THIS WEEK: Minot State finally returns home after a two-game, 2,500 mile road trip, to celebrate Homecoming 2011 with a date with future Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foe University of Sioux Falls Saturday at 1:37 p.m. Game time has changed from 1:30 p.m. to 1:37 p.m. to accommodate Midco Sports Network.

TRADITION IN TRANSITION: Minot State is in its third season of a four-year transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II. MSU advanced to Year Three Provisional status in July and is expected to complete the transition in July 2012. Minot State was selected to join the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in 2012-13.

RECORDS: Minot State is 0-4 on the season – all nonconference due to MSU's transition to NCAA Division II. Sioux Falls is 0-3 overall and is also in transition between NAIA and NCAA Division II status.

COACHES CORNER: Minot State's head coach is Paul Rudolph. Rudolph is a solid 26-19 overall in four-plus seasons with the Beavers and 69-65 overall as a head coach. The Cougars head coach is Jed Stugart's who is in his second season at USF and is 13-4 at the school and 32-8 overall.

FOLLOW THE BEAVERS: The game is broadcast locally on KCJB 910-AM with Scott Kittell calling the play-by-play and former Minot State standout Brendan Weidler on color. Live audio can be accessed online at (www.kcjb.com). MSU provides live video and live stats as well as links to live audio and a MSU photo gallery all at (www.msubeavers.com).

RANKINGS: Neither team was ranked in the latest AFCA Division II Coaches Poll. Sioux Falls began the year at No. 31 in the preseason poll.

RECENT HISTORY: MSU lost its fourth game in a row as the Beavers were topped by NCAA Division I FCS No. 4 Montana State 43-7 in Bozeman, Mont. The Cougars also played at an NCAA Division II FCS opponent, getting beat 31-17 by No. 21 McNeese State.

OVERALL SERIES: The Beavers and Cougars are playing the rubber match today as both teams have picked up a victory in the all-time series.

NOTING THE COUGARS: The University of Sioux Falls has scored 17 points in each of its first three games… The Cougars have given up 1,043 passing yards in just three games this season… USF pushed No. 23 McNeese State last week, trailing just 14-10 in the third quarter after Angelo Pree returned an interception for a touchdown… Sophomore quarterback Carrington Hanna accounted for 72 percent of the team's total offense against McNeese. He is the team's leading rusher through three games with 99 yards… Braden Wieking averaged just under 42 yards per punt last week.

YOUTH BE SERVED: Minot State's 2-deep roster has multiple first, second and third year players earning valuable minutes in 2011. MSU lists 23 players on its 32-man, 2-deep roster who are in their freshman, redshirt freshman or sophomore seasons. MSU has three true freshmen starting as Eric Kuntz (DB, Rugby, N.D.) is starting at defensive back/returner, Andrew Walker (K/P, Meridian, Idaho) is the team's starting punter and Nick Phillips (K/P, LaCenter, Wash.) is the team's starting kicker. MSU has four starters who are in their second season.

HENKE BULKING UP: Minot State senior defensive back Eric Henke (Velva, N.D.) is once again in the starting lineup – nothing special for the three-year starter. Only this week, the Beavers have him listed as an outside linebacker. Henke has been a mainstay at cornerback since his sophomore season. The 5-foot-9, 172-pound Henke might be one of the smallest linebackers in the country, but is eighth overall this season for the Beavers in total tackles, making 10.5 stops. Henke also earned a sack against Texas A&M-Kingsville in week 3.

CHASING 2,000: MSU senior Tyson Schatz (RB, Minot, N.D.) had his best day of the season last week, gaining 65 yards on 12 carries against DI Montana State and now is just 89 yards short of 2,000 for his career. Schatz, who has been in the Beavers back-field mix since his freshman season, has 1,911 yards on 470 carries.

SPREADING THE WEALTH: The Beavers don't have a player who has 10 tackles on the season through four games. But, MSU does have nine players with at least 10.5 per game. Blair Dinsdale (Sr., LB, Brandon, Manitoba) leads the team with 18.5. MSU does have six players who have double figures in solo tackles so far this season. Laron Peoples (Jr., DB, Pontiac, Mich.) is the team leader with 13 solo tackles.

AMAZING NUMBERS: Minot State senior wide receiver Zac Rudolph (Sauk Rapids, Minn.) has 10 catches for 95 yards overall this season, good for third on the team in receiving. But those numbers pale in comparison to his passing numbers. Rudolph's efficiency rating is a staggering 1009.60. He has one completion in his only attempt, going for a 69-yard touchdown to Jabari Taylor (Sr., WR, Hollywood, Fla.). He is one of five players who have thrown passes this season as MSU has rotated three quarterbacks. Offensive lineman/tight end Bobby Bartz (So., Harvey, N.D.) is 0-1 on a fake punt attempt.