MINOT, N.D. -- The Minot State football team takes to the road for week three of the football season as the Beavers will meet Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday (Sept. 16) at 6 p.m. at Mattke Field in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game.

Minot State, which is currently 0-2 on the season, made tremendous strides in its last game against Augustana at Herb Parker Stadium on Sept. 9. The Beavers lost to the Vikings 28-20, but took a lead into halftime and put together two potential game-tying drives in the fourth quarter. The Beavers also recorded season highs in passing yards, total offense, points scored, takeaways and sacks versus Augustana.

Sophomore wide receiver Lavante Bushnell caught five passes for 86 yards and a pair of scores to pace the Minot State offensive attack. Quarterback Zac Cunha found Bushnell for a 26-yard touchdown to get the Beavers on the scoreboard and then connected on a 31-yard touchdown pass to put the Beavers in front later in the first quarter.

Freshman running back Hayden Van Winkle made his first career start and rushed 19 times for 53 yards, while Lane Torgerson also caught five passes which totaled 45 yards.

Junior defensive back Kiante Goudeau returned an interception 42 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, which marked the first time Minot State has returned an interception for a touchdown since Bryce Broome returned a pick 29 yards for a score against Mary on Oct. 11, 2014. Goudeau also forced a fumble in the second quarter, which was recovered by Kywan Owens halting a Viking drive deep in Minot State territory.

Linebacker Nikko Walker tallied a pair of sacks, while Broome and Matt Marler led the defense with 11 total tackles on the afternoon.

Southwest Minnesota State, which is 1-1 on the season, opened the 2017 season with a home loss to St. Cloud State before rebounding to defeat Minnesota State Moorhead 51-35 in week two. The Mustangs forced six turnovers, including four interceptions by Je'Darien Jackson-Hanchett, in the victory at Minnesota State Moorhead. Southwest Minnesota State quarterback Blake Gimbel was 32-of-44 for 389 yards and five touchdowns in the win against the Dragons.

Southwest Minnesota State leads the all-time series with Minot State 5-1. The Mustangs have won the last three meetings, but two of those games were decided by two points or less. The Beavers victory in the series came in 1996 when Minot State posted a 26-12 victory.

The game can be seen live on www.msubeavers.com beginning at 6 p.m.