Despite being knocked out of playoff contention with three losses, the Beavers received a nice consolation prize on Sunday: A bid to the Mineral Water Bowl.
BSU (8-3) will take on the Washburn University Ichabods on Saturday, Dec. 3, at noon in Excelsior Springs, Mo.
“It’s nice to be able to extend the season one more game, especially for the seniors who worked so hard to get us back to where we’re at,” BSU interim head coach Brent Bolte said. “A big thing too is we have a chance to tie the single-season record for wins at nine if we can get it done. There’s a whole lot of things that make the bowl special.”
The Beavers finished their regular season with a 76-13 rout of Minnesota Crookston on Saturday in Bemidji.
Bolte said one of the main advantages of playing in the bowl game will be the extra few practice sessions they’ll get.
“It’s really important for the younger guys,” he said. “When you look at it, we get an additional 10, 12, practices or so and the first half of those will be geared towards the younger guys and getting them back involved. The as we get closer to the game we’ll start putting in our game plan for Washburn. But it’s nice to have this opportunity.”
The Ichabods went 7-4 and finished in a three-way tie for fourth in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
They a few Bemidji connections, but one stands out: Former Bemidji High School wide receiver Carey Woods plays for Washburn. Woods transferred from North Dakota State this season and has nine catches for 201 yards and three touchdowns.
Washburn also has a former BSU running back in Mickeel Stewart, who was at BSU for one season and redshirted before transferring.
“There are some ties up and down the I-29 corridor, and over to Kansas City and here in Bemidji, so that will be fun,” Bolte said. “They’re really good on defense and they’re a big, physical team on offense. They’ve been in a lot of close games in a good league, so it’s going to be a battle.”
This will be the BSU’s second trip to the Mineral Water Bowl, with the last coming in 2006, a 35-27 loss to Pittsburg State.
Olszewski named NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week
BSU sophomore cornerback Gunner Olszewski was named the NSIC’s Special Teams Player of the Week after breaking BSU’s single-game punt return yardage record in the Beavers’ big win over Minnesota Crookston on Saturday.
Olszewski broke the previous Beavers record by 40 yards and returned one punt for a touchdown.
The Alvin, Texas, native returned seven punts for 194 yards, topping Jason Leden’s mark of 154 punt returns yards, set in 2001.
Olszewski finished the day averaging 27.7 yards per punt return and returned four punts for at least 25 yards — including one 75-yard punt returned for a touchdown.
Sioux Falls, UMD earn NCAA bids
BSU’s 8-3 record meant they finish in a four-way tie for third place in the NSIC. Sioux Falls and Minnesota Duluth finished first and second, respectively, to earn NCAA Division II Super Region Three playoff berths.
Sioux Falls won the league title outright with an 11-0 record and earned a No. 2 seed in the region tournament. They will host Azusa Pacific of the Great Northwest Conference on Saturday.
UMD finished 10-1 in the league and overall, earning a No. 5 seed. They’ll head to Kansas to take on No. 4-seeded Emporia State of the MIAA.
Defending national champion Northwest Missouri State of the MIAA earned the No. 1 seed in the region and got a first-round bye.
The other first-round matchup will feature Central Missouri of the MIAA traveling to Searcy, Ark., to take on Harding University.