MINOT, N.D. -- Minot State will open the home portion of its 2017 schedule on Saturday (Sept. 9) as the Beavers welcome Augustana to Herb Parker Stadium for a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game slated for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
Minot State head coach
Mike Aldrich would prefer this game be listed as Minot State versus Minot State on the schedule. Regardless of who the Beavers play, the focus remains on improving their play.
"We did some things really well in the opener against Concordia-St. Paul," said Aldrich. "We just need to focus on ourselves and shore up some things from last week."
The Beavers opened the season with a 24-0 loss to Concorida-St. Paul, but the game was not without bright spots.
Minot State opened the game with a 12-play, 57-yard drive that chewed up 5:28 on the clock but ended with a missed field goal attempt. After stopping Concordia-St. Paul on its first drive, the Beavers took over on the Golden Bears 37-yard drive following a 35-yard return by
Lane Torgerson. The Beavers drove the ball to the 22-yard line before the drive stalled, which resulted in another missed field goal attempt.
On the next Concordia-St. Paul drive, the Beavers stopped the Golden Bears on a 4th-and-1 play and then drove the ball to midfield before punting away to flip the field on the Golden Bears.
Trailing 7-0 late in the second quarter, Minot State got an interception from
Kywan Owens at the Concordia-St. Paul 44-yard line but that drive ended with a fumble that was recovered by the Golden Bears.
The Golden Bears outscored Minot State 17-0 in the second half to pull away for the victory.
Augustana experienced troubles of its own as the Vikings lost to Minnesota State Moorhead 38-7 in their season opener last week. The Viking defense surrendered 465 yards of total offense, while the Augustana offense managed just 127 yards of total offense.
Saturday marks Heroes' Day as Minot fireman, police officers and EMT personnel can purchase discounted tickets at the gate. The game is designated as Weekend of Champions as the Minot State soccer team will receive rings after winning the 2016 NSIC regular season title.
Herb Parker, Jr., the son Herb Parker for whom the stadium is named, will perform the national anthem prior to the start of the contest.
The game can be viewed live at www.msubeavers.com and live stats will also be provided for the game. Additionally, the game can be heard on KCJB 910 AM with Scott Kittell calling all the action.
