Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University football team will welcome Minnesota Crookston this Saturday in the final home game of the season. The Wolves and Golden Eagles will face off in the 61^st annual Shrine Game at 1 p.m. from Swisher Field. The game has also been tabbed as the Northern State senior day.
 
Northern enters their final home game of the season, the 61st Annual Shrine Game, with a 3-2 record in the North Division and 5-4 record overall. The Wolves rank second in the NSIC in sacks against with just ten this season, and tied for third in the league in interceptions with 13. Nicholas Truen is third in the NSIC in rushing with 841 yards, averaging 93.4 per game with eight touchdowns. Kicker Nathan Shaw is second in the league in field goals, with eight total. Channing Barber remains atop the league in passes defended (12 BRUP & 3 INT) with 15 this season, averaging 1.67 per game. Josh Coyle tallied a career high of tackles in the Northern State University Wolves victory over University of Mary 52-7. Coyle had a total seven tackles throughout the game, two which were solo and five assists. Along with a season high in tackles, Coyle had his first fumble recovery of his career in the 2nd quarter which assisted in the Wolves scoring to increase the lead 21-0. Coyle has a total 31 tackles so far this season with the seventh best mark on the team.
 
The Wolves will honor 23 seniors for the contest in their final game from Swisher Field: Taylor Houchin, Christian McAlvain, Tanner Feterl, Taylor Zemlicka, Matt Thorson, Stephen Erlandson, Channing Barber, Tyson Zemlicka, Joe Parsley, Brendon Hoellein, Zachery Barber, Tyler Oftedahl, Trever Heining, Tanner Lopez, Austin Schmitt, Nick Murphy, Evan Aaron IV, Jake Adam, Tyler Robel, Conner Doherty, Dalton Wangerin, Blake Lohr, and Chad Stoterau.
 
About the Golden Eagles
• Minnesota Crookston returns to Aberdeen with a 0-9 record on the year, where UMC has been outscored by their opponents 399-119.
• The Golden Eagles are last in the league in scoring defense, giving up an average of 44.3 points per game.
• Andre Person is the lone rusher averaging over 20 yards this season, with a 64.2 ypg mark and two touchdowns.
• Nathan Cole and Taylor Spier have both seen time at quarterback for Golden Eagles, with Cole tallying a team leading 1231 yards passing and seven touchdowns.
• Kicker Mike Maw leads the team in scoring with 29 points off seven made field goals and eight PATs.
• UMC is led by head coach Mike Fritze in his third season with the program.
 
Last Match-Up
• The Wolves defeated the Golden Eagles 55-21 on the road in 2015.
• Northern tallied two touchdowns in each of the four quarters, led by Chaka Kelly with three rushing scores.
• Stephen Erlandson also tallied two rushing touchdowns of his own.
• The Wolves are 16-1 all-time versus Minnesota Crookston.
 
A Season Ago
• Northern went 6-5 overall and 6-1 in the NSIC North in 2015, while Minnesota Crookston went 1-10 overall and 1-6 in the North.
 
Weather Forecast
• Saturday calls for sunny skies with a high of 62 and a low of 43, with east winds at 5-10 mph.
 
#AllIn
• Alex Fewell (OL) and Tyson Serr (LB) were named the offensive and defensive Scout Team Players of the Week for the Wolves.
 
#NSICFB: What's Trending
• Jordan Hein (BSU), Tyler Flud (SMSU), and Nathan Shaw (NSU) were named the offensive, defensive, and special teams players of the week in the NSIC
• Three NSIC schools remain on the AFCA Top-25 in No. 4 Sioux Falls, No. 18 Minnesota Duluth, and (RV) Bemidji State
• All three schools are also ranked in the Super Region Three poll as No. 2 USF, No. 5 UMD, and No. 8 BSU
• Paul Preston tallied a career high 198 rushing yards for Winona State
• The Northern State Wolves recorded the largest margin of defeat over the weekend, taking down U-Mary 52-7
• Also recording victories were AU over WSU (21-20), SMSU over CSP (28-14), MSUM over MINOT (42-24), USF over MSU (24-14), UIU over WSC (35-30), UMD over UMC (54-23), and BSU over SCSU (48-7)