Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University football team begins a two week away series this Saturday at Southwest Minnesota State. Kick-off is set for 5 p.m. on Saturday between the Wolves and Mustangs from Marshall.
 
Quick Hits on the Wolves
        • The Northern State University football team enters the eighth week of NSIC action with a 2-5 record overall, in their final cross-divisional game of the season.
        • The Wolves are averaging 24.6 points, 117.6 yards rushing, 253.1 yards passing, and 370.7 yards of total offense on the year.
        • NSU has recorded the fewest penalties (31) in the NSIC this season, and they sit top-8 in interceptions (8), first downs (20.7 per game), passing yards (253.1), and punt return average (14.7).
        • Northern has not lost a game this season where they led following the first quarter and at the halftime break.
        • Chaka Kelly leads the rushing attack with 409 total yards, averaging 3.2 yards per carry and 58.4 yards per game.
        • Hunter Trautman has 1755 yards passing and 183 yards rushing on the year, recording six games passing for 200 yards or more and five games completing 50.0 percent of his attempts.
        • Dakota Larson has had a breakout freshman season, as a spark for the Wolves offense, with 702 yards receiving and six touchdowns. The freshman is averaging 17.5 yards per catch and 100.3 yards per game.
        • Jacob Wiedrich has taken on the full kicking duties, averaging 37.4 yards per punt and 51.2 yards per kickoff.
        • Noah MacPherson and Alex Gray led the Wolves defense with 59 and 51 tackles respectively, including a team leading 3.0 sacks from MacPherson and two interceptions by Gray.
 
Weather Forecast
        • Windy with a few clouds from time to time. A high around 40, with NNW winds at 20 to 30 mph.
 
About the Mustangs
        • Southwest Minnesota State enters the weekend with a 3-4 record overall and 2-1 mark against North Division opponents.
        • The Mustangs are averaging 27.3 points, 101.9 yards rushing, 264.6 yards passing, and 366.4 yards of total offense per game.
        • They are converting 39 percent of the time on third downs and 54 percent of the time on fourth downs.
        • The defense has tallied 17 sacks and eight interceptions on the year.
        • Max Simmons leads the rushers with 451 total yards, averaging 64.4 yards per game with three touchdowns.
        • Blake Gimbel has totaled 1821 passing yards with 18 touchdowns and a 60.9 completion percentage.
        • Daniel Davis leads the receivers with 662 yards, averaging 14.1 yards per reception and 94.6 yards per game. He also has a team leading nine touchdowns.
        • Shane Ratkovich leads the defense with 68 tackles, including 12 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks.
        • Lucas Fisher has three interceptions with 83 return yards, while Cory Hollowell leads the team with 11 passes defended on the year.
        • SMSU is led by head coach Cory Sauter in his ninth season at the helm.
 
Last Match-Up
        • The Wolves defeated the Mustangs 51-35 from Swisher Field in 2016.
        • In addition to four offensive scores, the Wolves tallied two fumble recoveries, one punt return, and one interception for touchdowns.
        • Channing Barber was named the D2Football Defensive Player of the Week following the contest with two touchdowns and 11 total tackles.
        • Northern is 23-10-2 all-time versus the Mustangs, winning the last two meetings.
 
A Season Ago
        • The Wolves went 6-5 overall and 5-2 in the NSIC North Division in 2017, while the Mustangs went  2-9 overall and 0-7 in South Division play.