(Minot, N.D.) -- Minot State won their first home game this season, beating Concordia-St. Paul 38-31.
 
Minot State started with the ball and scored on the opening drive against Concordia-St. Paul. Quarterback Ben Bolinkse threw a 15-yard pass to senior wide receiver Lavante Bushnell to start the scoring for the Beavers. It was a 12 play 80-yard drive for the Beavers. With a successful extra point, Minot State took the early 7-0 lead. The Golden Bears answered back with a scoring drive of their own, but the Beavers defense held them to a field goal. Neither team would score in the remainder of the first quarter.
 
At 14:02, at the beginning of the second, the Golden Bears came out and scored a touchdown on a seven-play drive for 80 yards. RB Darios Crawley-Reid rushed for 24 yards and scored for the Golden Bears. With the extra point good, Concordia took the lead 10-7. The Beavers came back onto the field and answered immediately with a touchdown of their own. Bolinske took control of the offense and drove the team down the field in five plays, gaining 75 yards. Bolinske ended the drive with a 17-yard rush for the Beaver touchdown. Senior kicker JoseLuis Moreno continued to be perfect, converting another point after, making the score 14-10, Minot State. Concordia-St. Paul came back on the field, but the Beavers defense was able to force them to punt. The Beavers offense continued to impress, scoring in four plays on the next drive. Freshman running back, Ali Mohamed rushed for 10 yards and scored to give the Beavers a 21-10 lead after the successful extra point.
 
Concordia-St. Paul received the ball to start the second half. After 14 plays and driving the field for 75 yards, Jared Olsgaard rushed for an 11-yard touchdown. The Golden Bears would try for a two-point conversion, but it would be unsuccessful. The Minot State offense took the field for the first time in the second half and went on another scoring drive. Bolinske rushed for another touchdown with a one-yard quarterback sneak. Minot State expanded the lead to 28-16 after the successful point after. The Golden Bears would continue to battle as they answered back with a touchdown drive of their own. With a touchdown pass to Jabril Clewis for 19 yards, Concordia-St. Paul narrowed the Beavers lead to 28-24 after a successful two-point conversion.
 
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Beaver offense took the field and covered 62 yards in 12 plays. The drive resulted in a 19-yard field goal from Moreno, which would expand the Beaver lead to 31-24. The Golden Bears offense could not answer back was forced into a punt. The Minot State offense took the field after an eight-yard punt. On the first play of the drive, Bolinske ran for 40 yards and another Minot State touchdown, making the score 38-24 after another successful extra point. After the score, both offenses had drives where they were unable to score. At the 1:51 mark, the Bears went on an eight-play drive for 78 yards where Clewis caught another touchdown pass for the Golden Bears. After the successful kick attempt, the Beavers still had the lead 38-31. Minot State would recover the ensuing onside kick and would not give the ball back to the Golden Bear offense until 10 seconds were remaining on the clock. It seemed that Concordia-St. Paul was set up for a hook and ladder-type play, but the Beaver defense snuffed it out to win the game 38-31.
 
Game Notes: The Beavers could not be stopped offensively, gaining 502 yards of offense, including 308 on the ground • Ben Bolinske had an excellent day for the Beavers, as he had 194 yards passing, 141 rushing, and four total touchdowns • Ali Mohamed and Isaiah Hall were also efficient on the ground rushing for 92, and 75 yards respectively • Lavante Bushnell had a receiving touchdown • On the defensive side of the ball, the Beavers were led by Isaiah Bigby who had nine total tackles as well as a sack • JoseLuis Moreno averaged over 44 yards per punt, had two inside the 20, and two 50+ yarders including a 71 yard punt.
 
Up Next: The Beavers head to Sioux Falls, S.D., to take on Augustana next Saturday at 3:00 P.M.
 
Link to Watch: bit.ly/2nJXTpr
Link to Live Stats: bit.ly/31wwtSq
 
Media: For more information, contact the Coordinator of Sports Information Josh Van Valkenburg-Gernert.