MINOT STATE 2-DEEP                            UPPER IOWA 2-DEEP

GAMEDAY PROGRAM

COMPLETE GAME NOTES

MINOT, N.D. – Continually battling and improving, the Minot State football team is poised for some positive results.

The Beavers return home after a heartbreaking near-miss last weekend at Northern State and go right back to work as they look for win No. 1 of the fall as they host Upper Iowa this Saturday, Oct. 23, at 11 a.m. at Herb Parker Stadium.

A big game as both teams are gunning for their first victory, but also a big game for Minot State (0-7 overall, 0-3 NSIC North) as they finish the season with three of their final four games at home.

And a win Saturday would be a great start to that final stretch for a Beavers squad that's been in contention and just a play or two away from scoring Ws each of the last three weekends.

"We have to continue building upon the confidence and momentum we have gained during the month of October and focus on our execution," Minot State head coach Mike Aldrich said. "The outcome will be the ultimate judgement of success, but we have to be centered on the process.

"It will be a fun game with both teams fighting hard for that first win of the season."

Here is a quick look at this weekend's matchup:
LAST TIME OUT (UIU): The Peacocks (0-7, 0-3 NSIC South) couldn't stop Minnesota State, Mankato, as the 24^th-ranked Mavericks jumped up 20-0 midway through the first quarter and never let up in a 58-0 road win over Upper Iowa.

Trailing 6-0 early, Upper Iowa battled to stay in the ballgame and drove 70 yards to set up a 22-yard field goal, but the missed attempt allowed Minnesota State to take over and stretch its lead to 13-0.

Three plays into their next drive for the Peacocks, an interception set up the Mavericks with a short field and they converted for a 20-0 lead with 8 minutes, 36 seconds in the game, then never looked back.

Running backs Willy Camacho and Keontae Luckett shared the workload on the ground as Camacho had 16 carries for 66 yards and Luckett 17 carries for 61 yards, while quarterback Zach Reader completed 10-of-38 passes for 126 yards.

Defensively, defensive back Joey Rattin led the way with 10 tackles and a fumble recovery as the Peacocks also added two quarterback sacks.

LAST TIME OUT (MINOT): It was a heartbreaking outcome for the Beavers who led 35-23 late in the third quarter only to see host Northern State rally and steal a 36-35 victory.

Running back Ali Mohamed (5-foot-10, So.) had a record-setting day as he ran the ball 35 times for 212 yards and four touchdowns, his final score a 9-yard touchdown run with 3:26 left in the third quarter that gave Minot State that 12-point advantage.

"Part of our game plan was to control the clock and the running game is the central component of that," Coach Aldrich said. "Our offensive line was able to do a great job at the line of scrimmage, not just helping to power our run game but also to minimize negative plays, like quarterback sacks.

"Our running backs also ran very hard, which created consistent positive gains and led to explosive plays," he added.

Two fourth-quarter touchdowns gave the Wolves a 36-35 lead with 10:58 left on the game clock, but Minot State rallied, marching to the Northern State 21-yard line in the final 4 minutes when a blocked field-goal attempt ended up deciding the game's outcome.

Mohamed set a single-game NCAA Division II school record with his 35 carries, tied a single-game school record with his four rushing touchdowns, and set a new career-best for himself for rushing yards with 212 on the day.

He also caught two passes for 17 yards from quarterback Dawson Macleary (5-11, R-Fr.), who completed 18-of-28 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Jaxon Lundeen (6-3, Sr.) proved to be Macleary's top target, hauling in four passes for 57 yards and that one score.

Defensive lineman Caleb Ness (6-3, Jr.) led the way on that side of the ball with seven tackles for the Beavers.

SCOUTING UPPER IOWA: Both teams are very young, but that inexperience shows up most in the offensive backfield for the Peacocks who are starting their third different quarterback of the year in Reader.

Reader actually is the most experienced of the signal-callers as a 6-0 redshirt sophomore who has completed 35-of-85 passes for 464 yards and three touchdowns, getting the start the last two games for UIU. As a team, UIU has completed 126-of-243 passes for 1,513 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Helping out the passing game have been two senior wide receivers in Alexander Stevens (6-2) and DJ Emsweller (6-2) who lead the way with 35 catches and 23 catches, respectively. Stevens has 416 yards receiving with a touchdown, while Emsweller has proven to be the big-play guy with 490 yards receiving and seven TDs.

A balanced team offensively, a pair of youthful running backs lead the way on the ground with Camacho, a 5-8 freshman, leading the way with 107 carries for 482 yards, while Luckett, a 5-10 redshirt sophomore, running the ball 69 times for 334 yards and four scores.

Defensively, the Peacocks boast experience up front where they have been successful pressuring opposing quarterbacks and recording 18 sacks on the season. Leading the charge upfront are senior defensive linemen Erik Hansen (6-3), Kyle Domin (6-5), and Laith Smith (6-2), along with senior linebacker Brody Bazile (6-1). Bazile has a team-high 45 tackles and a fumble recovery – one of five takeaways by the UIU defense – while Hansen has a 37 tackles and a team-high six sacks, Domin has 25 tackles and two sacks, and Smith has 21 tackles and 2 ½ sacks.

Add in senior defensive back Terrell Powell (5-10) who has 24 tackles and two interceptions, and the Peacocks boast a solid and experienced defense.

"Both teams are young and learning on the run," Aldrich said. "Upper Iowa has a senior-dominated defensive line that has been very good and disruptive all season.

"Ultimately, however, our focus is on ourselves and our execution," Minot State's coach added. "If we focus too much on the unknowns of our opponent, we will deviate from our process."

COACH ALDRICH'S KEYS TO THE GAME: "The keys to our success on Saturday surround the running game," Minot State's coach said. "We need to establish control of the line of scrimmage and have success running the ball. And conversely, be able to limit the run game of Upper Iowa.

"Our special teams need to be great and be a factor in the field-position game," he added.

LOOKING AHEAD: Minot State is back at home next weekend hosting the University of Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 1 p.m. for Minot School System Day, and it will be the Beavers' Halloween celebration, as well.