CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston will head down Highway 75 for a "Red River Valley Showdown" with Minnesota State University Moorhead Sat., Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. The game will be played at Scheels Field at Alex Nemzek Stadium in Moorhead, Minn.

Minnesota Crookston comes in with an 0-5 mark and is looking to snap a tough start to the 2016 campaign. MSU Moorhead is 2-3 entering Saturday.

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Mike Fritze
Record at UMC: 3-35 Season at UMC: Fourth Season

MSU Moorhead Dragons
Head Coach: Steve Laqua
Record at MSUM: 19-41 Season at MSUM: Sixth Season

Oct. 8, 2016 • Moorhead, Minn. • Scheels Field @ Alex Nemzek Stadium • 6 p.m.
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/msum/index.htm
Live Stats: http://web.mnstate.edu/livestats/football/xlive.htm
Live Audio: www.kroxam.com
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM (Matt Bishop, PXP)
TV: WDAY'Z Extra (Channel 6-3)

#5StoryLines
1. Can Adam Connette break the records for receptions and receiving yards in a career?

2. Can the Golden Eagles limit a strong MSU Moorhead offense?

3. Can the UMC defense build upon a strong performance against St. Cloud State?

4. Can Andre Person have a big weekend on the ground against MSU Moorhead?


5. Who will step up to get a crucial turnover for the UMC defense?

#SteppingUp
UMC redshirt freshman Trevor Long, Jr. was forced into a starting role at bullet safety due to injuries to Terry Ford and Jake Newman. However, the youngster has come into his own in the role and continues to improve. Long leads the team with 39 tackles this season. He also had 1.5 tackles for loss on the year. Look for #40 to continue to improve this season for UMC. 


#ChasingRecords
UMC wide receiver Adam Connette continues to be the go-to 
target in the passing game for Nathan Cole. Connette had a big weekend against St. Cloud State with seven catches for 80 yards. Connette needed seven grabs for 79 yards to move into second for both receptions and receiving yards in a career, and he did just that. Connette will look to break the records in the coming weeks. He needs just 13 receptions to surpass Mark Olsonawski for receptions and 132 yards to surpass Carl Aho for receiving yards. 

#DontMessWithBubba
UMC sophomore Bubba Cook has done a great job leading the pressure inside for UMC this season from his nose guard position. The Arizona native had a team-leading three sacks this year and leads the way with five tackles for loss. Cook will look to continue to plug up the middle to stop the run, but also to put the pressure on MSU Moorhead quarterbacks Demetrius Carr and Jake Hodge. 


#StingLikeABee
UMC linebacker Ali Alkhatib continues to have a strong season for the Golden Eagles. Alkhatib really did "Sting Like A Bee" last week with a big hit on St. Cloud State star Jameson Parsons to force his third fumble of the year. Alkhatib is second on the team with 37 tackles this season. He is second on the team with 4.5 tackles for loss and leads the team with his three forced fumbles. This Ali might not quite be the legendary Muhammad Ali, but he is carving quite the path for himself at Minnesota Crookston. 

#Tidbits

- Minnesota Crookston comes into the weekend with an 0-5 mark on the season. The Golden Eagles had strong moments last weekend against St. Cloud State but their 11 penalties played a big factor in the loss to the Huskies. A big upside for UMC was the play of the defense, which put forth their best effort of the season. UMC limited St. Cloud State to 363 yards of offense. The Golden Eagles had three sacks and five tackles for loss against the Huskies. UMC will look to put the same type of pressure on the Dragons, but will have a tough task against a talented offensive side.

- The Golden Eagle pass rush is must improved this season. Minnesota Crookston needs just two more sacks this season to tie last year's squad's mark of 12. UMC has 10 sacks this season led by three from Bubba Cook. Casey Kraska (Sr., DL, Stephen, Minn.) and Isaiah Armstrong (Sr., DL, Fairfield, Calif.) have both added two sacks on the year.

- Andre Person will look to have a strong game against the Dragons defese. Person struggled last season with just four carries for -8 yards against MSU Moorhead. Person comes into the weekend with 324 yards rushing for an average of 3.3 yards per carry. The Dragons are giving up 237.6 yards per game to opposing rushers, which Person will look to take advantage of. He had 23 rushes for 86 yards last weekend against the Huskies.

- Stephen Day has had a strong season punting the ball for UMC. The Eveleth, Minn. native is averaging 40.9 yards per game, which is fifth in the league. Day has seven punts over 50 yards or more and five punts that have landed inside the 20. Day will look to pin the Dragons this weekend.

- MSU Moorhead comes in with a 2-3 mark. The Dragons have continued to improve under former UMC assistant coach Steve Laqua. MSU Moorhead has a strong offense, averaging 395.4 yards per game, but they have struggled defensively, giving up 447.2 yards per game.

- Offensively the Dragons have looked to Demetrius Carr, while also utilizing Jake Hodge. Carr is 81-of-141 for 845 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions. His top target on the year is Damon Gibson, who has 40 catches for 612 yards and five touchdowns. He will also look to Hunter Braaten and Cory Ambrose.

- In the run game, look for MSU Moorhead to look to Austin Stone, who is averaging 3.9 yards per carry. He has 424 yards rushing with three touchdowns on the year. Zach Sweep has also seen time. He has 30 rushes for 137 yards with one touchdown. 

- This is the fifth edition of the Red River Valley Showdown as the teams battle for the State Farm Traveling Trophy. The Dragons lead the series 3-1 with UMC last gaining the trophy in 2013.