And with that, the 2022 Warrior football season comes to an end

The+Warriors+headed+to+Bemidji+State+University+for+the+second+time+this+season+to+play+in+their+first+playoff+game+in+five+years+on+Nov.+19.

Syerah Mulhern-Allred

The Warriors headed to Bemidji State University for the second time this season to play in their first playoff game in five years on Nov. 19.

Syerah Mulhern-Allred, Sports Editor

The first year of the Bergstrom era has brought a lot of positives along with the first playoff game in five years, making it one to remember. 

The Warriors headed to Bemidji State University for the second time this season, the first being week three of the season when the Beavers won by a mere ten points.  

With a chance for redemption, the Warriors headed north to Chet Anderson Stadium to play in the brisk 12 degrees with wind coming off Lake Bemidji.  

The winning team would not be jumping in the lake as the Beavers did after the 68-degree game on Sept. 17.  

“We just approached it the same way we do every week,” Carter Duxbury said. “Just treated it as any other game, need to focus on ourselves doing our 1-11th every snap.” 

The first half was completely scoreless on both sides thanks to a strong defense from Winona State, keeping Bemidji at bay.  

The strong defense was led by Clay Schueffner with 19 tackles and an interception, followed by Mitch Snitker with 12 tackles. Aarion Lacy and Brian Corbins Jr. also received interceptions during Saturday’s match.  

This was the first time all season that an opponent had managed to keep the Beavers scoreless. 

However, this did not last into the third quarter when the Beavers scored 24 points in the first nine minutes of the second half.  

It was not until the score became a huge difference of 31-0 that quarterback Trevor Paulsen had a 42-yard touchdown. This touchdown accounted for 42 out of 54 of his yards for the day. 

To no surprise, Ty Gavin led the rushing effort with 87 yards across 17 carries. 

With the score ending 31-7, the Bemidji State Beavers will advance to the second of the playoffs to play Angelo State University in San Angelo, Tex. next Saturday.  

As for the Warriors, this marks the end of the 2022 season and the end of the first year under Head Coach Brian Bergstrom.  

For some seniors, this marks the end of their careers as well. Darryl Williams, JMike Young, Mitch Snitker, Ricky Smalling, Jaylen Schleicher, Samuel Santiago-Lloyd, Anthony Quinn, David Munson, Ben McCabe, Sawyer Maly, Dominik London, Luc Leszczynski, Corrie King, Duxbury, Payton Dachel, Brian Corbins Jr., Joe Carlson and Tyler Anderson all will not be returning next season, as previously mentioned in the article, “Football claims another big win on the road to playoffs”.  

“I feel like I did take advantage of my last year,” Duxbury commented. “I was able to accomplish a conference title that I’ve not done yet in my seven years here.”

With the score ending 31-7, the Bemidji State Beavers will advance to the second of the playoffs to play Angelo State University in San Angelo, Tex. next Saturday. As for the Warriors, this marks the end of the 2022 season and the end of the first year under Head Coach Brian Bergstrom. (Syerah Mulhern-Allred)

With a conference title and a playoff game, no matter the outcome, it is a bittersweet moment after a successful season overall.  

“The amount of work that our guys have put in, I believe the last 11 months, is invigorating and it’s motivating and just really honored to be a part of this program,” Head Coach Brian Bergstrom said about the match in the post-game press conference.  

On Nov. 26 against Angelo State, the Beavers ultimately fell 33-7 under the Texas lights.  

With that, the quarterfinals consist of Indiana University – Pennsylvania against Shepherd University, Grand Valley State University against Ferris State University, Wingate against West Florida and Angelo State against Colorado School of Mines. 

The semifinals will premiere on Dec. 10 for the four teams that win this upcoming week and the Championship game will be on Dec. 17 in McKinney, Tex.  

And with that, the Warrior Football season comes to an end until next fall.