Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles (0-1)
Head Coach: Mike Fritze (Third Season)
 #5StoryLines
1. Can the Golden Eagles get in the win column?

2. Will the Golden Eagles find balance in the offense with running and passing?

3. Will Brody Davidson have a bigger impact in game two?

4. Will the UMC special teams have as strong of game in game two?

5. Will sophomore Tra Hearns find more consistency at quarterback?




- Sioux Falls is led by junior quarterback Luke Papilion, who was the NSIC Offensive Player of the Year in 2014. Papilion passed for 266 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 65 yards on the ground. The Golden Eagles will have to shut down the Papilion in order to come up with a win over the No. 15 team in the nation.

- The Golden Eagles found success in the second quarter of last Saturday's game because they found balance between the running game and passing game. UMC will have to find some more production from running back duo Dre Person and Harold Halcomb, III, along with the passing game of Tra Hearns to find success. Hearns has some potent threats he can find downfield in Triston Richert, Adam Connette, LaMar Daniels and Tommy Smith, III. Hearns will look to find them in order to help the Golden Eagles to a win.

- UMC linebacker Brody Davidson wasn't very visible in last week's loss against Wayne State as he had just two tackles on the game. Davidson had 70 tackles, including 7.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks two seasons ago in 2013 before missing the 2014 season due to having an appendectomy prior to the start of the season. Davidson will be a key to success for the Golden Eagles' defensively as they move forward this season.

- The UMC secondary is a young one with Lethzee Calderon being the only player who has started for multiples seasons for UMC. Jake Newman started toward the end of last year, while the other three players are brand new to the starting line-up. Bubba Adeniyi is a senior, but is new to the starting spot, as are redshirt freshman Ali Alkhatib and Dion Wallisch.

- The Golden Eagles have several freshman who saw the field last weekend against Wayne State. A couple freshman who will have major impacts are starting offensive linemen Kolby Castillo and Duke Smith. In addition, linebacker Conner Finnestad, defensive tackle Bubba Cook, tight end Sam Davis, wide receivers Lincoln Tappe and Rodney Stewart and defensive backs Aeric Berner and William Cole, along with long snapper Zach Greenberg, will all play an impact for the Golden Eagles in some way for the 2015 season.

- The UMC defensive line is the most experienced unit for the Golden Eagles with returning starters Drew Selvestra and A.J. Wallace leading the way. Selvestra and Wallace will play a huge impact on UMC's success this season. Jake Christopherson also has starting experience. Also look for redshirt player Casey Kraska to play an impact, with newcomers Bubba Cook, Austin Howard and Isaiah Armstrong.

- A key to UMC's success will also be getting off to a strong start. Tra Hearns struggled early on for the Golden Eagles, going just 3-of-8 for 36 yards in the first half. Dre Person also had just two rushes for 10 yards. The Golden Eagle offense will need to come up strong, so that the UMC defense can stay off the field. Wayne State scored three touchdowns in the first quarter against Wayne State.