seventh career special team's touchdown wasn't enough as MSU could not overcome NCAA Divison II Bemidji State's defense.

The Minnesota Beavers held MSU to minus-3 yards rushing and just 80 yards of total offense to defeat Minot 24-7 in front of a packed house Thursday at Herb Parker Stadium.

Bemidji also was efficient on offense, grinding out 365 yards rushing on 58 carries. Bemidji was just shy of 500 total yards, finishing with 499 on the night.

In a game filled with big momentum swings, Bemidji got the pendulum headed their direction early as quarterback Derek Edholm found Adam Berg behind the Minot defense after rolling to his left. Edholm lofted a perfect pass over a MSU defensive back and Berg was off to the races.

Lester provided the next big swing after a BSU field goal just before the end of the first quarter. The senior took the kick 1 yard deep in the end zone and found a seem. He needed to make just one move, leaving a hapless kicker flat footed at the 50 and was gone. He now has three kick returns for a touchdown and four punt returns for a TD in his career.

But MSU never got its offense going. Minot had a golden opportunity in the third quarter trailing just 17-7. Minot's Kenneth McCoy (TE, Jr., Stuttgart, Ark.) corralled the Bemidji punter just outside the BSU 10 yards line when Bemidji botched a punt attempt. But, MSU was thwarted on three straight plays and missed a 30-yard field goal try.

BSU was dominating against the run, yielding just seven yards on 12 carries for MSU top back Tyson Schatz (Jr., RB, Minot, N.D.). The BSU Beavers weren't much worse in the passing department, as MSU quarterback Layvester James (QB, Sr., Miami, Fla.) was 9-17-0 passing for 83 yards. He found Lance Hollinger (WR, Sr., Stanley, N.D.) four times but for just 12 yards and hit Lester three times for 35.

Maybe the most telling stat of the night was first downs. BSU racked up a whopping 31 first downs, while MSU mustered just three.

Steven Battle led Bemidji with 89 yards, while Lance Rongstad had 87 yards on nine carries. Edholm finished with 134 yards of 10 of 20 passing. Bemidji now has a eight-game winning streak going in the 12th Annual “Beaver Bash.”

The Beavers continue with NCAA Division II opponents next week as they travel to Concordia-St. Paul Saturday, Sept. 5 starting at 1 p.m.