Northern State celebrated Homecoming weekend with its first football win over Bemidji State in 10 years in a 14-13 victory last Saturday.

“You got to beat them with aggression. You got to not be intimidated by them. Your team has to be ready for how fast they’re going to play, how physical they’re going to play,” said Wolves coach Mike Schmidt. “I think this group was really ready, and knew what they were in for when they showed up.”

The Wolves scored first with a 1-yard Colton Hackel run with 6:02 remaining in the first quarter. That was the only score until Bemidji found the end zone with 8:57 remaining in the third quarter on a 21-yard pass to tie it up.

“That’s been the key to these last few games is just having our offense start fast, look like they’re in the game. We just look a lot more prepared, ready, relaxed,” Schmidt said. “It just sure looks like there’s a comfort level right now, especially with the quarterback and how we’re able to move the ball to start the game.”

The Wolves regained the lead when Wyatt Block scored on a 13-yard rushing touchdown with 14:13 remaining in the game. It was a quiet fourth quarter until the last drive of the game when Bemidji gained possession at the Northern 27-yard line following an interception with 3:36 remaining.

The Beavers marched the ball down to the 2-yard line for a first-and-goal with 34 seconds remaining. Bemidji needed all four downs, but scored a touchdown with six seconds remaining on the clock to close to within 14-13. The Beavers took a chance and went for the 2-point conversion for the win, but failed to convert after pressure by Gabe Gutierrez and Matt Baker forced an incomplete pass.

“That’s the most fun I’ve probably had as a coach or player. That atmosphere was unbelievable. Nobody left. The stands were packed the whole game,” said Schmidt. “Well, the last play of the game, they miscommunicate and don’t run the same play with their offensive line and their skill positions, because it is so loud in that stadium. Truthfully, the crowd and the atmosphere won us that game.”

Daniel Britt went 12 for 22 and 131 yards on the night, and Block led the rushing attack with 96 yards on 15 carries, and also had 25 yards on four catches. Zach Jorgensen led the Wolves in receiving yards with a 53-yard reception.

Defensively, Jake Adams led the Wolves with 20 tackles, which also led the NSIC for the week earning him NSIC Defensive Player of the Week. He is currently leading all of Division II in tackles with 86 through six games. Matt Baker and Max Van Landingham both had a pair of sacks, and Van Landingham also forced a fumble. Trevor Johnson secured a one-handed interception late in the game.

Adams continues to disrupt opposing offenses on a weekly basis.

“I think for him, he doesn’t even know what we’re really asking him to do. He just goes and does it. That’s a luxury as a coach to coach a guy that you ask ‘How did you make that play’ or ‘What were you thinking on this’ and he’s like ‘I have no idea, I just did it,’” Schmidt said. “We’ve all known how good he is. I’m glad to see him get accolades for that and I’m glad to see him get rewarded for that. Another just Jake Adams game.”

The NSU volleyball squad swept the only match it had last weekend, defeating Minnesota State 25-22, 25-16, 25-16. The Wolves outhit the Mavericks with 40 kills and a .226 attack percentage to their 22 kills and a .081 attack percentage.

Victoria Persha led the team with 10 kills, followed by Abby Brooks and Morissen Samuels with nine apiece. From the service line, Keri Walker had two aces, with Mia Hinsz and Reese Johnson each had one. Defensively, Persha led the team with five blocks, and Abby Meister racked up 24 digs, which led the NSIC in digs per set.

The Wolves are rated 21st in the country and currently in sixth place NSIC with a 3-2 conference record.

Wolves soccer defeated Sioux Falls 2-0 last Friday and tied Wayne State 1-1 on Sunday. After the weekend, the Wolves find themselves fourth in the conference with a 3-1-2 league record.

Against Sioux Falls, Sophie Taylor scored in the 5th minute assisted by Chloe Voss, who then found the net herself shortly after in the 12th minute assisted by Megan Fastenau. Alexis Townsend recorded three saves.

On Sunday, Wayne scored first in the 18th minute. It was a quiet match until Northern’s Eva Larson found the back of the net, assisted by Alexis Phillips, as the game was nearing the end in the 76th minute. Townsend finished with 8 saves on 9 shots on goal.

The cross country teams competed in the Jimmie Invite on Friday in Jamestown N.D. Nathan Alto took second with a time of 25:20.2. The men’s squad finished with runners who were 11th, 13th, 17th, and 25th.

The women’s squad also recorded a second-place finish in Emaleigh Olesiak with a time of 23:22.6. Abby Hasart finished fourth with a time of 23:32.3. The Wolves had runners who finished 13th, 17th, and 25th.

The runners will compete in the Marauders Invite in Bismarck, N.D. this weekend.

Wolves soccer is the only team at home this week, hosting Bemidji State at 5:30 tonight. The Beavers are currently second in conference with a 4-1 record. The Wolves then host Crookston at 1 p.m. Sunday.

The volleyball team travels to Concordia-St. Paul to take on the 13th-ranked Golden Bears tonight. CSP is sitting fourth in the conference with a 4-1 record. NSU travels to Winona on Saturday.

Wolves football heads to Duluth for a noon kickoff on Saturday. The Bulldogs are 2-2 in the conference with their losses coming by a combined five points.

“We’re running into a really good football team up there and they’re on desperate ground right now knowing that they are in playoff mode. That’s a team that has conference championship, probably national championship aspirations, and they need to keep winning,” Schmidt said. “I think the key is for our guys to go and let it rip, have fun. Don’t get away from our process. Our mental performance coach talked this week about ‘Victory Disease’ and making sure as we said after the Winona game, we don’t want these last two wins to be the biggest parts of our year.”