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RECORDS: Minot State opens the 2014 home season with an 0-1 record overall and 0-1 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Upper Iowa comes to the Magic City with a 1-0 overall and NSIC record.

COACHES CORNER: Minot State's head coach is Tyler Hughes, who begins his first season at the helm. He is 0-1 at Minot State and 20-5 overall as a head coach, all at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, where he coached from 2011-12. Hughes spent last season as an assistant coach with Urban Meyer at Ohio State. Upper Iowa's head coach is no stranger to Minot State as Tom Shea coaches multiple years at the NAIA level including at the University of Mary. He is in his sixth season at UIU where he is 17-39 and 108-84-3 overall.

FOLLOW THE BEAVERS: The game is broadcast locally on KCJB 910-AM with Scott Kittell calling the play-by-play. Live audio can be accessed online at kcjb.com. MISU provides live video and live stats as well as links to the live audio at MSUBeavers.com. Minot State Athletics also is active on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube with all feeds accessible through the home page.

RANKINGS: Minot State and Upper Iowa come into the weekend unranked in both the American Football Coaches Association Poll and the D2Football.com polls.

RECENT HISTORY: The Beavers fell in the season opener at the University of Sioux Falls, 41-14. Minot State held its own in the second half, matching the Cougars 7-7, but was down 34-7 at the half. Upper Iowa also had a big second half as the Peacocks rallied rom down 3014 heading into the fourth quarter, before rallying to defeat Minnesota State University Moorhead 44-36.

OVERALL SERIES: MISU and UIU have only met one time in football with the Peacocks taking a 26-20 in the Beavers inaugural season in the Northern Sun. After the Beavers took a 7-0 lead on a 98-yard kickoff return by Glyn Borel (Sr., WR, San Jose, Calif.) to open the game, Upper Iowa scored the game's next 19 points and never trailed after. Minot State's Porter Sturm (Jr., WR, Roy, Mont.) had 199 yards on 11 catches – both career highs – Zac Cunha (Jr., QB, Rocklin, Calif.) threw for a career best 320 yards in the loss. Cole Jaeschke finished with 286 yards passing for UIU.

NOTING THE PEACOCKS: Upper Iowa University looked down and out as the Peacocks entered the fourth quarter down 30-14 but rallied to score 27 unanswered points to defeat MSU-Moorhead. The Dragons moved the ball to the UIU 10-yard line late, but turned the ball over on downs to end the game… Alex Wahl was named the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week after making 16 tackles and a sack in the win… Cole Jaeschke needed some ice afterward as he chucked the pigskin 64 times for 371 yards and two scores… The 691 miles from Fayette, Iowa to Minot, N.D., is the longest trip in the Northern Sun, topping the Minot-to-Winona, Minn., jaunt by 74 miles. For some perspective, Minot-to-Denver, Colo., is just 757 miles.

RUMBLIN', BUMBLIN', STUMBLIN': It was one of the lone bright spots for Minot State's defense, but it was an extremely bright one at that. Minot State junior Thomas Bryson (DL, Layton, Utah) scooped up a fumble caused by Aaron James (Jr., LB, Oklahoma City, Okla.) and raced 63-yards untouched for a touchdown on Sioux Falls' first possession of the second half. It was the longest rumble return in 10 years for the Beavers and the third return TD for MISU in the past five games dating back to 2013 as Brandon Boston (So., DB, Richmond, Texas) had a 59-yard interception return for a score last year against Minnesota Crookston and Leon La Deaux (Sr., WR, Port Orchard, Wash.) returned a kick 98 yards for a TD against MSU-Moorhead last year.

TACKLING MACHINE SET TO A LOT: Minot State senior linebacker Casey Weinmann (LB, Selz, N.D.) finished with a 10-year high in school history 19 total tackles Saturday. He had 15 solo stops, which would have broken his total tackle personal best, and added four assists. Weinmann now has 199 tackles in his career for the Beavers.

RUNNING WOES: The Beavers ground game only finished with a total of 24 yards rushing in the loss Saturday and never got on track. Leading rusher Jarvis Mustipher (So., RB, Melbourne, Fla.) could only gain 33 yards in the contest. Minot State also gave up five quarterback sacks to cut into the rushing total.

SACK ATTACK: Minot State got to the University of Sioux Falls quarterbacks four times Saturday in the season opener, finishing with over 20 percent of the team's total of 19 quarterback sacks during the entire 2013 season. Thomas Bryson (Jr., DL, Layton, Utah) led the way with 1.5 sacks, while Levi Freidt (Sr., DB, Minot, N.D.) and Aaron James (Jr., LB, Oklahoma City, Okla.) finished with one each. Defensive back Bryce Broome (So., Port Orchard, Wash.) joined with Bryson to earn a half sack in the first quarter.

SOUTH WINNING NSIC: Minnesota Duluth and the University of Mary were the only NSIC North teams to earn a win last week during the first week of North-South crossover play. The teams continue to cross over for the next three weeks before getting into divisional play.

FROM KELLIE TO MINOT: THANKS: Minot State University will again have a fireworks display following the home opener as the Beavers are 1-0 in fireworks games since joining NCAA Division II. The Beavers outlasted Augustana College in triple overtime for the win last year as fireworks on the field provided by Wayne Peters were followed by a display brought to you by State Farm's Kellie Thorman. The fireworks are a part of Minot State's Community Appreciation Night.

BEHIND THE NUMBERS
5-6: The number of touchdowns by Sioux Falls in the Beavers opening game in the red zone. USF converted nearly every time, while Minot State did not have a play in the red zone on offense.

6: Number of underclassmen Minot State starts on its 28-man two deep roster for offense, defense and special teams. The offense has the most with four, including two redshirt freshmen and a sophomore on the offensive line.

709: Yards given up by Upper Iowa in the win, yes win. The Peacocks allowed 295 rushing yards and 414 passing yards, but overcame all of that to defeat MSU-Moorhead Saturday. The teams combined for 199 total plays.