Area small college football roundup: Minnesota Duluth outlasts Bemidji State

Minnesota Duluth built a 20-point halftime lead and then held on for a 54-47 victory over Bemidji State in an NSIC North Division game Saturday in Duluth.

The victory — UMD's 21st consecutive at home — gave the Bulldogs (7-1, 4-0 NSIC North) sole possession of first place in the division.

The Beavers (6-2, 3-1), who trailed 34-10 midway through the third quarter, scored 29 points in the fourth to pull within seven. The Beavers' final TD came with 58 seconds remaining, but the Bulldogs were able to run out the clock.

Beau Bofferding rushed for 171 yards and four TDs to lead the Bulldogs. Two of Bofferding's TD runs came in the fourth quarter, and each came after the Beavers had pulled within seven points. Drew Bauer passed for 331 yards and three TDs for the Bulldogs.

Jordan Hein passed for 434 yards and five TDs for Bemidji State.

Northern State 29, St. Cloud State 28: The Wolves held the Huskies scoreless over the final 21 minutes to rally for the victory in Aberdeen, S.D. St. Cloud State (4-4, 3-1 NSIC North) led 28-20 midway through the third quarter, but the Wolves (4-4, 2-2) stopped the Huskies' final four offensive possessions. Christian McAlvain passed for 300 yards and two TDs for the Wolves.

Sioux Falls 51, Concordia (St. Paul) 17: Max Mickey rushed for 128 yards and two TDs to help the host Cougars, ranked No. 6 in the d2football.com poll, remain unbeaten. Luke Papilion threw two TD passes and rushed for a TD for the Cougars (8-0, 4-0 NSIC South). Ron Johnson passed for 261 yards and a TD for the Golden Bears (2-6, 0-4).

MSU Moorhead 47, Mary 16: Demetrius Carr rushed for 143 yards and two TDs and passed for 166 yards and a TD to pace the Dragons (4-4, 2-2 NSIC North) to the victory in Bismarck, N.D.

Augustana 54, Upper Iowa 35: Trey Heid passed for 466 yards and six TDs to lead the Vikings (5-3, 2-2 NSIC South) to the victory in Fayette, Iowa.

Minot State 38, Minn.-Crookston 30: Ben Zahniser rushed for 264 yards and four TDs to lead the host Beavers (2-6, 1-3 NSIC North) past the Golden Eagles. Andre Person rushed for 142 yards for the Golden Eagles (0-8, 0-4).

Minn.-Morris 34, St. Scholastica 24: The host Cougars built a 21-0 lead in the first 17 minutes and went on to defeat the Saints. The Cougars (4-3, 4-3 UMAC) extended their lead to 31-7 midway through the third quarter. Donnie Mavencamp threw three TD passes, and the Cougars defense had four interceptions. The loss knocked the Saints (5-3, 5-2) out of a tie for first place in the UMAC.

Northwestern 28, Westminster 6: B.J. Foster rushed for 122 yards and two TDs and Corban Halbur threw two TD passes to lead the Eagles (7-1, 6-1 UMAC) to the victory in Fulton, Mo.