Copy of Minot Daily News Story (link)

Streak snapped

By MICHAEL LINNELL, Sports Editor mlinnell@minotdailynews.com

Chris Bieri/MDN Minot State University defenders Martel Pope (46), Kory Anderson (10), Nick Marshall (22) and Jason Harvey (53) swarm to Dickinson State runner James Macey during the first half of a Dakota Athletic Conference football game Saturday at Herb Parker Stadium. MSU won the game 22-7.

Although Minot State University controlled nearly every aspect of the first half, the Beavers found themselves only leading 6-0 and having to kick to Dickinson State to start the second.

The Blue Hawks were just one big play away from not only taking the lead, but taking back all the momentum MSU garnered in the first half.

Instead, it was the Beavers who made the big play.

MSU sophomore linebacker Martel Pope stepped in front of a Caleb Midura pass and raced 47 yards for a score on just the third play from scrimmage in the second half to give MSU a 13-0 lead.

“I just read the play and jumped in front,” Pope said. “Once I read the play, it was an easy interception. I had plenty of gas in the engine to make it (to the end zone).”

Pope's play gave MSU some breathing room and the Beavers defense never allowed DSU back in the game as MSU snapped a seven-game losing skid to the Blue Hawks with a 22-7 win in Dakota Athletic Conference football Saturday at Herb Parker Stadium.

“It was a huge play,” MSU head coach Paul Rudolph said. “It gave us some breathing room. Now we have to have two slips instead of one. That makes a big difference. I didn't think our D would give up two.”

They didn't. MSU was stingy at home for the second straight game as they intercepted four Dickinson State passes and recovered a fumble. The Blue Hawks did not score until midway through the fourth quarter and were held to just 89 yards in the first half.

“We are having a tough time scoring points and when you are having a tough time, you can't give up plays like that,” said DSU head coach Hank Biesiot, referring to the Pope interception. “I don't know if we felt good at halftime, but we were definitely in the game and they missed that extra point and those things seem to come back to haunt you. The momentum certainly changed with (the interception.)”

The Beavers (3-0 DAC, 3-3 overall) won for the third time in conference play after dropping its first three games and are tied with Jamestown College atop the DAC.

“It feels real good,” Pope said. “We got things rolling now.”

The Beavers were again propelled offensively by the running of junior Nick Banks, but found the end zone twice on passes. Banks finished with 158 yards rushing and sophomore quarterback Jon Meier threw TDs of 25 yards to freshman Johnny Lester and 26 yards to senior Josh Kringen.

“Everything is set up by the run so it has made it easier to go to things like the play action, which we did a little more of (Saturday),” Meier said. “It was good to get a couple of passes to go.”

“Jon did pretty much everything we asked of him running the offense,” Rudolph said. “We still have to catch the ball. He had an interception, but we had our hands on it first and couldn't hold on. That isn't his fault.”

Meier threw for 170 yards, two scores and was intercepted twice. Julius Ceasar, a freshman, caught three passes for for 88 yards, including two tough balls in traffic over the middle.

“You can't say enough about how Julius played,” Rudolph said. “Those were tough catches. We have some playmakers.”

DSU struggled to find any room both running and passing until late in the game when backup quarterback Matt Gittings was able to throw for some yards and scramble for some. Gittings, who finished with 117 yards passing and 33 yards rushing, set up the Blue Hawks' only score with a 31-yard screen pass to James Macey. Macey finished off the drive with a 1-yard run on third down.

“Matt was able to come in and give them a different look,” Biesiot said. “We weren't able to sustain things. We got a couple of runs here and there, but you would like to have those 80-yard drives and we aren't getting them.”

The Beavers forced Biesiot to make the quarterback change after shutting starter Caleb Midrun down. Midrun left the game midway through the third quarter with just 4-of-19 passing with three interceptions and only 39 yards passing.

“We seem to be a little more amped up at home,” said MSU defensive back Kory Anderson, who had one of the Beavers' four interceptions. “The guys just got after it again (Saturday). It feels good to finally get Dickinson. This was the only team I haven't personally beat while here. It feels real good.”

MSU's opening score was its best drive of the day, covering 81 yards in just under three minutes. Ceasar caught a long pass over the middle to put MSU in good position at the DSU 28 and Meier found Lester on a out-and-up route two plays later.

“Johnny made a great move and adjusted to the ball,” Meier said of the touchdown pass.

The final MSU touchdown was set up by a DSU personal foul for roughing the punter. MSU got the ball back after the penalty and Meier found Kringen in the back of the end zone on a perfectly placed ball two plays later.

“We went to the play action a little more and rolled Jon out some to help freeze the safeties,” Rudolph said. “The running game certainly has helped us in doing those types of things.”

Banks didn't find the end zone, but was solid all day. He carried the ball 28 times and did not have a carry that resulted in negative yards.

“We controlled things with the running game,” Rudolph said. “Nick just gets yards. Sometimes it is an ugly 7 yards, but there are times when it becomes 12-15-20 and you think he just might break one.”

DSU (1-2 DAC, 1-5) finished with 135 yards rushing and 156 passing. Macey finished with 69 yards rushing for the Blue Hawks while Gittings had 117 yards passing.

The Beavers travel to Mayville State Saturday for a 2 p.m. start.