Minot State
1-2 Overall
1-2 NSIC North
Head Coach:
Mike Aldrich

Minnesota Crookston
0-3 Overall
0-3 NSIC North
Head Coach:
Mark Dufner

Date: Sept. 22, 2018
Time: 2 p.m.
Site: Minot, N.D.
Stadium: Herb Parker Stadium
Surface: Turf
Capacity: 3,500
Series: Minot State leads 5-1
Last: Minot State won 42-35 in Crookston, Minn.
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/minotstate/
Live Stats: https://msubeavers.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM
Leo Blavin (Play by Play)
www.kroxam.com

The Scoop
The University of Minnesota Crookston football team heads to Minot State University Saturday as they continue a two-game road stint. The game will be a 2 p.m. kickoff from Herb Parker Stadium in Minot, N.D. The Golden Eagles come in with an 0-3 mark, while Minot State is 1-2. The last win for Minnesota Crookston came against Minot State on Nov. 7, 2015. The Beavers lead the all-time series 5-1, winning by a narrow margin, 42-35, in Crookston, Minn. in 2017.

Previewing the Golden Eagles
The Golden Eagles will look to rebound after a tough game against Bemidji State. Minnesota Crookston comes in averaging 216.0 yards of offense per game, while allowing 468.7 yards per contest defensively.

Offensively, the Golden Eagles have looked to junior college transfer quarterback Jalin Scott. Scott can make things happen through the air and on the ground. Scott has gained 164 yards on the ground this season and is 24-of-46 for 324 yards and a touchdown in the passing game. He is joined in the backfield by Elijah Todd, who at over 240 pounds is hard to take down for opposing defenders. Todd has rushed for 153 yards for an average of 5.1 yards per carry this season. In the passing game, Scott has a wide variety of targets who have all shown big play ability. Freshman Andy Groebner is just a game removed from 162 yards against St. Cloud State. He leads the team with eight catches for 181 yards and a touchdown. Rod Stewart, a 2017 All-NSIC Second Team pick, comes in with seven catches for 105 yards and a touchdown, while Jonattan Mudd has five grabs for 56 yards. Mudd had a 29-yard reception last weekend against Bemidji State.

Defensively, Julian Jackson leads the team with 30 tackles from his outside linebacker spot. In the secondary, look for Trevor Long, Jr. and Will Cole to make plays. Long has 20 tackles and a fumble recovery on the season, while Cole has 19 tackles as a senior. On the defensive line, Joe Warner has been an impressive addition at defensive tackle. Warner has 19 tackles and leads the team with three tackles for loss. He has also notched a sack. Right next to him, Devante Nutall comes in with 15 tackles and a half tackle for loss.

In the kicking game, freshman Jared McLemore is 1-of-1 on field goals with a 22-yarder in the first week, while punter Stephen Day comes in averaging 38.6 yards per punt.

Previewing the Beavers
Minot State is coming off a 41-28 win over University of Mary last weekend. The offense for the Beavers revolves around sophomore quarterback Ben Bolinske, a Minot-native. Bolinske passed for 88 yards and rushed for 97 against UMary last weekend. On the season, he leads the team with 211 rushing yards and a two touchdowns and is 22-of-44 for 297 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Also in the run game, Lane Torgerson has had an impact with 24 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown, while Jemal Williams has rushed 15 times for 67 yards. In the passing game, Bolinske's top target has been Levante Bushnell, who has 13 catches for 134 yards and a touchdown, while Peyton Lamoureux has two catches for 101 yards. Minot State is averaging 256.0 yards per game offensively.

Defensively, the Beavers have allowed 507.0 yards per game from opposing offenses. They have been especially susceptible on the ground, where they are allowing 281.0 yards per game. The defense has been led by strong safety Chris Rivers with 23 tackles and an interception. In addition, linebacker Connor Huston comes in with 19 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Kiante Goudeau has been strong at corner with 15 tackles and three interceptions. On the defensive line, Jordan Will has 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack.

In the kicking game, JoseLuis Moreno is 4-of-4 for the season with a long of 58 yards. He also does the punting, averaging 43.5 yards per punt with a long of 88 yards on the season. 

#5StoryLines
1. Can the Golden Eagle defense limit big plays?

2. Can Minnesota Crookston get a running game going?

3. Can the defense force turnovers by Minot State's offense?

4. Can Rod Stewart make big plays through the air and in the return game?

5. Can the Golden Eagles contain Minot State quarterback Ben Bolinske?

#TryAndSlowHimDown
Minnesota Crookston junior running back Elijah Todd is a load to take down at 243 pounds. Combine that with his quick burst of speed and he becomes a big threat on the ground. The Toledo, Ohio native has rushed 30 times for 153 yards for an average of 5.1 yards per carry. Todd will look to be a major impact against Minot State. 

#TheOtherRodStewart
Senior wide receiver Rod Stewart, not to be confused with the Rod Stewart who has an illustrious singing career spanning decades, has been one of the prolific wide receivers in Minnesota Crookston history. Stewart is fourth all-time in receptions and needs just 47 receiving yards to move past Minnesota Crookston Hall of Fame Mark Olsonawski for third all-time in receptions in Golden Eagle history. Stewart has seven catches for 105 yards and a touchdown through the first three games and will look to add to that total this weekend.

#TacklingMachine
Minnesota Crookston redshirt sophomore Julian Jackson has had a strong start to the season for the Golden Eagles. Jackson has 30 tackles on the 2018 season. He is currently third in the NSIC for an average of 10 tackles per game. Jackson also has a half tackle for loss on the season. He will look to help lead the defense this weekend against Minot State. 

#InsideMan
Junior college transfer Joe Warner has made an instant impact on the inside of Minnesota Crookston's defensive line. Warner is third on the team with 19 tackles and leads the team with three tackles for loss. In addition, he is the co-leader with one sack on the season. Warner will look to continue to put pressure on the quarterback and help to stop the run game from his defensive tackle position as the Golden Eagles take on Minot State.