MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University's offense gave up too many short fields to No. 2 Minnesota Duluth.

The Bulldogs made the Beavers pay just about every time.

UMD scored on four drives of less than 40 yards and had four drives of just three plays to top Minot State 56-0 in the regular season finale in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football Saturday on a bitterly cold day at Herb Parker Stadium.

While Minot State gave up a season-high 56 points and 405 yards of total offense, the Beavers' defensive unit didn't play too bad. MSU forced two interceptions, one by Aaron James (Jr., LB, Oklahoma City, Okla.) and a second by Troy Garland (Jr., DB, Jersey City, N.J.), and gave up just 134 yards passing.

But the short fields and a relentless UMD rushing attack that finished with 63 attempts for 271 yards was more than the Beavers could overcome.

"(The NSIC) is the best conference in Division II football. We've got the number one and number two team in our league. We've got some great teams and some great programs so I feel clear on what we need to do from a recruiting, coaching, player development standpoint," Hughes said. "We've got a lot of work to do, but we know what we need to do. We've seen all the best teams this year, we didn't miss one of them. We know where we need to be to win a national championship and we'll get there."

The Beavers (1-10 overall, 1-10 NSIC, 1-6 NSIC North) forced a three-and-out on the first series with a tackle for a loss by Thomas Bryson (Jr., DL, Layton, Utah) and Brody Myers (RFr., DL, Murrieta, Calif.) and then a sack by Wyatt Grindy (Sr., LB, Minot, N.D.) and Dalton Houghton (So., DL, Lethbridge, Alberta) and took over at the UMD 43 after a short punt.

But the Bulldogs (11-0, 11-0, 7-0) intercepted the Beavers on the first play to negate any momentum MSU could get.

"I think the atmosphere is getting closer to where we need it," Hughes said. "Obviously we've got a lot of work to do to get the wins going in the right direction but we've definitely made some positive strides. Again, we've got a lot of work to do and we have to stay on the path."

UMD went up 7-0 later in the quarter on a Beau Bofferding 12-yard run late in the first quarter. It was 28-0 at half as Logan Lauters and Drew Bauer both scored on runs and Bofferding caught a 15-yard TD from Bauer.

The Bulldogs ran away with it in the third, with TDs by Lauters, Caleb Belknap and another Bofferding TD catch, this time from Eric Kline.

MSU couldn't keep pace as the Beavers mustered just five first downs, were held to minus-(5) yards rushing and finished with just 85 yards in total offense.
Belknap led the Bulldogs with 83 yards rushing, while Lauters had 72 and two scores.

Jarvis Mustipher (So., RB, Melbourne, Fla.) finished with 24 yards rushing for the Beavers. Crosby Jensen (So., QB, Salt Lake City, Utah) started in place of injured Zac Cunha (Jr., QB, Rocklin, Calif.) and threw for 90 yards on 11-for-23 passing. Glyn Borel (Sr., WR, San Jose, Calif.) caught five passes for 37 yards to lead the Beavers.

It was a solid day for the Beavers senior defensemen as Levi Freidt (LB, Minot, N.D.) and James led all players with 14 tackles. Mike Hickman (DB, Havre, Mont.) and Grindy had eight stops apiece, while Bryson added two more sacks to his total (10.5 on the season) and had six tackles for MSU. Freidt had an outstanding season with 124 tackles, three sacks, five pass breakups and an interception.

"We're on the right track. I trust these coaches and their mentality to 'right the ship,'" Hickman said. "It was a tough season, not the outcome we wanted, but everyone worked hard. I can't believe this was my last game. I was a part of the team for six years. I will always be a Beaver."

"I told them I'm proud of them for battling hard," Hughes said of his seniors. "They've been great leaders, especially this week. Our seniors have been through a lot and they just wanted to put a positive stamp on Minot State, and they did."

"I told them we're always going to be here for them and they're always a part of this program, undoubtedly."