BOZEMAN, Mont. – There are plenty of differences between NCAA Division II and NCAA Division I FCS.

Those were certainly evident on the field Saturday at Minot State traveled to No. 4/5 Montana State.

But the bottom line is football is football and you can't make mistakes at any level. Minot State turned the ball over three times in the first half and Montana State made the Beavers pay.

The Bobcats rode the legs of Cody Kirk and the arm of Denarius McGhee to a 38-0 halftime lead and coasted to a 43-7 win over the Beavers in NCAA football at Bobcat Stadium.

“That's the thing, we still are making too many mistakes and giving teams too much,” said MSU head coach Paul Rudolph. “I think it looks like there are too many plays where our quarterbacks and our receivers aren't on the same page.”

Minot moved the ball effectively to start the game, earning two of its five first down on the first series of the game, but the drive ended with an interception that went through the fingers the Beaver receiver into the hand of the Bobcats' defender.

Montana State settled for a field goal as the Beavers defense held and led just 3-0 until 3:49 remaining in the first quarter. McGhee hit Elvis Akpla on a 60-yard bomb to make it 10-0. Kirk scored two of the next three TDs for Montana State plunging in on a 1-yard run on fourth down and after Tray Robinson score on a 1-yard run, scampered in for a 14-yard run. The Cats led 31-0 after the second Kirk TD.

“We gave up too many things, but they (Montana State) are a good football team. They have a lot of great athletes,” said Rudolph.

Minot State's offense showed signs of life at times, but for the fourth time this season – outside the second half against Concordia University, St. Paul – the Beavers were inconsistent. Minot was held to just 68 first-half yards and end with a total of 176.

The Beavers (0-4 overall) brightest spot came in the third quarter as Minot drove 50 yards to score on a 1-yard run by quarterback Bryce Jorgenson (R-Fr., West Fargo, N.D.).

“We showed a little life,” Rudolph said. “I don't want to use the work flicker, but maybe some kindling. It was good for us to get some things going. We certainly fought.”

Tyson Schatz (Sr., RB, Minot, N.D.) had a solid day as he finished with 65 yards rushing on 11 carries. He and Nico Youngren (Jr., RB, Gig Harbor, Wash.) helped the Beavers to 92 yards rushing – a season high. Jorgenson ended going 10 of 29 passing for 78 yards and two interceptions. Nate Christianson (So., WR, Havre, Mont.) finished with 27 yards receiving and 9 yards rushing for the Beavers.

Laron Peoples (Jr., DB, Pontiac, Mich.) had a season-high 10 tackles to pace the Beavers defense.

McGhee finished with 227 yards on 13 for 20 passing in limited play after the middle of the third quarter. Kirk finished with 75 yards rushing to pace the Bobcats (2-1).

Minot State returns home for a two-game homestand that begins with homecoming Saturday against the University of Sioux Falls (1:37 p.m.). The Beavers end the home portion of the 2011 season the following week at the play host to former Dakota Athletic Conference foe Black Hills State.

“You know, we are looking forward to getting back to Minot and getting games against – I guess they aren't conference – but conference-type teams,” Rudolph said.

– GO BEAVERS –