MINOT STATE 2-DEEP            AUGUSTANA 2-DEEP

MINOT, N.D. – They've been working for nearly two years, and patiently waiting. Now, just one bus ride stands between Minot State and kick-off.
It's football time Beaver fans!

The Minot State football team returns to the field for the first time since November of 2019, playing at Augustana on Saturday, Sept. 4, in the season and NSIC opener for both teams; and yes, the Beavers are pumped up to play.

"I think the level of excitement goes without saying," fifth-year head coach Mike Aldrich said. "It's been 21 months since we played a game so there's a lot of anticipation to get back out on the field and play somebody else and see how these 21 months have paid off for us."

Of course, the long wait hasn't been wasted and there is the potential for plenty of pay-offs for the Beavers who played 14 true freshmen during the 2019 season when Minot State compiled a 3-8 record.

Those freshmen are back, both with game experience from 2019 and now a redshirt season under their belt to gain addition experience and confidence, making Minot State a very experienced team, while also a very youthful team.
 
Key Contributors on Offense  
Of course, one of the most experienced Beaver players will be the team leader on offense, 6-foot quarterback Ben Bolinske, a Minot High School product. A sixth-year senior who is actually working on his Master's degree in the classroom, Bolinske brings versatility to the backfield as he has completed 242-of-460 passes for 2,620 yards and 20 touchdowns leading the Beavers while also rushing 238 times for 970 yards and 10 TDs.

"He's one guy that's really taken advantage of what we call our COVID year and being able to really work on some things that we have really never gotten to fine-tune," Aldrich said.

While Bolinske does lose his favorite target and Minot State's all-time leading receiver in Lavante Bushnell, the chance to fine-tune over the past 21 months has opened up a variety of offensive options headed into the 2021 season.

And Bolinske won't carry the load alone on offense as the Beavers return 2019 Freshman of the Year Ali Mohamed who ran for 817 yards and six TDs on 166 carries and was fifth in the NSIC in rushing averaging 74.3 yards per game.

A 5-10 sophomore, Mohamed, like so many Beaver players, took full advantage of what proved to be a redshirt season for the entire team over the last 21 months.

"Ali has been able to have that opportunity and definitely has taken advantage of it in all aspects of his athletic ability, and it's exciting to see him every day and know what he can do," Minot State's coach said.

While Mohamed will be a focal point for the offense, depth in the backfield has been a focus for the Beavers staff over the last few years and Coach Aldrich is excited with returners Aaron Wood, a 5-9 sophomore, Erik Palmquist, a 5-9 redshirt freshman, and Terek Enget, a 5-8 redshirt freshman, and four true freshmen adding depth beyond just Mohamed.

"It's a fine line how many carries do you take away from Ali and spread the wealth," Aldrich said, "…We definitely wanted to put a lot of emphasis on our running backs and allow that to continue to grow and not just to grow as one person but grow in entirety."

Setting the tone for the success of the running backs and the Beaver quarterback will be the offensive line, which like so many positions on the field is led by a ton of experience in tackles Sebastian Gutierrez, a 6-6 sixth-year senior, 6-6 junior Troy Kowal who started in 2019, and 6-1 junior center Donovan Moore, who is a two-year starter.

They'll be joined by a quartet of redshirt freshmen at the guard position in 6-1 Sir-Wallace Chanel, 6-2 Ian Gilbert, 6-0 Jake Swirple, and 6-1 Steven Williams, all of whom continue to battle for playing time.

"So we've got some youth at the guard spots and some veteran experience on the outsides to surround them," Aldrich said.

Coach Aldrich added about the offense: "We want to be as 50-50 run-pass as we can be, but I'm not letting the cat out of the bag saying we want to get the ball into Ali's hands as much as possible and allow him to have as many opportunities to have success."
 
Key Contributors on Defense  
Once again, experience is key on the defensive side of the ball as well for Minot State where almost every starter will be a returner for the Beavers.
Looking to play a standard 4-3 defense, depth and experience up front will be a big key and Minot State has both as it is led by four returning defensive linemen in 6-3 senior Jordan Will, 6-4 junior Logan Krueger, 6-3 junior Caleb Ness, and 6-1 sophomore Lafayette Bade.

"I think our defensive line is probably one of our deepest positions," Aldrich said, adding, "we've got a lot of guys that can play and a lot of guys that have played in the past four years."

That quartet combined for 83 tackles and 3 ½ sacks during the 2019 season and will look to have an even bigger impact this season, but not without help as Coach Aldrich emphasized lots of depth up front.

"You will see a mass movement on the defensive line, a lot of guys working," he said. "We're trying to keep them as fresh as possible and let them get through and not shoulder as many reps."

Right behind them adding experience and depth is a linebacking core featuring 5-9 senior captain Derek Wax, a four-year starter who was third on the team with 56 tackles and a ½ sack in 2019, and second-year starter 6-0 senior Jordan Sanford.

Adding depth and more punch in the middle of the defense are 6-0 junior Caden Shannon, who started on special teams, and redshirt freshmen 6-0 Lane Schall and 6-2 Carson Cayko (pronounced Psycho).

"Carson will be an impact player for sure," Aldrich said, adding, "probably has the best football name I've coached – Psycho."

Proving he is an impact player in 2019 was safety Isaiah Bigby, a 5-11 sophomore who led the team in tackles with 66 and interceptions with two. And he leads yet again an experienced, and deep, group of defensive backs that includes returners Knylen Miller-Levi, a 6-1 junior who had 25 tackles and one pick in 2019, 5-10 junior Roma'n Grissett who had 15 tackles in 2019, and 6-3 redshirt freshman Kyle VanBerkom, who actually is in his third year with the Beavers.

Coach Aldrich added that sophomores Philip Green, Aden Scott, and Kayden Staples, redshirt freshman Jake Heggie, Sean Hoover, Charlie Raetzman, and JT Snow, along with freshman Tiodor Grujovic all will have an impact battling for playing time in the secondary, as well.

Coach Aldrich added about the defense: "The biggest thing that we want to do is really eliminate big plays and try to create turnovers and takeaways and try to give our offense the best opportunity for success."