CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of MInnesota Crookston will look to get on a winning track as they head to St. Cloud State University Sat., Oct. 7 for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Husky Stadium. The Golden Eagles enter with a 0-5 (0-1 NSIC North), while St. Cloud State is 3-2 (0-1 NSIC).

St. Cloud State
3-2 Overall
0-1 NSIC North
Head Coach:
Scott Underwood

Minnesota Crookston
0-5 Overall
0-1 NSIC North
Head Coach:
Mark Dufner

Date: Oct. 7, 2017
Time: 1 p.m. C.T.
Site: St. Cloud, Minn.
Stadium: Husky Stadium
Surface: Turf
Capacity: 4,198
Series: SCSU leads 13-0
Last: St. Cloud State won 28-7 at 
Ed Widseth Field

Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM
Leo Blavin (Play by Play)
Video: Stretch Internet
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/scsu/
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/stcloudstate/football/

#5StoryLines

1. Can the Golden Eagle get the ball in the hands of Rod Stewart and Adam Connette?

2. Who will start at quarterback for the Golden Eagles and what kind of production can he have?

3. Can the defense slow down the duo of Joe Blando and Gregory Lewis?

4. Can the Golden Eagle defense come away with big turnovers?

5. Can the Minnesota Crookston special teams come away with some big plays?

#Tidbits

- Minnesota Crookston Breakdown
The University of Minnesota Crookston football team comes into Saturday with an 0-5 mark. The Golden Eagles are looking to get into the win column as they head into the final six games of the season. Minnesota Crookston has struggled to get much going on the ground this season as they are averaging just 66 yards per game on the ground. Minnesota Crookston has been led on the season at running back by Kevin Evans, who has 186 yards on the ground this season. At quarterback, Minnesota Crookston has utilized both Joseph Nava and Jeremy Neuman with the latter starting against Bemidji State. Neuman had strong moments against University of Sioux Falls but struggled against BSU. Nava presents an option both on the ground and through the air. Nava leads the team with 577 yards through the air, while Neuman has 150 aerial yards. The top targets for the Golden Eagles, who are averaging 173 yards through the air, are led by Adam Connette's 29 catches for 325 yards and four touchdowns. Rod Stewart has notched 22 catches for 227 yards.

Defensively, the Golden Eagles are allowing 529.2 yards per game, including 242.6 through the air and 286.6 on the ground. Minnesota Crookston has been led by Will Cole's 45 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Ali Alkhatib notched 40 tackles with a team-leading four tackles of loss. Will Cross has also been strong for the Golden Eagles with 40 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. 


- SCSU Notables
- St. Cloud State fell to Minnesota Duluth last Thursday by a 34-21 score.
- The program fell behind by 20 at the half, but rallied to get to within 13 in the second half.
- SCSU was limited to a season-low 76 yards rushing in the contest and also lost time of possession (37:06 to 22:54) for the first time this season.
- The team did win the turnover battle with Stuart Hamman picking off a pass.
- Justin Czech received his second career start and threw for a career-high 207 yards and two touchdowns on his 13 completions.
- John Solberg ended up with five catches for 88 yards.
- John Pass hauled in three passes for 46 yards and two touchdowns.
- It was the second multi-touchdown receiving game of the season for Pass.
- Tanner Teige led the team with 103 all-purpose yards
- Carvel Graham totaled 12 tackles and a forced fumble on the evening.
- It was the first time SCSU has had a defender reach double figures in tackles this season.
- Gary Koehring recorded nine tackles and a stop for loss.
- SCSU is still ranked in the top 15 nationally in both time of possession (34:56 – 4th) and run defense (90 - 14th).
- Pass is tied for the conference lead with his five touchdown receptions this season.
- Jeremy Koffi is eighth in the conference in pass defenses per game (1.0).
-- Dwayne Lawhorn is seventh in the league with his seven passing touchdowns.
- Carvel Graham, Graham Miller and Stuart Hamann are all tied for 10th in the league in interceptions per game (0.4).
- Jack Horter is third in the league in sacks per game (0.70).
- Gregory Lewis is sixth in the conference with his four rushing touchdowns.
- Adam Stage is fourth in the conference in field goal percentage (83.3), sixth in field goals per game (1.00), ninth in points scored (34) and 10th in scoring per game (6.8 points)

- Last Meeting
The Huskies won the last meeting between the two schools 28-7 at Ed Widseth Field last season. Minnesota Crookston looked to 86 yards on the ground from Andre Person and 112 yards through the air by Nathan Cole. The top target was Adam Connette with seven catches for 80 yards. Defensively, Minnesota Crookston looked to nine tackles from Will Cross. St. Cloud State was led by quarterback Nate Meyer, who was 15-of-22 for 248 yards and two touchdowns. Jaden Huff led the ground game with 21 carries for 65 yards. Through the air, Jameson Parsons notched seven catches for 125 yards and a touchdown. 

#TheOtherRodStewart
Minnesota Crookston wide receiver Rod Stewart returned from injury last week and had a strong game. Stewart notched six catches fo 58 yards against Bemidji State. Stewart might not be as known as the other Rod Stewart who sang hits like "Maggie May", but he has had a great career. Stewart has 90 catches for 1,072 yards in a career.

#CurtainCall
Minnesota Crookston wide receiver Adam Connette has had one of the most impressive careers of any player in program history. Connette is already the program's all-time leading receiver with 206 receptions for 2,384 yards. Connette is looking to close his career out in the final six games on a strong note. He is coming off a school record 14 receptions against Wayne State. Connette 
totaled 153 yards and two touchdowns in the game. Connette needs just five touchdown receptions to tie and six to break Carl Aho's all-time record. Connette is coming off of just two receptions for -5 yards against Bemidji State. He will look to improve upon that total against St. Cloud State. 

#StingLikeABee
He might not be the most famous Ali, but he does sting like a bee when he puts a big hit on you. Junior linebacker Ali Alkhatib led the team with 10 tackles last weekend against Bemidji State. Alkhatib has notched 40 tackles and a team-high four tackles for loss. He has also forced a fumble and has a half sack. Alkhatib will look to make a major impact against the Huskies.

#Playmaker
Freshman corner Donovan Baker has proven to be a defensive playmaker for the Golden Eagles. The Tampa, Fla. native had a forced fumble at the one-yard line in the first game against Upper Iowa. He continued to show his playmaking ability as he jumped a route for an interception versus Wayne State. Baker then followed it up with his first career sack against Bemidji State. Baker will look to make an impact this weekend against St. Cloud State.