Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University football team remains at home this weekend, facing the University of Mary at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The Local Heroes Game features free admission for firefighters, police, EMT, paramedics, active military, veterans, nurses, doctors, and teachers with valid ID or badge.
 
QUICK HITS ON THE NORTHERN STATE WOLVES
                • Northern State enters the weekend looking for their first victory of the season from the confines of Swisher Field
                • NSU is 4-4 overall this season and 2-2 in the division, as they return to North Division action
                • The Wolves are averaging 16.4 points, 122.9 yards rushing, 201.1 yards passing, and 324.0 yards of total offense per game
                • NSU ranks top-8 in the NSIC in passing offense, kickoff returns, punt returns, interceptions, opponent third down conversions, and fewest penalties
                • Isaiah Cherrier leads the ground attack with 479 total yards, averaging 4.1 yards per carry and 68.4 yards per game, with three touchdowns
                • Hunter Trautman has 1573 yards passing, completing 53.4 percent of his attempts with seven touchdowns; he is averaging 196.6 yards per game
                • Dakota Larson has produced back-to-back 100-yard games for the Wolves, leading the receivers with 624 yards and three touchdowns; he is averaging 14.9 yards per reception and 78.0 yards per game
                • Payton Eue has made his last six field goal attempts on the year, including two last weekend versus Sioux Falls; the redshirt freshman is also averaging 31.5 yards per punt and 54.3 yards per kickoff
                • Preston Droessler leads the Wolves defense with 43 total tackles and three forced fumbles
                • Brayden McNeary and Chance Olson each have 40 tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss, combining for nine pass deflections
                • Hunter Hansen and Zach Bohnenkamp lead the secondary with two interceptions each, with Bohnenkamp notching a team high eight pass deflections
 
MATCHING UP WITH THE MARAUDERS
                • The University of Mary heads to Aberdeen with a 1-7 record overall and 0-4 mark in the NSIC North
                • Their lone win of the season came versus Upper Iowa (27-21) at home
                • Mary is averaging 18.4 points, 118.8 yards rushing, 195.1 yards passing, and 313.9 yards of total offense this season
                • Bryan Lumsden leads the rushers with 321 total yards, averaging 3.6 yards per carry and 40.1 yards per game with three touchdowns
                • Logan Nelson has 967 yards passing with a 53.5 pass completion percentage and seven touchdowns; he is also second on the team with 284 yards rushing and six touchdowns
                • Danny Kittner leads the air attack with 549 yards receiving, averaging 16.2 yards per catch and 68.6 yards per game with two touchdowns
                • Paul Guptill leads the defense with 63 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, and two forced fumbles
                • The Marauders are led by head coach Craig Bagnell in his second season at the helm
 
LAST MATCH-UP
                • Northern defeated UMary 28-23 a season ago, scoring in the first, second, and fourth quarters
                • Dakota Larson, Colten Drageset, and Jacob Streit each recorded receiving touchdowns for the Wolves
                • Hunter Trautman threw for 333 yards with an 81-yard long, while Streit led the team with 127 yards receiving
                • Preston Droessler led the returners on defense with eight tackles, including 3.0 tackles for a loss and 1.0 sack
                • The Wolves are 7-6 all-time versus the Marauders and currently on a  5-game win streak
 
A SEASON AGO
                • Northern State went 4-7 overall and 3-4 in the NSIC North a season ago, while the Marauders went 1-10 overall and 1-6 in the division
 
WEATHER REPORT
                • Saturday calls for partly cloudy skies throughout the day with a high of 46 degrees, a 10% chance of rain and winds at 10-15 mph