Northern State (4-4) will play at the University of Mary (4-4) today in Bismarck, N.D., in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference college football contest.
The Wolves are coming off a 28-27 win over St. Cloud State last week. NSU won on a 34-yard Hail Mary pass from Jared Jacobson to Mark Hanley as time expired to stun the Huskies.
"That is just what you hope for is a chance to make a play," Northern State safety Logan Dosch said. "We did at the end of the game and hats off to the offense."
The Wolves built a 21-7 lead, but the Huskies came back to take a 27-21 lead in the waning moments. NSU defensive end Mason Thorstad blocked the point-after-attempt after St. Cloud took the lead and NSU kicker Felipe Alfaia then made his with no time on the clock to win the game.
"We were real solid in the kicking game," NSU coach Tom Dosch said. "We were not spectacular, but we were solid. We made all our kicks. We blocked an extra point, which is huge. That would probably be the special play of the day."
St. Cloud State was ranked No. 24 at the time in the www.d2football.com poll and was also receiving votes American Football Coaches Association poll. It was the Wolves first win over the Huskies since 1947.
"Any time you can get put things together against a team like that, it is good," Logan Dosch said. "We did not necessarily finish the way we wanted to, but at the end of the day we got the win and that is what we are looking for."
The Wolves are now one of four teams sitting atop the North Division standings at 3-1. St. Cloud, Minnesota-Duluth and Bemidji State also sport 3-1 records in the North. The Marauders are 1-3 in North play after defeating Minnesota State-Moorhead 23-7 last week. The win snapped a four game losing streak for the Marauders. The four losses were against Winona State, Minot State, St. Cloud State and Bemidji State.
"We know every week is going to be a battle and going up to Mary is definitely going to be a big challenge for us," Logan Dosch said. "Every year they have a good team."
Mary quarterback Craig Bagnell played in last week's game after missing three games due to injury. He finished the game 15-of-26 for 189 yards.
"Their quarterback is really a big difference," Tom Dosch said. "They lost a couple of games when he was out. Now that he is back, you can see last week that he is just a difference in their team."
NSU's defense will try to frustrate the quarterback just like it has to other quarterbacks recently. The Wolves racked up eight sacks last week against St. Cloud QB Phillip Klaphake. NSU now has 23 sacks on the season, which is the third most in the NSIC.
"We are confident in our scheme," Logan Dosch said. "What we do is coming after you. I think teams are starting to recognize that a little bit, but we are going to do our style of defense, which is get after you and we will see what they can give us."
Game Notes
Mary leads the all-time series 5-1. The Wolves won last year's meeting 39-36 in Aberdeen . . . Today's forecast calls for chilly conditions with overcast skies and highs around 32 degrees. Winds out of the north 5-10 mph . . . Backup running back Chris Nguyen is out with an ankle injury that he sustained last week.
Starting Lineups
Northern State
OFFENSE
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Yr.
LT Hayden Gowan 6-3 275 Fr.
LG Rob Neisen 6-4 290 Sr.
C Jake Holguin 6-1 290 Jr.
RG Justin Parsons 6-4 295 So.
RT Kyle Cabral 6-4 275 Jr.
TE Ben Jastram 6-1 240 So.
WR Chris Morton 6-0 185 Sr.
WR Jordan Piatz 5-11 200 So.
QB Jared Jacobson 5-11 210 So.
RB John Hughes 5-7 180 Jr.
FB Dallas Lopez 6-2 230 So.
DEFENSE
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Yr.
DE Mason Thorstad 6-2 240 Sr.
NG Jalon Bibbs 6-1 270 So.
DE Ikee Sirleaf 5-9 240 Jr.
LB Mike Tuch 6-1 200 Jr.
LB Michael Alberts 6-2 220 Sr.
or John McDowell 6-1 230 Sr.
LB Logan Fahnhorst 6-2 225 Sr.
LB Ryan Weybrecht 5-11 200 So.
CB Marquis Mulkey 5-10 185 Sr.
SS Logan Dosch 6-2 200 Jr.
FS Jayson Geditz 6-4 210 Jr.
CB Paul Woodward 5-10 175 So.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Yr.
KR Mark Hanley 5-10 185 Jr.
PR Chris Morton 6-0 185 Jr.
PK Felipe Alfaia 5-11 190 Sr.
P Adrian Krupka 6-3 185 Fr.
LS Logan Dosch 6-2 200 Jr.
University of Mary
OFFENSE
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Yr.
LT Michael Mortenson 6-3 290 So.
LG Ben Kringstad 6-2 270 Sr.
C Anthony Thrift 6-3 295 Sr.
RG Everest Moore 6-3 285 Sr.
RT Nolan LaValley 6-3 285 Fr.
TE Bryan Sandy 6-2 210 Sr.
WR Tyler Steffan 6-4 210 Sr.
WR Elby Pope 6-0 185 So.
WR Nick Jolliffe 6-2 190 So.
RB Evan Gross 5-9 185 Jr.
QB Craig Bagnell 5-10 180 Jr.
DEFENSE
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Yr.
DE John Oyloe 6-5 260 Jr.
NT Nick Nelson 6-2 265 Fr.
DE Colin Matthiesen 6-1 255 Sr.
LB Mikey Ingemansen 6-0 215 Sr.
LB Grant Singer 6-1 215 So.
LB Gary Gellerman 6-2 235 Jr.
LB Nik Polski 6-2 235 Jr.
CB Stephon Jones 5-10 175 Jr.
FS Scott Maldonado 6-2 205 Jr.
SS Mike Wagner 5-11 195 Sr.
CB Craig Jeffrey 6-1 180 Jr.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Pos. Name Ht. Wt. Yr.
KR Elby Pope 6-0 185 So.
PR Evan Gross 5-9 185 Jr.
PK Tyler Ryan 5-10 180 Jr.
P Tyler Ryan 5-10 180 Jr.
LS Kyle Holetz 5-11 195 Fr.