ABERDEEN, S.D. - The Northern State University football team gets set to open the home portion of the 2012 slate this weekend when they host the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs in a 2:30 p.m. kick-off on Saturday.  The game is the first of five home games for the Wolves.

Setting the Stage:
• Both Northern State and Southwest Minnesota State suffered season-opening losses last week, setting up this week's contest in which one team will leave with their first win of the season and a 1-1 record while the other will remain on the hunt for that elusive breakthrough into the win column.
• The Wolves will be going for their second straight win over the Mustangs.

Last Meeting:
• NSU and the Mustangs met for a non-conference Thursday night game to open the season last year with the Wolves taking a 30-17 victory at home.  Kristin James carried the ball for two first-quarter touchdowns while senior quarterback Nick Wanner was 10-for-12 through the air for 183 yards and a TD.  NSU interrupted three straight Mustang drives via interception in the second half.  Marquis Mulkey, Mike Bogdanovich and Ryan Weybrecht accounted for all three INTs.

About the Mustangs:
• SMSU finished 2011 with a 3-8 overall record and a 3-7 mark in NSIC play.  The Mustangs were picked to the 12th spot in the Preseason NSIC Coaches Poll and the 8th slot in the NSIC South Division.  SMSU is led by senior quarterback Tyler Peschong and junior linebacker J.J. Bobrowicz.

Last Week:
• NSU suffered a 35-14 stiff-arm from Augustana on the road last Saturday.
• Jared Jacobson ran for 100+ yards for the third straight game, dating back to the final three games of the 2011 season.
• Zac Emde, who came on to close out the game last week, threw his first career TD pass in an NSU uniform, hitting Jordan Freeman from 23 yards out.  It was also Freeman's first career TD reception.
• SMSU hosted perennial NSIC powerhouse and second-ranked Minnesota-Duluth last week, which handed SMSU a 45-20 decision in Marshall.

The series:
• NSU leads the overall series 21-9-2.
• Prior to last season's meeting, SMSU had won three straight over the Wolves.
• NSU has won 17 of the last 20 meetings, including 8 of 9 at home.

Time & Temp:
• Saturday's forecast calls for clear skies and temperatures around 77 degrees in Aberdeen with winds out of the west 5-15 mph.