Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Fritze
Record at UMC: 2-23 Season at UMC: Third Season

#1 Minnesota State Mavericks
Head Coach: Todd Hoffner
Record at MSU: 51-14 Season at MSU: Sixth Season

Sept. 26, 2015 • Crookston, Minn. • Ed Widseth Field • 1 p.m.
Radio: 1260 KROX AM Play by Play: Matt Bishop
Video: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/#liveEventsTab
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/football/
Radio Online: www.kroxam.com



- Tidbits
- The Golden Eagles have shown their depth at wide receiver despite injuries to Adam Connette, LaMar Daniels, II and Rodney Stewart during various parts of the season. Triston Richert continues to be UMC's most reliable receiver in the passing game. The possession receiver leads the team with 12 catches for 167 yards and a touchdown. UMC will hope to get Connette back this weekend, who is a big part of the offense, throwing. rushin and passing for a touchdown this season. Connette has seven receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown. Constant Jackson comes in with six catches for 94 yards. LaMar Daniels, II also hopes to return. The senior has six catches for 67 yards. Junior Ryan Hutton is coming off a great weekend against Upper Iowa as he had three catches for 70 yards.

- The Golden Eagles have struggled in the rushing game so far this season. UMC is averaging just 55.3 yards per game through three games. UMC has been led this season by Harold Halcomb, III, who has 26 rushes for 77 yards with one touchdown. Dre Person has been the other part of the backfield duo with 26 carries for 72 yards. UMC will look to get the running game going even more as they head into the Minnesota State game.

- Nathan Cole has done a strong job at quarterback, completing 43 passes for 469 yards with two touchdowns on the season. Cole has the luxury of getting two starters back at wide receiver hopefully this week as Connette and Daniels hope to be in the starting line-up this week after missing last week against Upper Iowa.

- UMC freshman linebacker Conner Finnestad continues to have a bigger role in the defense. Finnestad is coming off a strong game against Upper Iowa with five tackles, one sack and one tackle for loss. Finnestad has 11 tackles with three tackles for loss this season.

- The Golden Eagles look to continue to find the right formula on the offensive line as they have just two players with extensive experience on the line with Tyman Hayashi and Drew McDurmin. Sophomore J.T. Moran has come back from injury, while redshirt freshman Noah Lee and freshman Duke Smith continue to make progress. Kolby Castillo has also made starts on the line so far this season.

- One of the keys to the weekend will be slowing down Minnesota State's running game. Maverick tailback Connor Thomas, comes in averaging 98.0 yards per game with 294 yards on the ground through three games with two touchdowns. In addition to Thomas, Minnesota State utilizes their quarterbacks in the rushing game.
Nick Pieruccini is technically the back-up quarterback but has been the more effective of the two. Pieruccini has 28 rushes for 173 yards with three touchdowns. Starting quarterback Ricky Lloyd had 21 rushes for 99 yards, while back-up running back Chad Zastrow has 14 rushes for 103 yards and two touchdowns. The Mavericks are averaging 242.3 yards on the ground this season.

- Minnesota State's weakness has been their passing game. The Maverick quarterbacks have seven interceptions on the season and are averaging just 210.7 yards per game. Pieruccini has two touchdowns and four interceptions with 429 yards passing, while Lloyd has 189 passing yard with one touchdown and three interceptions. Their top target in the passing game has been Kyle Riggot, who has nine catches for 133 yards, while Jameer Jackson has eight catches for 114 yards.

- The Minnesota State defense has been strong this season and is the biggest reason they are ranked No. 1. The Mavericks are allowing opposing offenses to put up just 224 yards of offense per game. One big part of it is
pressuring the quarterback. The Maverick defense has accumulated 22 tackles for loss and nine sacks on the season. Josh Gordon leads the Mavericks in post categories with 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Evan Perrizo has also been strong with two tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, while Marcus Gooden has two tackles for loss.