THIS WEEK: Minot State will travel to the Minnesota Duluth to play in its final football game of the 2015 season.

RECORDS: The MSU Beavers (1-9, 1-5 NSIC North) are coming off of a 45-14 loss against Minnesota, Crookston. Minnesota Duluth (7-3, 5-1) is coming off of a 14-9 victory over Bemidji State.  

COACHES CORNER: Minot State's head coach is Tyler Hughes, who is in his second season at the helm. He is 2-16 at Minot State and 22-20 overall as a head coach, all at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, where he coached from 2011-12. Hughes spent the 2013 season as an assistant coach with Urban Meyer at Ohio State. Curt Wiese is in his third season as the head coach at Minnesota Duluth. With a 24-3 record in his first two seasons including a perfect 11-0 regular season in 2014 Wiese has led his team to two NCAA Division II playoff appearances and one Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championship. In 2013 he was named the 2013 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year for Division II. Wiese was promoted to head coach after spending five seasons as the team's offensive coordinator. Prior to joining the Bulldogs, Wiese was the head coach at Division III Marietta College for two seasons.

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. MSU 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, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube with all feeds accessible through the home page.

RANKINGS: Neither team was ranked in the November 9 American Football Coaches Association Poll. Minnesota Duluth, however, is ranked at No. 19 in the November 10 D2Football.com polls.

RECENT HISTORY: Out-rushing the Beavers 377 yards to 22 Minnesota, Crookston was able to secure their first victory of the 2015 season. In a game where Minot State failed to obtain a lead the teams went into halftime with the score 17-7 after the Golden Eagles were able to capitalize off of a failed fake punt attempt. Minnesota, Crookston was able to score the first four touchdowns in the second half before the Beavers were able to push it in for a touchdown to make the final score 45-14. Minnesota Duluth was able to defeat Bemidji State last week 14-9. Despite not being able to score past the 8:48 mark in the first quarter the Bulldogs were able to keep Bemidji State from gaining the lead or tying the game. Minnesota Duluth only converted one of every four third downs it faced, but went for it on fourth down six times, converting three. The Bulldog defense held Bemidji State to fewer than 200 yards of total offense and by keeping their 14-0 lead they gained in the first quarter they were able to record their seventh win of the year.

OVERALL SERIES: Minot State is 0-3 against Minnesota Duluth in a series that has been played since 2012.  

LAST TIME OUT: Minnesota Duluth was able to complete its perfect season when it came into Minot last season for its final game. Ranked in the No. 2 spot at the time the Bulldogs shutout the Beavers winning 56-0. Scoring just once in the first and fourth quarters, Minnesota Duluth scored three times in each the second and third. Minot State finished the game with -5 yards rushing while the Bulldogs gained 271 yards on 63 carries. The Beavers did force two turnovers, intercepting the Minnesota Duluth quarterback twice. Aaron James (LB, Sr., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) was able to pick off one of those passes while also recording a game-high 14 tackles.

NOTING THE BULLDOGS: The Bulldogs are a run-first team with over twice as many rushing attempts (471) than passing (214). With 5.2 average yards per carry Minnesota Duluth has been able to gain 2464 yards this season. That mark leads the NSIC by more than 200 yards. Despite being able to possess the ball by an average of six minutes more than their opponents the Bulldogs have failed to keep from holding on to the ball with 19 turnovers from 11 interceptions and eight fumbles lost. They have also turned the ball over 11 times on downs.

FINAL FOR SENIORS: There are 16 seniors playing for Minot State this season that will not be on the roster next year. For a few of these seniors it will be the last game in a long list of games they have played for the Beavers. Claude Richards (DL, Rivera Beach, Fla.), Marcel Brinson (DB, Gilroy, Calif.) and Randel Barber (Maricopa, Ariz.) have each played in 42 games during their careers, only missing one game apiece. Porter Sturm (WR, Roy, Mont.) has missed a game twice, appearing in 41 games in his four years.

RANDEL BARBER: After playing his freshman season at the running back position Randel Barber (Maricopa, Ariz.) has played his final three years as a defensive back. With 479 yards rushing his freshman season and a total of 97 tackles throughout his career Barber has contributed to both sides of the ball throughout his career.

CLAUDE RICHARDS: Claude Richards (DL, Rivera Beach, Fla.) has been successful at getting through the line in his career as a Beaver recording at least 2.5 tackles for a loss each season. Richards has recorded 91 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks before his final career game.

MARCEL BRINSON: With a very successful senior year, Marcel Brinson (DB, Gilroy, Calif.) has recorded a career-high 70 tackles, third most on the team, and his first career interceptions. Brinson has actually totaled three picks, leading the team in that category. Going into the final game of the season Brinson has totaled 183 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles and three interceptions.

PORTER STURM: Also having a career best season with 41 receptions and 639 yards in his final season, Porter Sturm (WR, Roy, Mont.) has been one of the most consistent players for Minot State over the past four season never having finished with less than 37 receptions in a season. Sturm has totaled 157 receptions, 2,153 yards and 17 touchdowns so far as a Beaver.

BY THE NUMBERS
10: Tackles for a loss recorded by senior Mitchell Matthias (DL, Merritt Island, Fla.). Matthias has totaled 73 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks in 33 career games.

57: Tackles recorded by senior Isaiah Steinwand (DB, Minot, N.D.). That is his career high mark as he has a total of 80 tackles in his career.

92: Total tackles recorded by senior Aaron James (LB, Sr., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma). James has totaled 194 tackles and 20.5 tackles for a loss in three seasons with the Beavers.