MINOT, N.D. – It's time to battle for a trophy as the Battle of the Big Lake rivalry once again is on tap this weekend.

The Minot State football team heads south this Saturday to tackle in-state rival the University of Mary in the 10^th edition of the Battle of the Big Lake, and the Beavers will be traveling with the trophy down – and hope to bring it home – as well.

Along with being the Battle of the Big Lake, the game is also Homecoming for the Marauders (0-8 overall, 0-7 NSIC).

Minot State (1-7, 1-7) leads the head-to-head traveling trophy series 6-3, which includes last year's 17-10 home win. The all-time series began in 1988, and this will be meeting No. 31 all-time between the Beavers and Marauders with Minot State also holding the all-time series edge, 17-13.

Last time the Beavers played in Bismarck, the Marauders prevailed 49-31, a highlight-reel game for both teams as Logan Nelson threw for 372 yards and four touchdowns for Mary, while Minot State's Knylen Miller-Levi made the ESPN Plays of the Day with his 63-yard touchdown reception on a fake punt. Miller-Levi also returned an interception for a 34-yard touchdown in the contest.

What can fans expect from this weekend's matchup?

The old cliché of throw out the records truly fits this rivalry game as a win in the Battle of the Big Lake can make the season for Minot State, giving them a chance to celebrate and hoist that trophy for the 7^th time.

And the Beavers appear – on paper – to match up well with the Marauders who defensively allow a league-high 219.4 yards per game rushing to opponents, and an NSIC-high 37.5 points per game.

Of course, Minot State loves to run the ball and is fourth in the NSIC averaging 170.5 yards per game on the ground.

On a frosty day in Bismarck – temperatures are predicted to be 22 degrees at kick-off at noon – a strong ground game might just be the key to victory.

Typically a pass-oriented offense, Mary has depended on two quarterbacks all season in junior Jesse Forknell, a transfer from Minnesota State, Mankato who is 60-of-101 passing for 471 yards and 4 TDs, and sophomore Sofian Massoud, a transfer from Hampton University who is 104-of-171 for 964 yards and 7 scores.

By far, the favorite target for both has been Mujeeb Rufai, a junior transfer from the University of Idaho who has 53 receptions for 501 yards and 2 TDs.

Looking to balance things out on the ground is Jeremiah Moore, a redshirt-freshman who leads the team with 65 carries for 241 yards and 2 of the Marauders 3 rushing touchdowns.

Defensively, the Marauders have come up with eight turnovers – one per game – and six sacks as a team.

Junior defensive back Reginald Morrow and sophomore defensive back Kevin Butler lead the way with 39 and 35 tackles, respectively, while sophomore linebacker Mason Phillips has 3 sacks and 32 tackles.

As for the Beavers, true freshman Myles West leads the offense with 498 yards rushing on 111 carries with 3 touchdowns. West ranks No. 9 in the NSIC averaging 62.3 yards per game.

Defensively, defensive back Isaiah Bigby and linebacker Carson Cayko share the team lead with 55 tackles each which ties them for ninth in the NSIC. Cayko also has 5 sacks, fifth best in the NSIC, and Bigby has 2 interceptions and a fumble recovery for the Beavers, who as a team have 15 sacks and have forced 8 turnovers.