Box Score
RAPID CITY, S.D. – Through the first five games of the season, Minot State University struggled to hold onto the ball.

The Beavers dug themselves a big hole in the turnover margin and opened with a 0-5 record.

On Saturday in Rapid City, S.D., Minot State made big strides towards evening both up.

MSU forced five turnovers; twice thwarting South Dakota Mines drives deep in MSU territory and capitalized on one scoring a defensive touchdown in a 38-7 win over the Hardrockers at O'Harra Stadium.

“It was good to keep it off the ground,” said MSU head coach Paul Rudolph. “We protected the ball. We stubbed our two a couple times, but it was good to get a W.”

Turnovers were a huge key in the game early on as the Beavers' Levi Freidt (R-Fr., DB, Minot, N.D.) and John Denne (Jr., DB, St. Cloud, Minn.) picked off Mines QB Pat Bloemen on each of the first two series for the Hardrockers. Freidt's team-leading third interception of the year came at the MSU 4. Denne's pick set up MSU's first score.

After the Denne interception, MSU drove a short field for a Nico Youngren (Jr., RB, Gig Harbor, Wash.) 18-yard run for his first TD of the year and a 7-0 lead.

“I thought the defense responded after the first pick,” Rudolph said. “They kind of moved the ball round on us early, but then we got things going.”

The Beavers (2-5) scored three times in the second quarter behind the arms of quarterbacks C.J. Evans (R-Fr., Havre, Mont.) and Bryce Jorgenson (R-Fr., West Fargo, N.D.). The duo didn't put up great completion numbers in their platoon role as signal callers, but made big plays. Evans hits tight end Kirk Mason () in the seam for a 49-yard TD on the second play in the second quarter to jump-start a 21-point quarter.

Evans then hit Brent Sorensen (R-Fr., WR, Hazen, N.D.) behind the defense for a 71-yard TD midway through the quarter. Finally, it was Jorgenson's turn to get in the act as he hit Jabari Taylor (Sr., WR, Hollywood, Fla.) in the corner of the end zone for a TD with just six seconds remaining in the quarter.

“Overall our offense came out and pushed them around,” Rudolph said. “They tried to put some pressure on us and we took advantage of man coverage.”

The second quarter was a wild affair as both teams were accessed multiple penalties including roughing the kicker and in a bizarre sequence where MSU was flagged three times on the same play taking the Hardrockers from the MSU 49 to the Beavers 19. Minot State, however, got an interception from Laron Peoples (Jr., DB, Pontiac, Mich.) to end the drive.

MSU ended with just one TD in the second half, but it became defensive lineman Josh Zimmer's (So., Great Falls, Mont.) first career score. Zimmer fell on a fumble in the end zone to put MSU up 35-0.

In a day of crazy sequences, the final statistics match the play on the field. MSU only had six completions on the day compared to 14 for SDM, but outgained the Hardrockers 198-95 through the air and finished with three TD passes. MSU also got a completion from offensive lineman Bobby Bartz (So., Harvey, N.D.) who hit Casey Meadows (Sr., RB, Burlington, N.D.) for 25 yards on a fake punt. Mines finished with 12 different players with at least one carry, rushing for 235 yards on 55 attempts. Last, the teams combined for 20 penalties for 213 yards.

Jamie Dale led the Mines' offense with 70 yards rushing on 20 carries, while Erik Yeash finished with six solo and two assisted tackles to lead the Hardrockers' defense.

MSU's Tyson Schatz (Sr., RB, Minot, N.D.) had his second 100-plus rushing day in a row as he finished with 102 yards on 21 carries. Mason had two catches for 76 yards and the score. He was the only MSU player with multiple receptions. Chad Marshall (So., LB, Hazen, N.D.) was the team's leader in tackles with five solo and six assists. Joel Deckert (R-Fr., DL, Minot, N.D.) added four solo and four assists and Zimmer had two sacks.

The Beavers have a week off before heading to the University of Sioux Falls Oct. 29.