Northern State has known for months it will play Wayne State College in the season opener, but that doesn't mean it knows what to expect.
The Wolves will host the Wildcats at 6 p.m. tonight at Swisher Field in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference college football contest. It is both team's season openers. The first game of the season always comes with uncertainty, because teams can change personnel and schemes from season-to-season.
"There is a good amount of anxiety, nervousness," Northern State coach Tom Dosch said. "Uncertainty probably more than anything else when you head into your first game. About your own team. About your opponent. About everything."
Wayne State is one of those teams that has changed a little bit from last season. Wayne's starting QB from last season, Nate Most, is not even listed as the starter on the depth chart after throwing for more than 1,300 yards a year ago. Redshirt freshman Zach Osborn is listed as the starter on the depth chart. Former Augustana College head coach Mike Aldrich is the new defensive coordinator for Wayne State.
Despite all those things, the Wolves will still expect the unexpected tonight vs. Wayne State.
"A lot of anxiety, nerves," NSU linebacker Ryan Weybrecht said, "just everything all at the same time. Just real excited to get out there."
The Wolves did some preliminary game planning for Wayne during the spring and summer, but for the most part, the Wolves have been focusing on themselves leading up to the season opener.
"You put more emphasis of what you have to do and getting better at our stuff, rather than putting too much emphasis on your opponent," Dosch said, "particularly the first game when there is a lot of unknowns and uncertainties."
The Wildcats return their leading rusher Charlie Davidson, who was named the NSIC offensive newcomer of the season. The 6-foot-1, 205 Davidson should present a tough matchup for the experienced Wolves' defense.
"We have a lot of experience coming back," Weybrecht said, "at pretty much every position, we have a lot of experience. Everybody knows how to prepare for all of our opponents."
The Wolves also return several solid players on offense, including starting QB Jared Jacobson. The junior did lose his three leading receivers from last season. The players listed as the starters at the wide receiver positions are Chris Malsam, Tanner White and Wil Carlson. Tyson Zemlicka, Jordan Freeman and Taylor Houchin are the backups. None of those players are seniors.
"It is going to be a little bit of a committee," Dosch said about the position. "We really need somebody in that group to step up and make some plays and ultimately, you can't figure out who that is going to be until you get to a game and that is what we are waiting for."
Game Notes: Northern State is 15-9 all-time against the Wildcats, who have won the last four meetings. Wayne State won the last meeting 37-10 in 2011 in Aberdeen. . . . Tonight's forecast calls for mild temperatures in the high 70s with clear skies by game time. . . . NSU senior safety Logan Dosch has racked up 194 tackles, which is three short of tying the record for most career tackles (with records dating back to 1998). Veaila Tupou (2003-05) holds the record with 197 career tackles.
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|Starting Lineups|
Northern State|
|OFFENSE|
Pos. Name| Ht. Wt. Yr.
LT Jon Caspers 6-6 300 Sr.
LG Hayden Gowan 6-3 275 So.
C Jacob Holguin 6-1 300 Sr.
RG Justin Parsons 6-4 295 Jr.
RT Kyle Cabral 6-4 285 Sr.
TE Conner Doherty 6-3 240 Fr.
WR Chris Malsam 6-0 180 So.
WR Tanner White 6-2 185 So.
WR Wil Carlson 6-0 185 Jr.
QB Jared Jacobson 5-11 210 Jr.
RB John Hughes 5-7 180 Sr.
FB Cameron Pudwill 6-2 240 So.
|DEFENSE|
Pos. Name| Ht. Wt. Yr.
DE Jalon Bibbs 6-1 270 Jr.
NT Apollo Ford 6-1 275 Sr.
DE Ikee Sirleaf 5-9 240 Sr.
LB Ryan Weybrecht 5-11 200 Jr.
LB Devin Olson 5-10 215 So.
LB Michael Alberts 6-2 220 Jr.
LB Mike Tuch 6-1 200 Sr.
CB Paul Woodward 5-10 175 Jr.
SS Logan Dosch 6-2 210 Sr.
FS Jayson Geditz 6-4 210 Sr.
CB Blaine Schmidt 5-10 180 So.
|SPECIAL TEAMS|
Pos. Name| Ht. Wt. Yr.
KR Paul Woodward 5-10 175 Jr.
PR Jayson Geditz 6-4 210 Sr.
PK Nathan Shaw 6-2 175 Fr.
P Adrian Krupka 6-3 185 So.
LS Logan Dosch 6-2 210 Sr.
Wayne State College|
|OFFENSE|
Pos. Name| Ht. Wt. Yr.
LT Brent Schlote 6-4 295 Sr.
LG Tyler DeWit 6-4 290 Sr.
C Austin Heesacker 6-3 275 Jr.
RG Taylor Jensen 6-4 265 So.
RT Abram Walker 6-3 265 Jr.
TE Grant Otten 6-3 235 Sr.
WR Toney Abraham 6-1 195 Jr.
WR Cody Calhoun 6-2 200 Jr.
FB Chad Koch 6-0 220 Jr.
RB Charlie Davidson 6-1 205 Sr.
QB Zach Osborn 6-1 180 Fr.
|DEFENSE|
Pos. Name| Ht. Wt. Yr.
DE Dylan Tolbert 6-5 240 Jr.
DT Shawn Barker 5-10 295 So.
NG Jeff Van Den Tops 6-6 235 Jr.
LB Zach Bierman 6-3 195 So.
LB Tyson McGill 6-0 230 Jr.
LB Nick Monzu 6-0 210 Jr.
LB Nathan Scott 6-3 205 So.
CB Jon Davis 6-1 180 So.
SS Austin Pomajzl 6-1 200 Sr.
FS Chase Samuel 6-0 185 Jr.
CB Ben Radel 5-10 185 Sr.
|SPECIAL TEAMS|
Pos. Name| Ht. Wt. Yr.
KR Charlie Davidson 6-1 205 Sr.
PR Toney Abraham 6-1 195 Jr.
PK Tyler Basch 6-0 170 Fr.
P Sean McClure 6-2 180 Sr.
LS Colby Dostal 5-10 215 So.