Bemidji State spoils NSU's Homecoming in barnburner

Sept. 29, 2001

Senior linebacker Eddie Hernandez (5) in pursuit against BSU.

It took two overtime periods, over four hours of play, 93 points, 947 yards of total offense, 27 penalties, three blocked extra points, a 95-yard punt and a frantic final play that left the outcome in question for a few seconds before Bemidji State's bench stormed the field to celebrate a 47-46 win over Northern at Swisher Field in Aberdeen Saturday.

Both teams scored on their first overtime possession from the opposing team's 25-yard line, and both nailed the extra point kick to force another overtime period. BSU took advantage of their second overtime possession and did the same, placing the pressure back on Northern with a seven-point lead. But NSUresponded, as senior back Tefua Bloomfield (Kearns, Utah) burst loose for a 25-yard scoring burst. From there, NSU decided to go for the win by attempting a two-point conversion. Junior quarterback Scott Ackley (Stockton, Calif.) slipped as he was moving out of the pocket and heaved up a pass, which was gobbled up in the end zone by senior wideout Cody Jamison (Murray, Utah). But the homecoming crowd of 4,952 fans would soon see their victory play take a 180, as Ackley's knee was ruled down before he made the throw. The pendulum of jubilation then swung Bemidji's way, as the pre-season favorite Beavers (3-2, 1-2 NSIC) celebrated their first conference win of the season.

Both teams scored on their first overtime possession from the opposing team's 25-yard line, and both nailed the extra point kick to force another overtime period. BSU took advantage of their second overtime possession and did the same, placing the pressure back on Northern with a seven-point lead. But NSU responded, as senior back Tefua Bloomfield (Kearns, Utah) busted loose for a 25-yard scoring burst. From there, NSU decided to go for the win by attempting a two-point conversion. Junior quarterback Scott Ackley (Stockton, Calif.) slipped as he was moving out of the pocket and heaved up a pass, which was gobbled up in the end zone by senior wideout Cody Jamison (Murray, Utah). But the homecoming crowd of 4,952 fans would soon see their victory play take a 180, as Ackley's knee was ruled down before he made the throw. The pendulum of jubilation then swung Bemidji's way, as the pre-season favorite Beavers (3-2, 1-2 NSIC) celebrated their first conference win of the season.

The Wolves (1-4, 1-2 NSIC) controlled the game during most of regulation, taking a 23-6 into halftime But the third quarter belonged to Bemidji State, which scored 20 unanswered points in the stanza. The Beavers roared back on the strong legs of nationally-ranked running back Eddie Acosta, who ended the game with 186 rushing yards, 99 receiving yards and three touchdowns. BSU would even up its lead to 33-23 early in the fourth quarter before the Wolves staged a comeback of their own with 10 unanswered points to force overtime. Sophomore kicker Owen Olson (Denver, Colo.) redeemed himself against BSU by nailing a 30-yard field goal to force extra play. Last season, Olson missed a field goal at Bemidji late in the game.

Despite the loss there were plenty of highlights for Northern, beginning with the team's offense. Ackley kick-started NSU's offense and resurrected the passing attack by throwing for more yards than the Wolves have passed for in their first four games of the season. Ackley was 23-of-53 for 370 yards and two touchdowns. His most effective target on the day was his former receiver at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, Calif.: junior wideout Jimmy Johnson. The Lodi, Calif., native ended with seven receptions for 153 yards. But an even more favorite target on the day was senior tight end Lalo Otuafi (Fernley, Nev.), who hauled in a career-high nine catches for 94 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, Bloomfield led the Wolves with 128 yards and four touchdowns. On special teams, senior Jared Harward (American Fork, Utah) used the wind and wowed the crowd by belting a school-record 95-yard punt. The feat was just two yards short of an NCAA II record.

Northern's defense, already playing thin in the defensive secondary, suffered another blow when Harward (who is also the team captain at safety) when down with a leg injury in the second half. But despite it all, the unit came up with three consecutive three-and-out series in the fourth quarter to allow NSU to come back. The defense was also able to block three BSU point-after kicks. Junior defensive lineman Clint Merz (Petaluma, Calif.) led the unit with a game-high 12 tackles on the day, which included three for loss.

The Wolves will hope to reproduce Bemidji's feat next weekend, as NSU takes on the role of possible homecoming spoiler at Southwest State (Marshall, Minn.) Oct. 6.