ABERDEEN, SD -- With just two games left in the regular season, Minot State hits the road one final time, heading to South Dakota for a Saturday, November 8, afternoon matchup against the Northern State Wolves. Kickoff is set for 2:00 pm at Dacotah Bank Stadium.
 
Minot State (2-7, 2-6 NSIC) looks to bounce back after last weekend's rivalry game against UMary, while Northern State (6-3, 5-3 NSIC) enters the home stretch battling for postseason positioning. The last time these two teams met was back on September 14, 2024, a game the Beavers won 17-14 behind a gritty defensive effort and an efficient ground attack.
 
Despite the recent result, head coach Ian Shields believes there are significant positives to build on.
 
"There were some good performances — we rushed for over 300 yards and averaged more than six a carry, so there's certainly positives there," Shields said. "Our defensive line played well, and we executed a fake punt to keep a possession alive. There were silver linings."
 
The Beavers have now surpassed the 300-yard rushing mark in five contests this fall and rank among the NSIC's toughest rushing offenses. The one-two punch of Evan Lovett and Carson Chrisman, along with Devan Daniels, continues to lead the way behind a young but rapidly developing offensive line.
 
Limiting turnovers and controlling possession will again be focal points.
 
"We know what we are — we run the ball, that's our identity," Shields continued. "But we have to take care of the football. If we don't give it away, we're pretty hard to handle."
 
Defensively, the Beavers have shown disruption up front, recording nine tackles for loss last week and pressuring the quarterback consistently. But Shields emphasized that execution in coverage must take another step.
 
"Pressure helps coverage," Shields explained. "We've been uncontested too often. Our guys know what to do — now we have to execute it live on Saturdays and take that step forward."
 
Northern State poses one of the toughest challenges in the conference, featuring physical trench play and balance on both ends of the ball.
 
"They're one of the better teams in our league — physical on both sides and really good up front," Shields said. "They're a force to be reckoned with, and we know it's an uphill fight going down there."
 
While the focus is on the present, Shields believes the group's response this week will speak to its leadership and future — especially with such a young roster seeing major snaps.
 
"No one's throwing in the towel — we have resilient, tough guys in that locker room," Shields added. "These reps are valuable, and we want to finish strong for our seniors."
 
With only two opportunities left in 2025, Minot State aims to deliver a complete performance and seize another statement win late in the season.