THIS WEEK: Minot State begins the 2016 season with a home date against NSIC South Division powerhouse, No. 7 ranked Minnesota State starting at 6 p.m. at Herb Parker Stadium.

RECORDS: Both the Beavers and the Mavericks open the 2016 season Thursday.

COACHES CORNER: Minot State's head coach is Tyler Hughes, who is in his third season at the helm. He is 2-20 at Minot State and 22-24 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. Minnesota State's Todd Hoffner is in his seventh season as the Mavericks head coach, earning four trips to the NCAA Division II National Playoffs. He is 58-16 overall at Minnesota State. Hoffner makes his first trip back to Minot State after a brief stint as the Beavers head coach in 2014. He was MSU's skipper for a total 75 days before returning to Minnesota State.

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. MSU's play-by-play is anchored by Leif Bakken with Anthony Battle providing color commentary. Minot State Athletics also is active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube with all feeds accessible through the home page.

RANKINGS: Minnesota State comes into the weekend ranked No. 7 in the latest AFCA Coaches Top 25 Poll. They are one of four ranked Northern Sun teams as Minnesota Duluth is No. 19, Sioux Falls is No. 23 and Augustana University is No. 25. Bemidji State is also receiving votes. The Mavericks are also ranked No. 5 in the D2Football.com Top 25 Poll. Minot State did not receive votes in either major NCAA Division II poll.

RECENT HISTORY: The Beavers finished off the 2015 season by pushing national powerhouse Minnesota Duluth before falling 34-10 at James S. Malosky Stadium. The game, however, took a back seat to an injury sustained by Minot State's Chase Kimble. Kimble was taken off the field with a severe neck injury, but has continued to recover, including walking across the stage at graduating. In the game, MSU stymied the Bulldogs for much of the game, taking leads of 7-0 and 10-8, but couldn't keep the momentum in the second half. Minot freshman quarterback Isaiah Weed tossed a touchdown and junior Aaron La Deaux kicked a 42 yard field goal for the Beavers scoring. The Mavericks lost a wild NCAA Division II playoff game at home as Emporia State stunned Minnesota State on the final play to win 51-49 to end their run. Ricky Lloyd threw for 127 yards and a TD in the loss.

OVERALL SERIES: Minot State trails the all-time series with Minnesota State 2-0, all as members of the Northern Sun.

LAST TIME OUT: The Beavers were overwhelmed two seasons ago at Mankato, Minn., falling to the Mavericks 58-0. Minot State did not muster much offense as Crosby Jensen threw for 154 yards, but had three interceptions to lead MSU. Spencer Morrow was the leading rusher with 49 yards. Bryce Broome finished with a solid defensive game as he finished with 10 total tackles. Former MSU defensive standout Levi Freidt paced the Beavers with 15 tackles and a pass breakup. Minnesota State led 31-0 at halftime. Ricky Lloyd added a 100 yards passing to pace the Mavs.

NOTING THE MAVERICKS: Minnesota State comes into the weekend sporting a lofty 72-10 league record since joining the Northern Sun… The Mavericks have compiled a 58-16 record under head coach Todd Hoffner in his seven seasons with the team. Minnesota State has qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs in each of the past two seasons and four times under Hoffner… Marcus Gooden is the top returning player on a highly rated MSU defense as he finished with 58 tackles last year… Evan Perrizo also returns, finishing with 4.5 sacks in 2015… On offense, MSU will use both Ricky Lloyd and Nick Pieruccini at quarterback as both passed for at least 1,000 yards last season… Virgil Hammond is the leading returning rusher for the Mavs as he gained 523 yards in 11 games last season… And, the Mavericks return two top-notch receivers as Ty Dennis had 793 receiving yards in 2015, while Brent Esser gobbled up 523 yards via the pass… This is the 90th season of football at Minnesota State.

SWENSEN CENTURION: Last season was a breakout year for senior Trevin Swensen as he paced the Beavers with 101 total tackles. He finished with 6.5 tackles for a loss and had two pass breakups. The former junior college All-American finished with 43 solo tackles, second on the team to Aaron James' 47 and added a sack and a fumble recovery.

HUNGRY FOR A HOME COOKED WIN: The Beavers have struggled in season and home openers in the past decade. The Beavers have not won a season opener since toppling Bemidji State in 2002, upending the Minnesota Beavers 35-28 during the annual Beaver Bash when Minot State was a member of the NAIA.

ZAC IS BACK: Minot State senior quarterback Zac Cunha played just three plays in 2015 before suffering a season ending injury. Cunha was granted a redshirt season and will look to make an impact with one more go-around. He is already the Minot State record holder in pass completions (517), attempts (980) and yards (6,238). With three passing touchdowns, he would move into second place all-time in passing TDs with 41 and is on pace to break Kenny Smith's career TD record of 53. Cunha has played in 33 career games and started 31 times over four-plus seasons.

 Zac Cunha (QB, 6-3, 230, Sr., Rocklin, Calif., Roseville High School)
Career Totals

Year	GP	Eff.	Comp.-Att.-Int.	Pct	Yards	TD	LONG	Avg./G
2012	11	106.74	157-307-21	51.1	1,982	14	64	180.18
2013	11	107.42	212-397-13	53.4	2,352	13	50	213.82
2014	9	123.70	146-274-5	53.2	1,866	14	76	207.33
2015	2	259.60	2-2-0	100	38	0	32	19.00

MUSTIPHER-ING ONE MORE BIG SEASON: The Beavers also return its top running back from the past three seasons. Jarvis Mustipher has 1,767 total yards on 418 attempts. He finished with 690 yards and four touchdowns, including a career-high run of 60 yards, in 2015. Mustipher averaged 69 yards per game in 2015.

NICE TO MEET YOU: Minot State opens the 2016 season with 42 players in camp who were not on the roster in 2015. MSU also has 14 redshirt freshmen set to make their debut this week. Coupled with 27 new freshmen and the Beavers needed some time in the preseason to introduce themselves.

BEAVER KITS: There is a youth movement for Minot State as the Beavers, whose young are called "kits," enter the 2016 season with 15 redshirt freshmen and true freshmen as either the No. 1 or 2 on the depth chart. While most of the positions are backups to the starter, redshirt freshman Matthew Cole is slated as the opening night starter at defensive tackle.

MINOT STATE'S IRON HORSE: Beavers center Logan Gunderson has been a mainstay in two season for MSU. He has started all 22 games and has a 22-games played and start streak on the line Thursday. Three Beavers, Gunderson, Nathan Rauhauser and Trevin Swensen, have double-figure stats streaks as Rauhauser and Swensen each started 11 games in 2015.

BRINING BACK THE BROOME: Junior Bryce Broome sat out all of 2015 after having surgery, but is back in the starting lineup. The strong safety had 47 tackles and two interceptions – including one he returned for his first career touchdown against rival University of Mary. He has 58 career tackles in two seasons.

BY THE NUMBERS
23: First downs by penalty given up by the Beavers in 2015. The Beavers averaged 76 yards in penalties during the year, but 23 times out of 76 total miscues, it resulted in a first down for the opposition.

35: Tackles for senior Michael Jenkins in 2015. Jenkins is the Beavers second leading returner in tackles from a year ago and has 91 career tackles.

39: Total receptions for senior Akkil Walker, the Beavers leading returning receiver. Walker finished with 381 yards on 39 receptions last year for an average of 38.10 yards per game.

40.58: Average per punt by senior Aaron La Deaux in 2015, good for a tie for second in the NSIC. La Deaux also finished with two field goals and 11 extra points for 17 total points in 2015.