The Scoop
The University of Minnesota Crookston football team will trek to University of Minnesota Duluth for their final road game of the Season Sat., Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. at James S. Malosky Stadium in Duluth, Minn.

Previewing the Golden Eagles
Minnesota Crookston is looking to get in the win column as they enter Saturday with an 0-9 (0-5 NSIC). The Golden Eagles played their best game of the season last Saturday against Minot State, just falling short 42-35 after the Beavers scored a touchdown with 18 seconds remaining in the game. 
Minnesota Crookston has a lot to take from the strong effort last Saturday as they head into the trenches against the Bulldogs. The Golden Eagles got strong games from quarterback Joseph Nava and wide receivers Rod Stewart and Adam Connette. Nava set a school record with five touchdown passes on the day, as he was 20-of-25 for 241 yards with just one major mistake on the day with an interception. Stewart notched five catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns, while Connette had seven grabs for 88 yards and two touchdowns. The latter needs just one touchdown reception in the final two games to tie Carl Aho for the all-time receiving touchdowns record.
Defensively, the Golden Eagles had some strong moments against Minot State but failed to come up with a big stop late in the game against the Beavers. Minnesota Crookston has looked to Will Cole on the season with 75 tackles. Ali Alkhatib has notched 68 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss. Austin Howard leads the team with 9.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Also look for Will Cross to be a major impact from his middle linebacker spot. The sophomore has 62 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss on the season.

Previewing the Bulldogs
Minnesota Duluth enters their final home weekend with a 7-2 (5-0 NSIC North) mark. 
The Bulldogs come into the game as a well-balanced offense, averaging 380.4 yards per game. Minnesota Duluth is averaging 216.3 yards per game through the air and 164.1 yards per contest on the ground. John Larson has been the quarterback most recently. He wasn't forced to throw much at Bemidji State due to weather. The previous week he was 12-of-20 for 193 yards and two touchdowns. Look for him to try to find senior Jason Balts, who has 42 catches for 698 yards and five touchdowns. He will also look to Dominic Bonner, who has 31 grabs for 395 yards and six touchdowns. In the run-game, UMD utilizes both Anthony Wood and Austin Sylvester, along with Larson. Wood has 554 yards on the ground for seven touchdowns. Sylvester has added 353 yards and a touchdown, while Larson has 211 yards rushing with an touchdown.
Minnesota Duluth is strong on the defensive end, as they are limiting opponents to 266.2 yards per game. Gus Wedig leads the team with 47 tackles. He also has 7.5 tackles for loss. Zach Bassuener and A.J. Naatz each have 38 tackles. Bassuener leads the team with four sacks. In the defensive backfield, Bishop McDonald has 36 tackles and an interception, while Justic'e King leads the team with two interceptions. Up front, look for Karl Finkel to put pressure on Nava as he has eight tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks on the season.

Minnesota Duluth
7-2 Overall
5-0 NSIC North
Head Coach:
Curt Wiese

Minnesota Crookston
0-9 Overall
0-5 NSIC North
Head Coach:
Mark Dufner

Date: Nov. 4, 2017
Time: 1 p.m. C.T.
Site: Duluth, Minn.
Stadium: James S. Malosky Stadium
Surface: Turf
Capacity: 4,500
Series: UMD leads 13-1 all-time
Last: Minnesota Duluth won 54-23 
Oct. 29 in Crookston, Minn.

Video: Stretch Internet
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/umd/
Live Stats: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/umd/
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM
Chris Fee (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 shut down Jason Balts at 
wide receiver?

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

5. Can the defense limit the run game of Wood and Sylvester?


#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 fourth nationally and first in the NSIC with 32.3 yards per return. He is coming off the Minot State game in which he had a 55-yard return and MSU Moorhead, in which he returned one 94 yards to the house. Stewart will look to continue to make an impact against UMD.



#CurtainCall
Minnesota Crookston wide receiver Adam Connette has had one of the most impressive careers of any player in program history. Connette is the program's all-time leading receiver with 234 receptions for 2,706 yards. Connette is looking to close his career out in the final two games on a strong note. Connette needs just one receiving touchdown to tie Carl Aho's mark for receiving touchdowns in a career. Connette is coming off a strong game with seven catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns versus Minot State. He has already set his name besides all-time greats Mark Olsonawski and Carl Aho, and will look to further etch his name in history this weekend.


#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 currently fifth in the NSIC with 9.5 tackles for loss. In addition, he has notched 2.5 sacks and 52 tackles on the season. The senior will look to finish out his career on a strong note as he heads into his final road game at UMD.


#INT
Junior Will Cole has been one of the defensive leaders all season long for the Golden Eagles. He continued that trend with his team-leading second interception of the season last week against Minot State. Cole has also been all over the place taking down opponents with his team-leading 75 tackles. Cole will look to make a major impact this weekend at Minnesota Duluth.