UMC Football Announces 2015 Schedule

CROOKSTON, Minn. -  The University of Minnesota Crookston football team officially released their 2015 schedule Monday afternoon. The Golden Eagle football schedule is highlighted by six home games including games against traditional Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference powers University of Sioux Falls and Minnesota State University, Mankato, the National Championship Runner-Up in 2014.

UMC will also host Bemidji State University for their Homecoming game and the Hub Cap game. They will also face Northern State, Minnesota State University Moorhead and Minot State University at home.

“We are very excited about our 2015 schedule,” said UMC Head Coach Mike Fritze. “UMC fans will get a chance to see us match up with some of the best teams in the conference and in the nation at Ed Widseth Field. We are also very excited to have our two trophy games on our own field this season with Bemidji State and MSU Moorhead coming to town. It will also be great for our players and our fans to be able to finish out the year with two home games. We look forward to another great year of football in one of the best conferences in the nation.”

The Golden Eagles will open up the season Sat., Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. as they head to Wayne State College (Neb.).  The Wildcats are coming off a 5-6 (3-4 NSIC South) mark during the 2014 season. UMC last hosted Wayne State Sept. 10, 2011 with a 35-24 loss.

UMC will then hold their home opener Sept. 12 as the Golden Eagles take on University of Sioux Falls at 1 p.m. at Ed Widseth Field. 2015 will mark the first time UMC has taken on Sioux Falls at home. The Cougars went 11-1 (6-1 NSIC South) and was the NSIC’s participant in the Mineral Water Bowl in 2014.

The Golden Eagles will hit the road again Sept. 19 to battle Upper Iowa University at 1 p.m. in Fayette, Iowa. UMC last hosted Upper Iowa Oct. 8, 2011 with a 31-21 loss. The Peacocks posted a 6-5 (2-5 NSIC South) mark in 2014.

UMC will return home to face 2014 NCAA Championship Runner-Up Minnesota State University, Mankato, who went 14-1 (7-0 NSIC South) with their only loss coming in the National Championsip game to Colorado State University-Pueblo. The Golden Eagles will take on the Mavericks Sept. 26 at 1 p.m.

The Golden Eagles will trek to face St. Cloud State University Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. in St. Cloud, Minn. The Huskies went 6-5 (5-2 NSIC North) in 2014.

Minnesota Crookston will host their Homecoming game Oct. 10 at 1 p.m. against their rival from just 88 miles down Highway 2, Bemidji State University. The game will also mark the annual Hub Cap game as they battle for the coveted Hub Cap trophy. UMC picked up a win over the Beavers last time they played at Ed Widseth Field with a 16-14 Homecoming win during the 2013 season. BSU went 3-8 (3-4 NSIC North) during the 2014 season.

The Golden Eagles will remain at home to face Northern State University Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. Northern State had a strong season in 2014, going 8-3 (6-1 NSIC North), finishing second in the NSIC North.

UMC will trek to University of Minnesota Duluth for a Oct. 24 date at 1 p.m. in Duluth, Minn. with their sister school. The Bulldogs were 13-1 (7-0 NSIC North) and were a NCAA Participant in 2014.

The Golden Eagles will continue their road trip, going to University of Mary for a Halloween battle Oct. 31 at 1 p.m. in Bismarck, N.D. The Marauders went 5-6 (3-4 NSIC North ) during the 2014 season.

UMC will finish out their year with two home games. The Golden Eagles will host Minot State University Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. The Beavers were 1-10 (1-6 NSIC North) during the 2014 season.

Minnesota Crookston will wrap up their season with another Rivalry game as the Golden Eagles look to bring the State Farm Traveling Trophy back to Crookston. The two teams will play in the fourth Red River Valley Showdown Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. at Ed Widseth Field, which will also serve as Senior Day. MSU Moorhead went 4-7 (3-4 NSIC North) during the 2014 season.

Minnesota Crookston was 0-11 (0-7 NSIC North) during the 2014 season, their second under Coach Fritze. UMC will look to show improvement during the 2015 campaign. The Golden Eagles return two players with experience at the quarterback position in Ben Bucholz (Sr., QB, Perham, Minn./Agricultural Business) and Travon Hearns (So., QB, Bloomington, Minn./Sports and Rec Management). Bucholz passed for over 1,100 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior. Hearns passed for over 600 and five touchdowns and ran for two touchdowns. Returning to lead the offensive line will be UMC’s Hawai’ian duo of Tyman Hayashi (Jr., OL, Kalihi, Hawa’i/Environmental Sciences) and Drew McDurmin (Jr., OL, Aiea, Hawai’i/Management), who each were starters as sophomores. J.T. Moran (So., OL, North Richland Hills, Texas/Criminal Justice). Leading receiver Adam Connette (So., WR, Corona, Calif./Elementary Education) caught 51 passes for 628 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman and will look to have a great second season in the Maroon and Gold.

On defense, Drew Selvestra (Sr., DL, Eagan, Minn./Criminal Justice) had a break out season in 2014 and was named All-NSIC Honorable Mention. Selvestra was second on the team with 88 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss. He led the team with 4.5 sacks. In addition to Selvestra, A.J. Wallace (Sr., DL, New Richmond, Wis./Sports and Rec Management) returns as a starter after making 51 tackles with three sacks as a junior. Also returning will be Brody Davidson (Sr., LB, Crookston, Minn./Communication), who missed the 2014 season with injury. Davidson had 70 tackles, seven tackles for loss and three sacks in 2013. Anchoring the defensive backfield will be Lethzee Calderon (Sr., DB, Eagan, Minn./Marketing). Calderon had 48 tackles, six pass break-ups and one tackle for loss as a junior. Robert Gausi (Sr., DB, Brooklyn Park, Minn./Criminal Justice) and Mychal Traylor (Jr., DB, Cerritos, Calif./Management) also return with starting experience.

The Golden Eagles return Fritze for his third season. He returns Robby Case at offensive coordinator and Mark Dufner at defensive coordinator. Also returning are defensive line coach Levi Bullerman and defensive backs coach Sean Knox. UMC has added Taylor Summers as wide receivers coach and will be looking to add to the staff.

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).