The Scoop
The University of Minnesota Crookston football team returns home to face No. 5 University of Minnesota Duluth at 1 p.m. at Ed Widseth Field in Crookston, Minn. The game will also be the Ed Widseth/ Agassiz Bowl Scholarship game for the Golden Eagles. 

Previewing the Golden Eagles
Minnesota Crookston enters the weekend with a 1-7 mark on the 2018 season. The Golden Eagles continue to improve each week. They are coming off a strong performance last Saturday against Concordia-St. Paul, but they unfortunately fell just short 21-13 to the Golden Bears. 
Minnesota Crookston is averaging 254.6 yards per game with 157.4 yards per contest through the air and 97.3 yards per game on the ground. The Golden Eagles are led by junior quarterback Jalin Scott, who has passed for 923 yards and rushed for 201 on the season. Scott's top target on the season has been freshman Andy Groebner, who is off to one of the best starts any freshman receiver has ever had. Groebner has 27 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns. In addition, Jonattan Mudd comes in with 19 catches for 248 yards, while senior Rod Stewart has 16 catches for 240 yards and two touchdowns. 

Defensively, Minnesota Crookston is giving up 440.8 yards per game, a great improvement from the 2018 season. The Golden Eagles held Concordia-St. Paul to just 353 yards of offense last weekend. The Golden Eagles are led by linebacker Ali Alkhatib, who is now No. 3 all-time in tackles. Alkhatib has a team-leading 64 tackles with six tackles for loss, a sack, and an interception. In addition, senior safety Will Cole has 60 tackles with four tackles for loss, while junior safety Trevor Long, Jr. has notched 55 tackles. On the defensive line, Skyler Quinn leads the way with 21 tackles and four tackles for loss. 

On special teams, Jared McLemore is 4-of-6 on field goals with a season-long of 47 yards. McLemore needs three field goals to tie Scott Turnbull and Michael Maw for fourth all-time with seven field goals. 

Previewing the Bulldogs
Minnesota Duluth comes in with a No. 5 national ranking. In addition, the Bulldogs are currently No. 1 in the NCAA Division II Super Region 4 rankings. UMD is tallying 440.8 yards per game offensively with an average of 216.1 yards per game on the ground and 224.6 yards per contest through the air. 

The Bulldogs have looked to back-up quarterback Mike Rybarczyk, who has stepped in for an injured John Larson. Rybarczyk has thrown for 398 yards and rushed for 275 yards this season. His backfield mate is Wade Sullivan, who has rushed for 495 yards and nine touchdowns, and has 192 yards through the air and two more touchdowns. In the pass game, Rybarczyk's top target is senior Nate Ricci with 28 catches for 372 yards, while sophomore Johnny McCormick has 19 grabs for 333 yards and three touchdowns. 

Defensively, UMD is holding opponents to 219.8 yards per contest. They are guided by linebacker Gus Wedig, who has 40 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss. Senior linebacker Alex Helmer has been putting the pressure on opposing quarterbacks with 6.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. In the secondary, Sam Lynch has 32 tackles and two interceptions. 

The Bulldogs have used both Cameron Hausman and Dan Branger in the kicking game. Hausman is 2-of-4 with a long of 45, while Branger is 4-of-9 with a long of 43 yards.

#5 Minnesota Duluth
8-0 Overall
4-0 NSIC North
Head Coach:
Curt Wiese

Minnesota Crookston
1-7 Overall
1-3 NSIC North
Head Coach:
Mark Dufner

Date: Oct. 26, 2018
Time: 1 p.m.
Site: Crookston, Minn.
Stadium: Ed Widseth Field
Surface: Grass
Capacity: 2,000
Series: Minnesota Duluth leads 14-1
Last: Minnesota Duluth won 54-6 in
Duluth, Minn.
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/
Live Stats: https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM
Leo Blavin (Play by Play)
www.kroxam.com
App: MN Crookston Athletics on Google Play and Apple Store

#StingLikeABee
Ali Alkhatib, might not be the same Ali who floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee, but the team's leader in tackles with 64. He also leads the team with six tackles for loss, one sack, and an interception. In addition, Alkhatib continues to move up on the tackle charts. Alkhatib now has 286 career tackles. He needs 40 tackles to surpass Cecil Brown, Jr. for second all-time. In addition, Alkhatib needs three solo tackles to move past Neil Austin for third all time in career solo tackles. He also needs seven tackles for loss to move past Jim Mages for the career lead in tackles for loss. Alkhatib will look to go out on a great note in his final three games. 


#GetItToGroebner
Minnesota Crookston freshman wide receiver Andy Groebner is off to an oustanding start to his career. Groebner has accumulated 
478 yards on 27 catches through his first eight games. Groebner is ahead of the pace as a freshman as compared to all-time receiving leader Adam Connette. Connette had 462 yards through his first eight games. Groebner is coming off six catches for 73 yards against Concordia-St. Paul last Saturday. He will look to have a strong day Saturday versus Minnesota Duluth. He is averaging 59.8 yards per game and 17.7 yards per catch. 

#GreatScott
Minnesota Crookston junior quarterback Jalin Scott is a dual threat in the running and passing game. He is coming off a strong game for the Golden Eagles against Concordia-St. Paul. Scott was 20-of-34 for 270 yards and a touchdown against the Golden Bears. In addition, Scott rushed for 54 yards for Minnesota Crookston. On the season, the junior college transfer has passed for 923 yards and rushed for 201 yards on the season. Scott will look to be a catalyst this weekend versus Minnesota Duluth.

#MacAttack
Minnesota Crookston kicker Jared McLemore has given the Golden Eagles a strong option in the kicking game. The Lucas, Texas native is 4-of-6 on the season with a long of 47. 
McLemore is coming off hitting two field goals versus Concordia-St. Paul. McLemore is also averaging 53.0 yards per kickoff on the season with eight touchbacks. McLemore will look to be a weapon on special teams this weekend against UMD.

#5StoryLines
1. Will the Golden Eagles limit running back Wade Sullivan?

2. Can the defense force mistakes by UMD quarterback Mike Rybarczyk?

3. Can Jalin Scott have a follow-up game at quarterback after a strong showing at CSP?

4. Can the defense come away with big turnovers?

5. Will the Golden Eagles get production on the ground?