MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State football team excelled on the gridiron and turned in the program's best performance as an NCAA program, setting numerous records along the way to earn the honor as the No. 3 moment in Beaver Athletics during 2024.

The Beavers (5-6 overall) started off with a record-setting opening win over Valley City State, running over the Vikings for a 38-7 victory that saw the team crush the all-time school record for rushing yards in a single game with 416 yards on the ground.

Quarterback Carson Chrisman added a record effort in his debut under center, rushing for 4 touchdowns to tie an all-time single-game record.

Teammate Evan Lovett matched that feat on the final day of the season as he ran for 4 touchdowns in the Beavers' 56-23 win over Winona State on Senior Day, the program's first-ever victory over Winona State. Lovett also ran for 255 yards in the game, the 2^nd-best rushing game all-time.

Riding the moment of that opening win, the Beavers tacked on 42-9 win at Southwest Minnesota State where the defense set the records with an all-time single-game record 4 turnover returns for touchdown in the game.

Nalu Cordeiro led the way with a single-game record 92-yard interception return for a touchdown, then became the first Minot State player with two pick-6s in a game adding a 29-yard interception return for a touchdown in the win.

Deuce Carr added one more interception return for a touchdown (65 yards) and Ike Mikaele started the dominating defensive performance with a 43-yard fumble return for a touchdown.

The Beavers then returned home and pushed their record to 3-0 for the first time since 2002 with the program's first homecoming win since 2010, a 17-14 thriller over Northern State.

Minot State tacked on a 26-22 win over Sioux Falls two weekends later, improving to 4-1 on the season and finished the year with that first-ever win over the Warriors for the most wins in the program's NCAA era, a 5-6 overall mark, and the best record since 2010 when the Beavers were 6-4.

Along the way, the Minot State offense set all-time single-season records with 2,693 rushing yards, 586 rushing attempts, and 30 rushing touchdowns.

Chrisman added an NCAA-era record for single-season rushing touchdowns with 15 and Lovett added the 2^nd-most yards rushing in a single season in the team's NCAA era, finishing the fall with 958 yards on the ground.
 
Top 5 Minot State Athletic Moments From 2024
No. 1: Announced January 1
No. 2: Announced December 31
No. 3: Minot State football turns in best season in NCAA era
No. 4: Minot State women's soccer posts 6 straight shutouts to advance to NSIC title game
No. 5: Jasiah Hambira earns NCAA All-American honors at NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship