GUNNISON, Colo. – RV/24 Bemidji State University Football defeated No. 10 Western Colorado University Saturday afternoon to earn the program's first trip to the NCAA Playoffs Quarterfinal round. 
 
The Mountaineers started the scoring with a field goal kick by Adam Tasei. The Beavers followed this up with a huge momentum shift, a passing touchdown from Sam McGath to Brice Peters to take the lead at 7-3. The Beavers held this lead for the remainder of the quarter and into part of the second. 
 
Bemidji State's lead was diminished in the second quarter with a touchdown from Western Colorado quarterback Drew Nash and a safety from a Blake Nieslanik tackle. The Beavers and Mountaineers went into the locker room with BSU at a five-point deficit going into the second half. 
 
Things started to look bleak for BSU when WCU grabbed another touchdown with 4:36 remaining in the third quarter, going up 19-7. The Beavers didn't let that deficit stop them and drove 80 yards down the field on eight plays, right into a Sam McGath to Jayden Washington three-yard touchdown to make it 19-14 with the kick from Connor Mantelli. 
 
The Beavers and Mountaineers fought hard through the first ten minutes of the final frame, leaving the Beavers with a five-point deficit. WCU began a drive at midfield and fought against the Gang Green offense to move halfway closer to the goal line. A rush play drawn up by WCU set in motion a forced fumble by Stephen Hoffman and a scoop and score from Gabe Ward, giving the Beavers a 20-19 lead which they would hold for the remainder of the game. 
 
This is the first time in program history that the Beavers have made it past the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs. Now 10-3 this season, they finished the regular season receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches' Poll and at 25^th on D2Football.com's poll. The team came into playoffs unseeded and has taken down the No. 2 team and No. 3 teams so far. The two teams remaining in Super Region Four are both unseeded and are Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foes. 
 
Next Saturday, the Beavers face a familiar team by heading to Mankato, Minn. to take on fellow NSIC members Minnesota State University Mankato. The game will be a high-stakes rematch after the Beavers were defeated earlier this season with a walk-off field goal from the Mavericks. The game is available on the Beaver Radio Network and ESPN+. More information will be released during the coming week.