Not your average homecoming: John Gronski in attendance to see single-game rushing record broken
· Yahoo Sports
Sep. 26—BEMIDJI — Connor Carver was getting ready for another running play with around five minutes remaining in Bemidji State's homecoming game against Minot State.
He was relied on heavily as showers poured over Chet Anderson Stadium all afternoon. Up to that point, he was given the ball 30 times, running for four touchdowns on the Minot State defense.
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Little did he know, his 31st rushing attempt would make history.
Carver took a direct snap as he fought his way for an 11-yard gain, getting another Bemidji State first down. That's when public address announcer Beau Lofgren gave the word that Carver had just passed the program's single-game rushing record. He ended the afternoon with 335 rushing yards, writing his name into the record book.
"I didn't even realize (it was the record)," Carver said. "My body will probably feel it tomorrow, but right now, I'm just super excited for the guys up front. That's huge. They go out, they do all the hard work. All five up front, all the tight ends, fullbacks — it means a lot more to them.
"It's a record for all of us, really. My name's on it, but it means a lot more to them."
Everyone wearing green around Chet Anderson Stadium gave Carver an ovation for the achievement. One of those people happened to be John Gronski, the man he passed.
Up to that point, Gronski had been the single-game rushing record holder, running for 319 yards against Southwest Minnesota State in 1987.
Since his playing days, he's missed only one Bemidji State homecoming, and it was for good reason. It was the weekend he and his wife got married. To see Carver break his record in person was special, he said.
After the home Beavers leaped into Lake Bemidji following its 37-19 win, Gronski congratulated Carver on the achievement.
"This right here with Connor Carver ... to break the record, it couldn't happen for a better guy," Gronski said. "Does it suck that I don't have the record? No, it doesn't, because that's what they're made for. That's why you put them there, because when that happens, your program's getting better."
Gronski remembers that fateful Halloween day in 1987 at the Chet very well — just not for the right reasons.
At the time, the Beavers had a run-heavy offense, with him serving as one of their running backs. The offensive line dominated the SMSU defense, as Gronski kept piling up yards.
But as much as he was slicing up the Mustangs, the BSU defense couldn't hold up its end of the bargain. The game ended in a 46-46 tie, putting a damper on Gronski's record-setting performance.
"You walk off the field, you tie, and then everybody says, 'Oh, you got 300 yards, you got the single-game record.' But we didn't win," Gronski said. "It's kind of an empty feeling, I guess."
Since then, only one Beaver has gotten close to his record. Jalen Frye, who ran for 316 yards against Minot State in 2019. Frye was also in attendance to see Carver's record-breaking performance.
Since the end of Gronski's career, he has kept close with the program. He's a regular at the pregame tailgate, where he's befriended Carver's parents, and always makes sure to be at the team's homecoming game.
Gronski had been familiar with Carver ever since his son, Jarret, played with the QB for one year in 2024. He's particularly in awe of Carver's athleticism, which he showed off on Saturday, hurdling multiple MSU defenders.
"They do things that we didn't do back in the '80s, I can tell you that right now," Gronski said with a laugh. "He's an outstanding athlete, he's an outstanding kid."
As Carver reflected on his record-breaking performance, he reiterated how special it was to have that performance in front of Gronski.
"I got to talk to him after," he said. "He's proud of me; that means a lot. Knowing that those guys are proud of me means a lot."