College football: New look, same result for Bemidji State

Photo courtesy of Bemidji State Athletics Bemidji State's Jalen Frye escapes a Northern State defender in a game earlier this season. The Beavers are 3-0 heading into today's game against Minnesota Duluth at Malosky Stadium.

By Jon Nowacki

September 21, 2018 at 7:30 PM

Minnesota Duluth and Bemidji State met last Oct. 26 at Chet Anderson Stadium in Bemidji in conditions UMD coach Curt Wiese said set the game of football back 100 years, with snow and 40 mph winds.

"It was just a flat-out blizzard. It was crazy," Beavers coach Brent Bolte said.

Advantage UMD as Bemidji State's high-powered passing attack was grounded as the Bulldogs prevailed 17-0 for their third straight shutout.

Today's expected sunny skies and 60-degree temperatures will feel downright balmy compared to that when the teams renew their rivalry at 6:05 p.m. at Malosky Stadium. Both teams are 3-0 and have obliterated the opposition, but one could argue they haven't really beaten anybody, either.

"This is the kind of start we were hoping for," Bolte said. "We had a little easier schedule to start, which is good for a young team. It helped us get a little confidence going. The young kids have been playing pretty well, so we're pretty happy with where we're at right now."

Redshirt freshman quarterback Brandon Alt injured his knee in the first half against the University of Mary two weeks ago. Bolte doesn't expect Alt back any time soon, which is unfortunate given Alt's potential. He threw for 348 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions in less than six quarters of work.

"It's a bummer," Bolte said. "He's got some natural ability. He's possibly the most talented quarterback we've ever had at his age, but that's the nature of the game."

Alt is weighing his options, deciding whether to have surgery while looking into a medical redshirt. UMD also recruited the product from Park High School in Cottage Grove, Minn.

In the meantime, Bemidji will go with junior Jared Henning and true freshman Alec Ogden. Henning is more of a runner while Ogden is a deft passer.

"We knew what we had to do," Bolte said. "Alec was up here all summer kind of prepping as a guy who we weren't sure if he was going to be our second or third QB. He's certainly another really talented kid. He's just young, really young, so we went from young and inexperienced to super young and inexperienced."

The game will feature two of the best offensive lines in the league and UMD's talented receiving corps against an experienced Bemidji State secondary that includes senior Gunner Olszewski, 2017 all-region selection John Vogeler and reigning NSIC defensive player of the week Michael Junker. Olszewski is dangerous in the return game while Isaac Aanerud is excellent both punting and kicking the football.

The Beavers have co-offensive coordinators in Ryan Olson and Karson Pike. They replaced Craig Bagnell, a former Mary quarterback who took the head coaching job at his alma mater.

Bemidji is young but talented in the backfield, with redshirt freshman Jalen Frye and true freshmen Sage Booker and Sherrod Kpahn all rushing for at least 165 yards this season.

Senior all-conference selection Andrew Lackowski rushed for 141 yards in the opener before getting sidetracked by an ankle/calf injury. Bolte was hopeful Lackowski would return today.

"We've been more ground oriented, and a lot of that is the change in coordinators," Bolte said. "Karson is certainly a guy who is willing to hand the ball off 60 times if you have the opportunity, so if it's not broke, go back to it. Obviously running the ball is something we want to do, but Duluth is going to make that difficult."

Family ties

These programs have familiarity.

Bemidji State athletic director Tracy Dill is the father of UMD defensive line coach Trey Dill.

Former UMD All-American linebacker Rob Aurich was on the Bemidji State staff the last four seasons and served as Beavers defensive coordinator in 2017. In February, he joined former UMD coach Bob Nielson's staff at South Dakota, where Aurich is serving as special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach.

Bolte's first coaching job was at Loras College (Iowa), UMD defensive coordinator John Steger's alma mater.

"I've got a great deal of respect for those guys," Bolte said of the UMD coaching staff. "I'm a defensive guy myself, and I've always admired what John's done. It's a fun rivalry. They've obviously have had our number. They've done a great job and do it the right way, and it's kind of hard not to like Duluth when they do things that way."

Mehlum moves on

Former Superior High School and Bemidji State quarterback Nick Mehlum graduated with a 3.9 grade-point average in three years at Bemidji and is applying to law schools, mostly on the West Coast. In the meantime, he is back in Superior, managing the Culver's restaurant that his parents own while helping coach the Spartans football team.

Mehlum played in five games as a true freshman for Bemidji State in 2015 and played in five games, starting two, in 2016 before taking a redshirt last year, meaning he still has two years of eligibility remaining. He said it was a tough choice to graduate early and be done with football.

With the injury to Alt, Bemidji would have loved to have Mehlum this season, but the Beavers knew that was his plan coming in.

"Nick is a super bright kid, got done with his stuff and was ready to move on," Bolte said. "The timing was right."

BEMIDJI STATE (3-0) AT NO. 11 UMD (3-0)

What: NSIC North Division football game

When: 6:05 p.m. today

Where: Malosky Stadium
Forecast: Mostly sunny with a high of 63 and 16 mph wind

TV: My9

Radio: KDKE-FM 102.5 and dukefmduluth.com

Internet: portal.stretchinternet.com/umd

Photo courtesy of Bemidji State Athletics Bemidji State defensive back Michael Junker runs away from a Northern State player during a recent NSIC game. The Beavers are undefeated heading into today's game against Minnesota Duluth at Malosky Stadium.

By Jon Nowacki

Jon Nowacki joined the News Tribune in August 1998 as a sports reporter. He grew up in Stephen, Minnesota, in the northwest corner of the state, where he was actively involved in school and sports and was a proud member of the Tigers’ 1992 state championship nine-man football team.

After graduating in 1993, Nowacki majored in print journalism at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, serving as editor of the college paper, “The Aquin,” and graduating with honors in December 1997. He worked with the Associated Press during the “tobacco trial” of 1998, leading to the industry’s historic $206 billion settlement, before moving to Duluth.

Nowacki started as a prep reporter for the News Tribune before moving onto the college ranks, with an emphasis on Minnesota Duluth football, including coverage of the Bulldogs’ NCAA Division II championships in 2008 and 2010.

Nowacki continues to focus on college sports while filling in as a backup on preps, especially at tournament time. He covers the Duluth Huskies baseball team and auto racing in the summer. When time allows, he also writes an offbeat and lighthearted food column entitled “The Taco Stand,” a reference to the “Taco Jon” nickname given to him by his older brother when he was a teenager that stuck with him through college. He has a teenage daughter, Emma.

Nowacki can be reached at jnowacki@duluthnews.com or (218) 380-7027. Follow him on Twitter @TacoJon1.