MINOT, N.D. -- Justin Gonzales intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown, but Minot State's second-half rally came up short in a 27-19 loss to Northern State in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game on Thursday night at Herb Parker Stadium.

Gonzales returned his second interception of the night 21 yards for a touchdown to bring the Beavers to within 27-19 with 11:51 to play in the fourth quarter.

The following Northern State drive stalled at the Minot State 32-yard line and the Beavers took over with 8:23 to play in the game.

The Beavers got a pass interference call on third down to keep the drive alive and quarterback Andy Jones hit Taylor Maloney for 12 yards to move Minot State to the Northern State 42-yard line. On third-and-five from the Northern State 37-yard line, Jones scampered for 19 yards but the play was called back on a penalty and the Beavers were forced to punt following the next play.

Minot State, which dropped to 1-5 overall and 1-5 in the NSIC, had one final chance taking over on its own 48-yard line with 2:12 to play in the game.

A 1-yard run by Jones and a 6-yard completion to Lavante Bushnell moved the Beavers to the Northern State 45-yard line, but a running play and an incomplete pass ended the Minot State scoring threat.

Northern State, which improved to 3-3 overall and 3-3 in conference play, jumped out to a 27-5 lead at halftime and then held off the Beavers to secure its second straight victory.

Nicholas Truen rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Wolves, while quarterback Hunter Trautman was 19-of-30 for 204 yards and a touchdown to pace the Northern State offense.

Cade Hernandez, a converted offensive lineman, scored on a 1-yard run in the third quarter for his first career rushing touchdown. Larry Overstreet finished with 51 yards rushing, while Bushnell had two carries for 20 yards.

Zac Cunha and Jones alternated quarterbacking duties throughout the game for Minot State. Cunha was 8-of-14 for 80 yards, while Jones was 6-of-12 for 72 yards.

Donnell Vercher paced the Beaver defense with 11 tackles, while Kiante Goudeau and Matt Marler each had 10 tackles. Goudeau also blocked an extra point attempt in the third quarter and scooped up the block and raced into the end zone for a two-point conversion for the Beavers.

Northern State used a 32-yard interception return by Noah MacPherson and a 1-yard touchdown run by Truen to take a 14-0 lead with 7:45 to play in the first quarter.

Minot State got on the scoreboard when JoseLuis Moreno drilled a 21-yard field goal to trim the lead to 14-3 with 2:48 remaining in the opening quarter.

Trautman found Cameron Eisenhauer from 17 yards out to push the lead to 20-3, but Goudeau blocked the extra point attempt and scored to cut the lead to 20-5.

Truen upped the lead to 27-5 with 39 seconds remaining in the first half with a 2-yard touchdown run before the Beavers answered in the second half with touchdowns by Hernandez and Gonzales to make the final score 27-19.

Minot State returns to action on Oct. 14 when it hosts Bemidji State at 1 p.m. in Herb Parker Stadium.