Box Score The Scoop
The University of Minnesota Crookston football team will wrap up the 2017 season Sat., Nov. 11 as they host Northern State University at 1 p.m. The day will mark senior day for the Golden Eagles. Minnesota Crookston will honor seniors Adam Connette, Chuck Lofquist, Tommy Singer, Austin Howard, Spencer Stephens, Kevin Williams, Triston Richert and J.T. Moran prior to the game. 

Previewing the Golden Eagles
Minnesota Crookston enters the weekend with an 0-10 (0-6 Div.) coming into Saturday's game. The Golden Eagles are averaging 229.4 yards of offense per game, while giving up 515.3 to their foes. 
Minnesota Crookston is led by senior wide receiver Adam Connette, who has set nearly all the receiving records at U of M Crookston. He has amassed 237 receptions for 2,724 yards in his four years. His 237 receptions serve as the school's record and ranks No. 2 all-time in NSIC history. His 2,724 yards is a school record and is eighth all-time in the NSIC. Connette has one more record to set as he needs one touchdown reception to tie and two to break Carl Aho's mark of 23 receiving touchdowns. 

In addition to Connette, Rod Stewart has had his best season as a Golden Eagle with 42 catches for 561 yards and four touchdowns. He is also a return threat, as he is 13th in the nation on kickoff returns with a 29.3 yard per return average. At quarterback, Minnesota Crookston looks to Joseph Nava, who has passed for 1,214 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Defensively, Will Cole has had a break-out year at safety with a team-leading 82 tackles and three interceptions on the season. Ali Alkhatib leads the linebacking corps with 76 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. At defensive end, Austin Howard has been strong with 58 tackles, a team-high 11.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

Previewing the Wolves
Northern State comes into Saturday with a 5-5 (4-2 Div.) mark. The Wolves are led by their running game paced by 809 yards from reining NSIC Offensive Player of the Week Nicholas Truen. In addition, Chaka Kelly has rushed for 249 yards and three touchdowns. At quarterback, Hunter Trautman has passed for 1,099 yards, but has prone to some mistakes with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. His top target has been Zech Culbreath with 30 catches for 204 yards. Zachery Barber comes in tallying 290 yards and three touchdowns, while tight end Cody Kraft has 20 grabs for 285 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Northern State is giving up 396.1 yards per game, inclduing 194.7 yards per game on the ground and 201.4 yards per contest through the air. The Wolves are led by linebacker Noah MacPherson with 74 tackles, five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Preston Droessler has been a pass-rushing threat with nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. In the defensive backfield, Brian Sumption leads the way with three interceptions.

Senior Day
Minnesota Crookston's senior class has been a strong group of leaders for the Golden Eagles in Head Coach Mark Dufner's first season. The group includes four-year seniors Adam Connette, Tommy Singer, J.T. Moran and Chuck Lofquist. In addition, Kevin Williams has had a unique journey for the Golden Eagles. Williams started with the team in 2012 and 2013 before taking two years off. He sat out last year with the team before playing his final year in 2017. Austin Howard played in 2015 and sat out last year before having a strong year as a senior. Spencer Stephens suffered through injuries throughout his career. His senior season was the only time he was able to see the field. Triston Richert contributed the last two years prior to 2017, before calling it quits as a player due to injury. Richert helped the team out as a student assistant coach this season.

Northern State at Minnesota Crookston
Game 11
Northern State
5-5 Overall
4-2 NSIC North
Head Coach:
Tom Dosch

Minnesota Crookston
0-10 Overall
0-6 NSIC North
Head Coach:
Mark Dufner

Date: Nov. 11, 2017
Time: 1 p.m. C.T.
Site: Crookston, Minn.
Stadium: Ed Widseth Field
Surface: Grass
Capacity: 2,000
Series: Northern State leads 17-1
Last: Northern State won 66-14 last season in Aberdeen, S.D.

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


#5StoryLines
1. Can the Golden Eagle get the ball in the hands of Rod Stewart and Adam Connette?

2. Will Minnesota Crookston have a running back or a running threat step up in the game?

3. Can the defense slow down Northern State running back Nicholas Truen?

4. Can the defense force errors by Hunter Trautman at quarterback?

5. Will the return game be a big influence for the Golden Eagles?

#ReturningIsHisGameRodIsHisName
Minnesota Crookston kick returner Rod Stewart has been phenomenal as a 
returner this season. Stewart just refuses to go down, using a combination of his strength and speed. He currently ranks 13th nationally and first in the NSIC with 29.3 yards per return. Stewart had a 43-yard return against Minot State and a 55-yard return against Minnesota Duluth. Stewart took one to the house against MSU Moorhead 94 yards Oct. 21. 

#CurtainCall
Minnesota Crookston wide receiver Adam Connette has had one of the most impressive careers of any player in program history. Connette comes into his final game as a Golden Eagle with 237 catches and 2,724 yards. He has already shattered the previous receptions record of Hall of Famer Mark Olsonawski and the receiving yards mark of Carl Aho. Connette needs just one receiving touchdown to tie Aho's record of 23 receiving touchdowns. The Corona, Calif. native is also second all-time in receptions in NSIC history. He is 13 receptions behind Nate Huot of Southwest Minnesota State. Huot is also heading into his last collegiate game Saturday. Connette is eighth all-time in receiving yards in the NSIC 
history.

#UnderPressure
Minnesota Crookston senior defensive end Austin Howard has been a force to reckon with in the front seven for the Golden Eagles this season. Howard is third in the league with tackles for loss with 11.5 on the season. He has added 3.5 sacks to round out a great season for the senior. He heads into his last game of the season looking to make a major impact defensively for the Golden Eagles.

#INT
Junior Will Cole has been one of the defensive leaders all season long for the Golden Eagles. He currently leads the team with 82 tackles on the season. The safety grabbed his team-leading third interception of the season last Saturday against Minnesota Duluth. He will look to have a major impact on the game from his safety position against the Wolves.