Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University football team hits the road this Saturday their second to last away game of the season. The Wolves will face off against the University of Mary at 1 p.m. from Bismarck.
 
The Wolves are coming off a one point victory over St. Cloud State, handing the Huskies their first North Division loss of the season. Northern tallied a season high 538 yards of total offense, as Christian McAlvain tallied his first 300 yards passing game of the season. McAlvain completed 20-of-37 passes for two touchdowns to Conner Doherty and Zachery Barber. Nicholas Truen and Taylor Houchin each recorded 100 yard games, with Truen rushing for 106 and a touchdown, and Houchin receiving for a career high 126 yards. Channing Barber tallied two pass break-ups and grabbed the league lead for passes defended with 14 this season. The Wolves offensive line, anchored by Tyler Robel, is second in the league behind No. 4 Sioux Falls with only nine sacks suffered this season.
 
Nathan Shaw led the Wolves with three made field goals from 23, 25, and 26 yards out in a 29-28 win over St. Cloud State. Two of his three kicks regained the lead for the Wolves including his third attempt of 26 yards which sealed the 29-28 victory. The junior tallied a total of 11 of the team's 29 points with the three field goals and two PATs. He also tallied 407 kickoff yards, averaging 58.0 yards per attempt. Shaw is one field goal away from his 2015 season total of nine. Shaw also was awarded the NSIC Player of the Week honor.
 
About the Marauders
• U-Mary enters the weekend with a 1-7 record overall with their only win coming over Minnesota Crookston in week seven.
• The Marauders are averaging under ten points and 228 yards of total offense per game this season.
• Colton Farmer leads the offense averaging 59.5 yards passing per game.
• Sam Mackdanz and Conner Graves lead the receivers with two touchdowns apiece, while averaging 19.1 and 18.3 yards per game respectively.
• Zach Podoll is the Marauder leading rusher averaging 45.1 yards per game and 3.1 yards per carry.
• Austin Bolton leads the defense with 63 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for a loss.
• Mary is led by head coach Josh Kotelnicki in his third season with the program where he holds a record of 6-16 overall.
 
Last Match-Up
• The Wolves defeated the Marauders 37-0 from Swisher Field in 2015.
• NSU rushed for 179 yards and threw for another 247 in the victory with three rushing touchdowns and one receiving score.
• Taylor and Tyson Zemlicka combined for 17 tackles to lead the team defensively.
 
A Season Ago
• Northern went 6-5 overall and 6-1 in the NSIC North in 2015, while U-Mary went 1-10 overall and 1-6 in the North.
 
Weather Forecast
• Saturday calls for cloudy skies and a 40% chance of rain with a high of 49 and a low of 37, with north northwest winds at 10-15 mph.
 
#AllIn
• Nick Kayl (WR) and Tanner Iwan (LB) were named the offensive and defensive Scout Team Players of the Week for the Wolves.
 
#NSICFB: What's Trending
• Trey Heid (AU), Michael Mehling (USF), and Nathan Shaw (NSU) were named the NSIC offensive, defensive, and special teams players of the week
• Four NSIC members are ranked in the first Super Region 3 poll of the season: No. 2 Sioux Falls, No. 4 Minnesota Duluth, No. 9 Bemidji State, and No. 10 Winona State
• Three NSIC teams are also on the AFCA Top-25 poll in No. 4 Sioux Falls, No. 21 Minnesota Duluth, and (RV) Bemidji State
• Sioux Falls recorded the largest margin of victory for the week, taking down Concordia-St. Paul 51-17
• Also recording wins were MSU over SMSU 35-20, WSU over WSC 41-20, MINOT over UMC 38-30, MSUM over MARY 47-16, NSU over SCSU 29-28, UMD over BSU 54-47, and AU over UIU 54-35