UMC Football Releases 2014 Schedule

CROOKSTON, Minn. - University of Minnesota Crookston Head Football Coach Mike Fritze and the UMC athletic department officially released the 2014 Golden Eagle football schedule Thursday afternoon. The Golden Eagle schedule is highlighted by five home games including games against traditional Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference powers Winona State University, St. Cloud State University and University of Minnesota Duluth. UMC will also host Augustana College (S.D.) and University of Mary at Ed Widseth Field.

“We are very excited about our 2014 schedule,” Fritze said. “We are going to have the opportunity to compete against some of the nation’s best right here in Crookston at Ed Widseth Field. We think are fans are going to be in store for some great games on our home field. We play in one of the best conference in the nation and we are ready for another great year of NSIC football.”

The Golden Eagles will open up the 2014 season at home Sept. 6 at 1 p.m. against Augustana. The Vikings went 4-7 during their first season under Jerry Olszewski, who took over five seasons at St. Olaf College. UMC fell to Augustana in 2012, but did not play the Vikings in 2013.

UMC will then trek to Southwest Minnesota State University Sept. 13 for a 1 p.m. game in Marshall, Minn. The Golden Eagles defeated SMSU 33-28 to snap a losing streak in the NSIC in 2012 but the two teams did not meet in 2013. The Mustangs went 7-4 during the 2013 season.

The Golden Eagles will return home to face Winona State University Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. at Ed Widseth Field. Winona State went 6-5 last season. The Warriors defeated UMC in 2012 but the two schools did not meet last season.

UMC will wrap up the NSIC South part of their schedule Sept. 27 as they head to St. Paul, Minn. to face Concordia University-St. Paul at 1 p.m.. Concordia went 5-6 during the 2013 season. UMC played a hard-fought game against the Golden Bears in 2012 but fell 34-24. The two schools did not play in 2013.

The Golden Eagles will open up the NSIC North part of their slate Oct. 4 as they host St. Cloud State University at 1 p.m. at Ed Widseth Field. St. Cloud State defeated Minnesota Crookston in St. Cloud, Minn. last season. The Huskies went 12-2 last season, advancing to the NCAA Division II playoffs where they lost to Northwest Missouri State University.

Minnesota Crookston will again hit the road for a short 90 mile trek down Highway 2 to face Bemidji State University at Chet Anderson Stadium at 1 p.m. in Bemidji, Minn. in the “Hub Cap Game”. The Golden Eagles ended a
a losing streak against BSU that stretched back to 1998. The Golden Eagles won the game 16-14 in the mud for Homecoming last season. Bemidji State struggled overall on the year as they looked to replace a lot of starters from the season prior. BSU was 3-8 during the 2013 campaign.

UMC will return to Ed Widseth Field Oct. 18 for Homecoming against University of Mary at 1 p.m. The Golden Eagles and U-Mary battled last season with the Marauders winning 31-15 with U-Mary winning in Myron Schulz’ last game after a long tenure as head coach in Bismarck, N.D. This will be the first season as head coach for Josh Kotelnicki, who served as Defensive Coordinator for University of North Dakota last season. U-Mary went 6-5 during the 2013 season. The Golden Eagles did well against U-Mary in their last home game against the Marauders, which was played at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D. UMC won on a last second two-point conversion 37-36.

The Golden Eagles will hit the road again Oct. 25 to face Minot State University at 1 p.m. in Minot, N.D. Minot State went 2-9 last season. They are under new leadership in 2014 as Todd Hoffner, the former Minnesota State University, Mankato coach takes over the ship for the Beavers. Minot State defeated UMC 20-19 in the final minutes at Ed Widseth Field in 2013 in what proved to be a heartbreaker for the Golden Eagles.

UMC will return home to face NSIC power University of Minnesota Duluth Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. at Ed Widseth Field. Then No. 6 Minnesota Duluth defeated UMC last season. The Bulldogs are in their second season under Head Coach Curt Wiese. The game against their sister school UMD, will be Senior Day for the Golden Eagles who currently have 13 seniors on the roster heading into next season.

The Golden Eagles will hit the road for the final two games of the season, beginning with Northern State University at 1 p.m. Nov. 8 in Aberdeen, S.D.  Northern State won last season 28-0 over the Golden Eagles. The Wolves went 4-7 during the 2013 season.

UMC will wrap up the 2014 schedule with the “Red River Valley Showdown” Presented by State Farm Insurance Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. in Moorhead, Minn. The Golden Eagles ended a skid against their rival last season by bringing home the ‘State Farm Traveling Trophy” with a 20-14 win over the Dragons. MSU Moorhead went  4-7 in 2013.

The Golden Eagles are entering their second season under Head Coach Mike Fritze in 2014. Fritze came to UMC after 18 years as head coach at Apple Valley High School. The UMC boss has infused a sense of optimism and excitement in the program in his short time leading the ship for the Golden Eagles. UMC is coming off of back-to-back two win conference seasons after failing to win a game in the league for four years, showing signs of a program on the rise.  

Minnesota Crookston will return seven starters on offense led by all five starters on the offensive line from last season. The Golden Eagle offense will be led in the 2014 by Fritze, who takes over the duties this season after a vast amount of experience coaching the offense during his days at Apple Valley High School. He will be assisted by Pass Game Coordinator Mike Clark and Run Game Coordinator Robby Case. UMC’s forces will be led by senior linemen Matt Borowicz, Sam Smith and Jeff Pryor, along with senior wide receiver Marcus Cheatham.

On defense, UMC heads into their second season under Defensive Coordinator Mark Dufner, who has been with the team for 12 seasons. The Golden Eagles showed improvement in 2013 and will return six starters from that squad. Leading the way will be local product Brody Davidson and NSIC Second Team pick Andrew “Rock” Hall at linebacker. They will join with defensive linemen Greg Lofquist, A.J. Wallace and Drew Selvestra and cornerback Lethzee Calderon to provide the core of the UMC defense.

UMC has 52 players currently in camp, an improvement from last season’s Spring number. In addition, the Golden Eagles have brought in a talented recruiting class which includes 43 players. The Golden Eagles are currently slated to have 95 players in Fall camp, which would be one of their biggest rosters in program history. The base of UMC’s recruiting class has been led by 23 players from the state of Minnesota and North Dakota, a major emphasis for Fritze and his assistant coaches.

 For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

The University of Minnesota Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).
        
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2014 Football Schedule
Sept. 6 - Augustana - Crookston, Minn. - 1 p.m.
Sept. 13 - at Southwest Minnesota State - Marshall, Minn. - 1 p.m.
Sept. 20 - Winona State - Crookston, Minn. - 1 p.m.
Sept. 27 - at Concordia-St. Paul - St. Paul, Minn. - 1 p.m.
Oct. 4 - St. Cloud State - Crookston, Minn. - 1 p.m.
Oct. 11 - at Bemidji State - Bemidji, Minn. - 1 p.m. (Hub Cap Game)
Oct. 18 - U-Mary - Crookston, Minn. - 1 p.m. (Homecoming)
Oct. 25 - at Minot State - Minot, N.D. - 1 p.m.
Nov. 1 - Minnesota Duluth - Crookston, Minn. - 1 p.m. (Senior Day)
Nov. 8 - at Northern State - Aberdeen, S.D. - 1 p.m.
Nov. 15 - at MSU Moorhead - Moorhead, Minn. - 1 p.m. (Red River Valley Showdown)