MINOT, N.D.  – There was just a little more confidence in the Minot State University offense in the second half.

Maybe it was the change in quarterback and maybe it was a better overall effort. But for quarterback Bryce Jorgenson (R-Fr., QB, West Fargo, N.D.), it was just finding the end zone.

“Yeah, scoring made the biggest difference,” he said of his first collegiate touchdown pass. “You could tell it was different. We have a little confidence as a group now and hopefully it will carry over.”

In the end, the margin was too large for the Beavers to overcome as Concordia University, St. Paul built a 36-0 halftime lead and held off Minot State to win 43-31 in nonconference NCAA Division II football Saturday at Herb Parker Stadium.

Jorgenson – who spelled starter C.J. Evans (R-Fr., QB, Havre, Mont.) – and receiver Jabari Taylor (Sr., Hollywood, Fla.) made the most of the newfound confidence as the pair hooked up for a two second half scoring strikes and Jorgenson scored his first rushing TD as MSU scored 31 points.

“I just prepared like I was going to be the starter. It has been a crazy start to the season and all you can do is be prepared as best as you can,” he said. “It doesn't hurt when you are throwing to Jabari. He just goes up and gets everything.”

It was looking like the highlight of the game was going to be the coin flip done by former MSU football player and actor Josh Duhamel along with his father, former MSU standout Larry Duhamel in a ceremony prior to the game. Duhamel, along with wife Stacy Ferguson, was in his hometown for Ferguson's band – The Black Eyed Peas – benefit concert for flood victims in the Minot area.

CU got on the board early with a 12-yard interception return by Taylor Selby midway through the first quarter. The Golden Bears were impressive in the second quarter as they scored 29 points to take the 36-point lead into half. Quarterback James Peterson hit Cordell Smith on a 46-yard pass and then Charles Gilbert on a 77-yard strike and kicker Tom Obarski naked two field goals – including a 56-yarder – to stake CU to the big lead.

“We can't give up the big bombs like that,” said MSU head coach Paul Rudolph. “We did a good job against the run, but we can't allow those big plays. The frustrating thing is that on play action they like to go to the post. We may not be able to run straight line with them, but we didn't react very well either.”

Rudolph said the Beavers didn't change much at halftime, but told the guys the game could go two ways.

“We said we could play it like its 36-0 and go out and chuck it up a lot or we can play some football,” he said. “I thought we did that for the most part. The big thing is we were able to run an offense, not just a hodgepodge of what we might think will work. We got a little flow and some fun.”

Gilbert and Taylor put on a receiving show as Gilbert finished with 190 yards on six catches and two TD and Taylor countered with seven catches for 171 yards and two scores.

Jorgenson finished with 301 yards and three touchdowns passing on 23 for 37 passing. He hit Taylor on a 54-yard pass in the third quarter that started the comeback attempt and finished it off with a 6-yard TD to Nate Christianson (So., WR, Havre, Mont.) in the fourth quarter.

MSU's defense was paced by Casey Weinmann (R-Fr., LB, Harvey, N.D.) who finished with a career high five tackles. Laron Peoples (Jr., DB, Pontiac, Mich.) added 4.5 tackles and two pass breakups, while John Denne (Jr., DB, St. Cloud, Minn.) had his first interception of the season.

The Beavers will have little time to rest as they travel to No. 7 Texas A&M-Kingsville Sept. 10 starting at 7 p.m.

– GO BEAVERS –