UMC Releases 2017 Football Schedule

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston football program officially released their 2017 schedule Wed., May 31. The Golden Eagles will play 11 games against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) foes, including six home games. The schedule includes two Thursday evening games including the Midco Sports Network “NSIC Thursday Night Game of the Week” Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. at Ed Widseth Field against Wayne State College (Neb.).

“The NSIC is a great conference and we will face a quality opponent every week," said Head Coach Mark Dufner. "Currently, the team is working hard to get better as we prepare for fall camp and our season opener against Upper Iowa University on Aug. 31."

The Golden Eagles are in their first season under Head Coach Mark Dufner, who moves into the lead role after serving as an assistant coach at U of M Crookston for the last 15 seasons. Minnesota Crookston will look to improve upon a 0-11 mark last season. The Golden Eagles return a pair of All-NSIC Honorable Mention selections from 2016 in Adam Connette (Sr., WR, Corona, Calif.) and Will Cross (R-So., LB, Turtle Lake, Wis.). Connette, the school’s all-time leading receiver, had 72 catches for 760 yards last season. Cross broke onto the scene in a big way last season with a team-leading 90 tackles. The Golden Eagles return five starters on the offensive side of the ball and six on the defensive side of the ball.

Game 1 – Upper Iowa University, Thurs., Aug. 31, 4 p.m., Crookston, Minn.

Minnesota Crookston opens up the 2017 season on Thurs., Aug. 31 at 4 p.m. against Upper Iowa University. The game will be a part of a doubleheader at Ed Widseth Field with Crookston High School. The Peacocks went 3-8 last season.

Game 2 – Minnesota State University-Mankato, Sat., Sept. 9, 2 p.m., Mankato, Minn.

The Golden Eagles will take on Minnesota State University-Mankato Sat., Sept. 9 at 2 p.m. in their first road test of the season. The Mavericks posted an 8-3 mark on the 2017 season.

Game 3 – Wayne State College, Thurs., Sept. 14, 7 p.m. Crookston, Minn.

Minnesota Crookston will host their second Thursday evening game of the season Thurs., Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. versus Wayne State. The game will be part of Midco Sports Network’s expanded NSIC live coverage as the “NSIC Thursday Night Game of the Week.” The Wildcats went 3-8 on the 2016 season.

Game 4 – University of Sioux Falls, Sat., Sept. 23, 6 p.m., Sioux Falls, S.D.

The Golden Eagles will hit the road to face University of Sioux Falls Sat., Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Cougars posted a 12-1 mark last season and went on to the NCAA Tournament where they lost in overtime in the second round to Harding University. Sioux Falls is now under the leadership of Jon Anderson, who was most recently the head coach at West Virginia State University. 

Game 5 – Bemidji State University, Sat., Sept. 30, 1 p.m., Crookston, Minn.

The U of M Crookston will host rival Bemidji State University Sat., Sept. 30 at 1 p.m. at Ed Widseth Field for their homecoming game. The meeting will also mark the 14^th edition of the “Hubcap Game”. The Beavers posted a 9-3 mark, winning the Mineral Water Bowl over Washburn University to conclude the season.

Game 6 – St. Cloud State University, Sat., Oct 7, 1 p.m., St. Cloud, Minn.

Minnesota Crookston will hit the road after their Homecoming game to take on NSIC North foe St. Cloud State University Oct. 7 at 1 p.m. in St. Cloud, Minn. The Huskies are coming off a 5-6 mark on the 2016 season.

Game 7 – University of Mary, Sat., Oct. 14, 1 p.m., Bismarck, N.D.

The Golden Eagles will remain on the road the following week as they take on University of Mary Sat., Oct. 14 at 1 p.m. in Bismarck, N.D. The Marauders went 1-10 on the 2016 season. 

Game 8 – Minnesota State University Moorhead, Sat., Oct. 21, 1 p.m., Crookston, Minn.

Minnesota Crookson will return home to the friendly confines of Ed Widseth Field after a two-week road trip to take on rival Minnesota State University Moorhead. The game will take place Sat., Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. The game will mark the sixth meeting in the “Red River Valley Showdown” as the two schools battle for the State Farm Traveling Trophy. The Dragons posted a 7-4 mark on the 2016 season.

Game 9 – Minot State University, Sat., Oct. 28, 1 p.m., Crookston, Minn.

Minnesota Crookston will remain at home the following weekend as they battle Minot State University Sat., Oct. 28 at 1 p.m. at Ed Widseth Field. The Beavers went 3-8 last season. They are under new leadership with former Augustana University Head Coach Mike Aldrich taking over the ship.

Game 10 – University of Minnesota Duluth, Sat., Nov. 4, 1 p.m., Duluth, Minn.

The Golden Eagles will head down Highway 2 for their final road tilt of the season Sat., Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. versus University of Minnesota Duluth in Duluth, Minn. UMD posted a 10-2 mark on the 2016 season, advancing to the NCAA Tournament where they lost in the first round to Emporia State University.

Game 11 – Northern State University, Sat., Nov. 11, 1 p.m., Crookston, Minn.

The U of M Crookston will conclude the 2017 season at Ed Widseth Field against Northern State University Sat., Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. The Wolves went 6-5 on the 2016 season.

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 a NCAA Division II university located in the Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. UMC sponsors 11 intercollegiate athletic teams with membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference (NSIC) and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The NSIC is a 16-team conference with schools situated in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.