29

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Bemidji St.
BSU

1-1 , 0-1

31

Winner

Minnesota St.
MSU

2-0 , 1-0

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Bemidji St.
BSU

1-1 , 0-1

29

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31

Minnesota St.
MSU

2-0 , 1-0

Winner

Score By Quarters

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	F
BSU Bemidji St.	0	15	0	14	29
MSU Minnesota St.	0	14	7	10	31

Game Recap: Football | 9/7/2024 9:55:00 PM

MANKATO, Minn. — It came down to the final play of the game Saturday evening, but a 31-yard field goal from junior Matthew Jaeger proved to be the difference as #13 Minnesota State bested #25 Bemidji State 31-29.

With the win, MSU improved to 2-0 on the season, including a 1-0 NSIC record. With the loss, BSU dropped to 1-1, including a 0-1 conference record. An attendance of 6,874 was the third-largest attendance in Blakeslee Stadium history and the largest for a home opener.

A scoreless first quarter gave way to an eventful second as the Beavers carried a 15-14 lead into halftime. BSU managed three scores, including a 32-yard field goal from Joey Prondzinski and a pair of touchdown passes from Sam McGath to Brice Peters from 69 and two yards out. Senior Maven Kretche and junior Caleb Paulus blocked BSU’s extra point attempts.

MSU’s two scores of the second quarter came via a 36-yard touchdown run by senior Tony Anger and a six-yard touchdown pass from senior Hayden Ekern to junior TreShawn Watson.

The Mavericks took the lead late in the third quarter as a 13-play drive by the Mavericks was capped off with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Ekern to Watson to put MSU up 21-15 with 2:33 to go in the third.

Both teams combined for three more touchdowns in the third quarter as BSU held a 29-28 lead with 1:55 to go in the game. Peters caught his third touchdown pass from McGath with 8:09 to go, only to see the Mavericks answer right back with a 50-yard touchdown pass from Ekern to Watson with 7:32 left in the game. Trailing 28-22, BSU drove 77 yards in nine plays to reclaim the lead at 29-28 with a one-yard touchdown run by McGath with 1:55 to go.

Starting on their own 28, the Mavericks drove 58 yards down field in nine plays to the BSU 14 with 13 seconds left. After a pair of incomplete passes brought the clock down to :04, the Mavericks sent in Jaeger to attempt the 31-yard field goal. Bemidji State tried to ice Jaeger with a timeout but he was unfazed and his 31-yard kick split the uprights to give the Mavericks the 31-29 win as time expired.

Ekern finished his night completing 20-of-37 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns. Watson posted his first three-touchdown game as a Maverick as he hauled in three touchdown passes, to go along with 107 receiving yards. Junior Jeremiah Howard caught five passes for 70 yards also, while senior Gabe Hagen caught six passes for 69 yards.

Anger led the Maverick rushing attack with 60 yards and a touchdown.

Junior Karson Dunn led the Maverick defense with nine tackles, including two for a loss and one sack. Senior Antonio Alzheimer added eight tackles as well, while senior Joey Goettl, senior Khai West and sophomore Jamal Spiyee each notched six tackles.

Minnesota State continues its season on Saturday, Sept. 14, as it travels to Wayne, Neb., to take on the Wayne State Wildcats. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Bob Cunningham Field.

CNN
 — 

A former Minnesota state trooper allegedly responsible for a car crash that killed an 18-year-old cheerleader is no longer employed by the Minnesota State Patrol, according to the agency.

Shane Roper, 32, faces multiple felony charges related to the May 18 accident that claimed Olivia Flores’ life and injured others.

In August, the former state trooper pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges, including second-degree manslaughter and criminal vehicular homicide, CNN previously reported.

A review of Roper’s disciplinary record found he was involved in four prior crashes while driving his Minnesota State Patrol squad car “either due to inattentive driving or excessive speed,” according to the criminal complaint.

Roper was placed on paid leave after the May accident, according to Minnesota State Patrol Chief Col. Christina Bogojevic.

“Shane Roper’s last day of employment at Department of Public Safety/Minnesota State Patrol was on Tuesday, September 3,” Lt. Mike Lee told CNN on Saturday.

CNN has requested Roper’s personnel data regarding discipline, to clarify whether he was terminated.

Olivia, a captain on the cheerleading team at Owatonna High School, was a cherished daughter, sister and teammate whose loss has been felt widely throughout her community.

“She should’ve been able to walk across the stage,” Carlos Flores, Olivia’s father, told KTTC, wearing a handmade bracelet with small beads that read “LLO,” which stands for “Long Live Olivia.” “Because of you, (Roper) we planned a funeral instead of her graduation party.”

“Because of your choice, I don’t get to dance with my daughter at her wedding.”

Owatonna Huskies cheerleaders held multiple events, including a dinner and silent auction, to honor their teammate and raise funds for the Flores family.

“It is with broken hearts we have to say goodbye to our Olivia,” Owatonna Huskies Cheerleading said in a Facebook post. “She was such an amazing cheerleader, friend and person. She touched many lives and our lives will forever be changed from her brightening them.”

A GoFundMe was set up to support the Flores family as they navigate their loss.

CNN’s Alaa Elassar and Sara Smart contributed to this story.