ABERDEEN, S.D. – Minot State University's start to both halves spelled doom for the Beavers.

MSU was outscored 28-0 - 14-0 at a time - to open the first and third quarters as Northern State ran away with a 42-14 win in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football Saturday at Clark Swisher Field.

"Really it was the whole thing. This was the worst football game we played  this season," said MSU head coach Tyler Hughes. "We were sloppy, weren't disciplined, missed assignments - everything we could do we did wrong. It was extenuated in the first part of the halves. We played bad football."

Minot State (0-5 overall, 0-5 NSIC, 0-1 NSIC North) looked to have given up a touchdown on the opening kickoff as MSU muffed the kick and Northern State fell on it in the end zone. But the Wolves were flagged for illegal batting.

The poor start continued as Minot State fumbled on the first drive, setting up a Cameron Pudwill TD five minutes into the game and MSU threw an interception on the next drive, setting up a Jared Jacobson pass to Connor Doherty to put NSU up 14-0.

The Beavers, however, overcame the near-disastrous start and a poor first quarter to cut the NSU lead to 14-7 on a 10-yard TD pass from Zac Cunha (Jr., QB, Rocklin, Calif.) to Porter Sturm (Jr., WR, Roy, Mont.) midway through the second quarter.

But NSU marched the field on the ensuing drive, going 68-yards on eight plays ending in a 25-yard TD pass from Jacobson to Jared Hannigan three minutes after the Beavers score. It was a momentum changing series and the most efficient drive for the Wolves on the day.

"We have to understand it is a 60-minute game, not one play or one series," Hughes said. "We need to be consistent and play good football for 60 minutes and we don't do it."

Minot State bent from there, but didn't break late in the half, but the Wolves missed two field goals to keep the lead at 21-7 heading to the half.

That changed on one play in the second half as NSU opened the second half with a trick play sending Hannigan free for a 65-yard touchdown pass to push the lead to 28-7. Six minutes later, Doherty scored his second TD on a pass from Jacobson during a fake field goal.

Jacobson and Nicholas Truen led the way for Northern State as they combined for 182 yards rushing with Truen leading the way with 16 carries for 94 yards. Jacobson also went 20-for-30 passing for 260 Yards and five TDs. Hannigan caught three TDs and 141 yards through the air.

Cunha was 22-for-39 passing with the two scores - both to Sturm - and two interceptions. He was not helped by is receiving group as there were multiple drops in the game. He found Leon La Deaux (Sr., WR, Port Orchard, Wash.) seven times for 79 yards, Sturm six times for 77 yards and Glyn Borel (Sr., WR, San Jose, Calif.) six times for 50 yards.

The Beavers struggled to run the ball for the fifth straight game gaining just 57 yards on 23 carries. Blair Broussard (JR., RB, Carencro, La.) led the way with 24 yards on the ground.

Randell Barber (Jr., DB, Maricopa, Ariz.) had a solid day, finishing with six tackles to pace the Beavers on D. Aaron James (Jr., LB, Oklahoma City, Okla.) continued to play well for Minot State finishing with six tackles as well.

Minot State will look to regroup and earn its first win as the Beavers play host to rival University of Mary Saturday in the second annual Battle of the Big Lake. Kick off is set for 6 p.m. during a triple header at home next weekend.