MINOT, N.D. – After two challenging road tests to open the season, Minot State football is set to return home for the first time this fall, and the timing is perfect. The Beavers welcome Concordia, St. Paul for both their home opener and Homecoming weekend on Saturday, September 13, with kickoff set for 2:00 p.m. at First Western Bank Field at Herb Parker Stadium.
The Beavers (0-2, 0-1 NSIC) fell 34-16 last week at Minnesota State, Mankato, but showed major strides in the run game. Minot State piled up 337 rushing yards, out-rushing the Mavericks by 133 yards.
Head Coach Ian Shields stressed that while there are no moral victories, the team's effort and improvement from Week 1 were undeniable.
"Certainly, there are no moral victories, but I was very encouraged by the way we competed. Our effort was much improved from Week 1, and we played a much more physical brand of football. Against a Top-10 program like Mankato, we were right there but missed some opportunities in critical situations. If we clean up third- and fourth-down execution and take care of the football, we give ourselves a chance to win games like that," Shields said. "The encouraging part is that our guys played extremely hard. If we play with that kind of energy and effort, we have a chance to compete with anybody."
Offensive Bright Spots
- Devan Daniels led the charge with a career-high 157 yards rushing and a 25-yard touchdown run on 19 carries (8.3 avg.).
- Evan Lovett added 102 yards on 22 attempts (4.6 avg.).
- Quarterback Carson Chrisman chipped in 39 yards and scored on a 3-yard touchdown run late in the fourth.
Defensive Standouts
- Julian Kameristy tallied four tackles, a tackle-for-loss, and a fumble recovery.
- Deuce Carr led the defense with seven total tackles, including a tackle-for-loss.
Despite losing the turnover battle, the Beavers controlled the ball for more than 36 minutes of possession.
The Opponent
Concordia, St. Paul (0-2, 0-1 NSIC) heads to Minot looking to pick up its first win of the year. The Golden Bears dropped last season's meeting in St. Paul, a 17-10 victory for the Beavers. Overall, Concordia leads the series 7-4, but Minot State aims to continue shifting momentum in the rivalry.
Shields emphasized that the team must continue to focus inward.
"Every week is a new challenge, and Concordia will test us in different ways. But the keys remain the same: we need to be sharper in critical situations, win the turnover battle, and continue to play with the effort and toughness we showed last week. If we do that, we'll give ourselves a great chance in front of our home crowd."
Extra Homecoming Notes
- Parade: Starts at 10:30 a.m. downtown and ends on the MSU campus.
- Tailgate: Begins at 11:30 a.m. in Lot L, northeast of the Dome.
- Hall of Fame Weekend: The 2025 class includes Caroline Folven, Coach Mike Hultz, Jeffrey Nelson, Tyler Rudolph, and the 1994 football team, who will be honored at halftime.
