The Cougars (5-3) trailed 10-9 with 12:29 left in the fourth quarter but they put together a six play, 59-yard scoring drive to regain the lead on Nakamoto's touchdown reception; his first score in a USF jersey.

USF failed to convert the two point conversion but junior defensive back Robert Virgil sealed the win by scooping up a Minot fumble and taking it 18-yards to the endzone on the ensuing possession.  

Perkins shook off an early interception to complete 9-of-18 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown. The Mesa, Ariz. native also added 82 yards on the ground. Sophomore Carrington Hanna played a key role in the offensive scheme as he rushed for 41 yards and a touchdown and completed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Michael Hicks.

Junior running back Jordan Taylor had 20 carries for 74 yards.

Virgil and his defensive cohorts forced three turnovers and sacked Minot State's quarterback tandem of Bryce Jorgenson and C.J. Evans five times. The Cougar defense held the Beavers to 283 yards of offense on the day led by a career-high three sacks and six tackles by junior defensive lineman Jameel Medlock. Senior Brandon Andersen added seven stops, including two for a loss.

The Cougars struck first with an 8-play, 71 yard scoring drive. Hanna found Michael Hicks across the middle for a 13-yard scoring strike to cap the drive, giving USF a 6-0 (missed PAT) lead at the 11:35 mark of the second quarter.

The Beavers answered on their next possession with a 6-play, 76 yard drive with a 59-yard deep ball from C.J. Evans to Jabari Taylor doing a majority of the damage. A 4-yard scamper into the endzone by Nico Youngren's gave Minot a 7-6 lead. The Beavers added a field goal late in the second quarter to take a 10-6 lead into the half.

USF took the opening possession of the third quarter 9 plays, 53 yards and 3:42 to pull within one when junior kicker Braden Wieking converted a 24-yard field goal to cut the Beavers' lead to 10-9.

Minot State threatened to widen the margin on the next possession when they had the ball on the USF 10-yard line after marching 62 yards in 16 plays. But on third and seven, USF defensive back Michael Frericks intercepted a Jorgenson in the end zone, leaving the contest at 10-9 in favor of the Beavers.  

Both teams stalled on their next possessions. When USF got the ball at 12:29 left in the fourth quarter, they took 2:36 to run a 6-play drive that was highlighted by a 40-yard reception by junior Jeremiah Oates. Nakamoto's touchdown reception put USF back in front, 15-10 after a failed two point conversion.

Less than ninety seconds later, the Cougars increased the margin to 22-10 when Robert Virgil picked up a fumble by Minot quarterback Bryce Jorgenson and took it to paydirt nearly untouched.

The Cougars took advantage of great field possession after a Beavers punt, putting together a 4 play, 57-yard drive that was capped with a 2-yard touchdown run by Hanna to create the final margin. An interception by Virgil with 4:10 left served as the nail in the coffin for Minot State.

Minot produced only 20 yards and one first down in the fourth quarter.      

USF wraps up the 2011 season next weekend at the University of North Dakota. Kick-off in Grand Forks is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.