Aberdeen, S.D. – Heading south this weekend, the Northern State University football team is set to face off against Wayne State College. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. from Memorial Stadium in Wayne.
 
QUICK HITS ON THE NORTHERN STATE WOLVES
                • Northern State continues cross divisional play this weekend at Wayne State and enter the match-up 3-3 overall and 1-1 versus the NSIC South
                • The Wolves are averaging 14.8 points, 142.3 yards rushing, 173.8 yards passing, and 316.2 yards of total offense per game this season
                • NSU currently ranks top-5 in the NSIC in opponent third down conversions as their foes have gone 26-of-87 thus far in 2019
                • Isaiah Cherrier and Preston Barr lead the rushers with 403 and 148 yards rushing and a combined four touchdowns; Cherrier leads the team averaging 80.6 yards per game
                • Hunter Trautman has thrown for 1,029 total yards in 2019, averaging 171.5 yards per game, with four touchdowns and a 50.8 pass completion percentage
                • Dakota Larson leads the receiving front with 351 total yards, averaging 12.5 yards per reception and 58.5 yards per game, with two touchdowns and a 76-yard long
                • Defensively, seven Wolves have tallied an interception this season, while Preston Droessler leads the team with two forced fumbles and Jacob Howard has a team high 2.0 sacks
                • Chance Olson and Droessler sit atop the defense with 34 and 32 tackles respectively this season, as six Wolves have tallied 20 tackles or more
                • Payton Eue is averaging 31.7 yards per punt and 56.8 yards per kick-off with over 3,100 kick yards total
 
MATCHING UP WITH THE WILDCATS
                • Wayne State enters the weekend with a 2-4 record overall, notching wins over Southwest Minnesota State and Minnesota Crookston
                • The Wildcats are averaging 18.3 points, 171.5 yards rushing, 189.8 yards passing, and 361.3 yards of total offense thus far in 2019
                • WSC has been strong in third down situations this season, leading the league with 39 conversions in 86 attempts
                • Defensively, Wayne State has recorded 14 total sacks for a loss of 69 opponent yards
                • Devin Merkuris leads the ground attack with 286 rushing yards this season, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and 47.7 yards per game, with one touchdown
                • Andy McCance has been the primary quarterback for the Wildcats, passing for 817 yards, averaging 272.3 yards per game, with five touchdowns and a 53.8 pass completion percentage
                • Taurean Grady and Mason Lee sit atop the receiving front with 266 and 265 yards respectively; Grady is averaging 14.8 yards per reception with three touchdowns, while Lee is averaging 12.6 yards per catch with two touchdowns
                • Ian Ailts leads the defense with 45 total tackles, including 3.5 tackles for a loss
                • Kevin Ransom is third on the team with 34 tackles and leads WSC with two forced fumbles and five pass deflections
                • The Wildcats are led by head coach Dan McLaughlin in his 15th season at the helm
 
LAST MATCH-UP
                • Northern opened the 2017 season versus Wayne State, taking the Ag Bowl with a score of 23-16
                • The Wolves recorded 330 yards of total offense with three made field goals, one rushing touchdown, and one receiving touchdown
                • NSU is 17-10 all-time versus Wayne State and 2-3 under the direction of head coach Tom Dosch
 
A SEASON AGO
                • Northern State went 4-7 overall and 3-4 in the NSIC North a season ago, while the Wildcats went 3-8 overall and 2-5 in the NSIC South
 
WEATHER REPORT
                • Saturday calls for sunny skies with a high of 67 and WNW wins are 10-15 mph