NDSU No. 2 in FCS Coaches Poll

 

Following a 23-17 victory over Southern Illinois at Gate City Bank Field on Saturday, the North Dakota State football team moved up one spot to No. 2 in the latest FCS Coaches Poll.

 

Georgia Southern moved to No. 1 in this week's FCS Coaches Poll after claiming a 39-31 triple-overtime win at Chattanooga on Saturday. The Eagles received 17 first-place votes and tallied 635 total points.

 

Georgia Southern forced overtime with a fourth-quarter field goal and the Eagles' defense came up with a stop on fourth down in the third overtime to hold off Chattanooga.

 

North Dakota State received five first-place votes (619 points) and climbed one spot to No. 2 after defeating Southern Illinois, 23-17. The Bison spent the first six weeks of the season in the poll's top spot.

 

Montana State and Sam Houston State each rose one spot to No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. Sam Houston State also received two first-place votes. Old Dominion moved up two spots to No. 5, while Lehigh, which was idle last week, received one first-place vote and maintained their No. 6 ranking.

 

Wofford climbed one spot to No. 7 after defeating The Citadel (24-21). Last week's No. 1, Eastern Washington, dropped to No. 8 after falling to unranked Southern Utah. Stony Brook (No. 9) and James Madison (No. 10) maintain their rankings from last week and round out the Top 10.

 

FCS Coaches Poll Week Nine – Oct 29, 2012

25. South Dakota State                                                                                       6-2                                  51                              NR

Team (No. 1 Votes)	2012 Record	Points	Previous Ranking
1. Georgia Southern (17)	7-1	635	2
2. North Dakota State (5)	7-1	619	3
3. Montana State	7-1	586	4
4. Sam Houston State (2)	6-2	561	5
5. Old Dominion	7-1	528	7
6. Lehigh (1)	8-0	517	6
7. Wofford	7-1	486	8
8. Eastern Washington (1)	6-2	471	1
9. Stony Brook	8-1	450	9
10. James Madison	6-2	429	10
11. New Hampshire	7-2	396	12
12. Northern Arizona	7-1	363	13
13. Central Arkansas	7-2	326	14
14. Appalachian State	6-3	275	15
15. Illinois State	7-2	264	17
16. Cal Poly	7-1	256	11
17. Indiana State	7-2	249	T-18
18. Albany	7-1	188	20
19. Tennessee State	8-1	173	T-21
20. Delaware	5-3	122	16
21. Harvard	6-1	96	24
22. Towson	4-4	87	25
23. Eastern Kentucky	6-3	68	T-18
24. Bethune-Cookman	6-2	54

Men's Hockey Polls

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Despite a slight drop in both national polls, the University of North Dakota remains ranked among the top six in both the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine men’s hockey polls released today.

North Dakota fell one spot to No. 5 in the USCHO.com poll, while slipping two spots to No. 6 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. UND took three of four Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) points last weekend from Alaska Anchorage, winning 4-1 on Friday and skating to a 3-3 overtime tie on Saturday.

Defending NCAA champion Boston College remained atop both polls, while Minnesota, Denver and Miami were ranked second, third and fourth, respectively in both. Cornell was ranked No. 4 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll.

UND next opponent, Boston University, was ranked No. 12 in both polls. The Terriers visit Grand Forks on Friday and Saturday for a 2-game non-conference series at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll

Rk. School (1^st place) Record Pts. PR

1. Boston College (38) 4-1-0 981 1

2. Minnesota (3) 4-1-0 924 2

3. Denver (6) 4-0-0 862 5

4. Miami 4-1-1 792 3

5. North Dakota 2-1-1 769 4

6. Cornell 2-0-0 739 7

7. Notre Dame 5-1-0 677 9

8. Michigan 3-2-0 663 6

9. New Hampshire (2) 4-0-1 597 12

10. Union (1) 3-1-1 596 8

11. Western Michigan 3-1-0 529 10

12. Boston University 3-1-0 487 13

13. Harvard 1-0-0 291 17

14. Massachusetts-Lowell 1-3-1 239 11

15. Northeastern 2-2-1 227 15

16. St. Lawrence 3-1-0 180 NR

17. Minnesota Duluth 2-3-1 172 14

18. St. Cloud State 4-2-0 162 NR

19. Ferris State 2-2-2 146 18

20. Northern Michigan 3-3-0 131 16

Others receiving votes: Providence 66, Colorado College 53, Quinnipiac 45, Wisconsin 44, Yale 27, Holy Cross 23, Alaska 16, Dartmouth 15, Bemidji State 12, Lake Superior State 7, Ohio State 5, Michigan State 4, Michigan Tech 3, Nebraska Omaha 3, Colgate 1.

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll

Rk. School (1^st place) Record Pts. PR

1. Boston College (28) 4-1-0 504 1

2. Minnesota 4-1-0 459 2

3. Denver (5) 4-0-0 417 5

4. Miami 4-1-1 389 3

5. Cornell 2-0-0 355 7

6. North Dakota 2-1-1 345 4

7. Michigan 3-2-0 300 6

8. Notre Dame 5-1-0 277 9

9. Union (1) 3-1-1 240 8

10. New Hampshire 4-0-1 204 11

11. Western Michigan 3-1-0 194 10

12. Boston University 3-1-0 144 13

13. Harvard 1-0-0 77 NR

14. Massachusetts-Lowell 1-3-1 60 12

15. St. Lawrence 3-1-0 31 NR

Others Receiving Votes: Northeastern 23, Minnesota Duluth 21, Ferris State 19, St. Cloud State 13, Northern Michigan 3, Providence 3, Quinnipiac 1, Wisconsin 1.

UMC Women’s BB Picked to Finish 12th in Poll

 

(via UMC Sports Information)

BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The University of Minnesota, Crookston women’s basketball team was picked to finish 12th in the league according to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll released this afternoon. The Golden Eagles were picked to finish sixth in the North Division. UMC had 70 points overall in the poll, ahead of Bemidji State University (56), Southwest Minnesota State University (47), Minot State University (37) and Upper Iowa University (20).

Augustana College (S.D.) was selected to finish first in the poll with 15 first-place votes and 225 points while University of Minnesota Duluth was second with 190 points and Wayne State College (Neb.) was third with 183 points. Augustana was picked to win the South Division while UMD was picked to win the North Division. Augustana six-foot forward Alex Fenney, who was an honorable mention All-America pick according to Division II Bulletin and WBCA, was named NSIC South Division Preseason Player of the Year. Katrina Newman, a 5-11 wing player for UMD, was picked as the NSIC North Division Preseason Player of the Year after averaging 14.4 points as a sophomore.

UMC’s Brittani Wiese was selected as a NSIC Player to Watch. Wiese was an All-NSIC Second Team pick as a junior. She is coming back from a knee injury which sidelined her for the conclusion of the 2011-12 season. The senior guard led the Golden Eagles in scoring a season ago averaging 15.2 points. Wiese started all 19 games she appeared in before her injury. In addition to leading the team in scoring, she also led the squad with 69 assists. Wiese was solid from long range as a junior as she was 26-of-66 from beyond the arc for a 39.4 percent clip. In addition, she shot 61-of-81 from the charity stripe. Her season high came with 24 points against Augustana Dec. 17. She tallied over 20 points on four occasions. Wiese notched a season-high eight assists versus Northern State Jan. 7.

The Golden Eagles will open their exhibition slate this Sunday, Oct. 28 as they head to Brookings, S.D. to face South Dakota State University at 2 p.m. at Frost Arena. The Jackrabbits are picked to repeat as Summit League Champions after winning the title last year to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament where they lost in the first round. UMC will play another exhibition Thursday, Nov. 1 against North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., before opening up non-conference play versus Valley City State University in Valley City, N.D. Nov. 12.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics Web site 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).

Overall Points

1. Augustana (15)......................... 225

2. Minnesota Duluth.................... 190

3. Wayne State............................. 183

4. Minnesota State....................... 177

5. University of Mary (1)............. 171

6. Winona State ........................... 160

7. Concordia-St. Paul................... 145

8. St. Cloud State ........................ 118

9. Sioux Falls................................ 110

10. Northern State ....................... 107

11. MSU Moorhead..................... 104

12. Minnesota, Crookston............. 70

13. Bemidji State ........................ 56

14. Southwest Minnesota State ... 47

15. Minot State ............................ 37

16. Upper Iowa ............................ 20

first place votes in ( )

North Division....................... Pts

1. Minnesota Duluth (5)........... 46

2. University of Mary (1)......... 41

3. St. Cloud State .................... 34

4. MSU Moorhead (1).............. 31

Northern State (1)................ 31

6. Minnesota, Crookston.......... 17

7. Bemidji State ....................... 15

8. Minot State ........................... 9

South Division........................ Pts

1. Augustana (7)...................... 49

2. Minnesota State (1)............. 38

3. Wayne State ...................... 35

4. Concordia- St. Paul............. 31

5. Winona State ...................... 30

6. Sioux Falls........................... 21

7. Southwest Minnesota State 13

8. Upper Iowa 7

Northstar Football Players of the Week

(October 23, 2012)

The Northstar Football Conference has announced the final Player of the

Week Award winners for the 2012 season. The honorees include:

East Division

Offensive Player of the Week – Devin Strack (Pillager) carried the ball 8 times for 256 yards and 3 touchdowns against Lake Park-Audubon. He also returned a kick-off 94 yards for a touchdown.

Defensive Player of the Week – Mitch Leifermann (Pillager) recorded 15 tackles, on sack and a fumble recovery against Lake Park-Audubon.

West Division

Offensive Player of the Week – Bruce Lemon (Frazee) rushed for 230 yards on 18 carries. He also added a touchdown and a 2-point conversion versus Fertile-Beltrami.

Offensive Player of the Week – Jake Pavek (Mahnomen) contributed 10 carries for 188 yards and three touchdowns as he and his teammates ran their record to 8-0.

Defensive Player of the Week – Cody Nordquist (Frazee) was involved in several tackles and made two big interceptions to stop scores.

Special Teams Player of the Week – Jordan Ketter (Frazee) returned a kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown.

The final standings of the Northstar Football Conference have Mahnomen on top of the West Division with a 8-0 record and Pillager earned the East Division title with a 7-0 division record and 7-1 overall. Northstar teams advances to the second round of playoffs include: Pillager, Blackduck, Pine River-Backus, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley, Mahnomen, Frazee, Fertile-Beltrami, Red Lake County, and Warren-Alvarado-Oslo.

Northstar FB Players of the Week

(October 16, 2012)

The Northstar Football Conference has announced the Player of the Week award winners for this past week’s action.

West Division

Offensive Player of the Week –Baxter Bachmann (Frazee) was 10 for 12 passing for 203 yards. He had 3 touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed for 26 yards on a handful of carries.

Defensive Player of the Week – Mat Pepper had 9 solo tackles and a batted pass. Mat played an exception game against Wareen-Alvarado-Oslo.

Special Teams Player of the Week – Tyler Wacker (Frazee) was 5 for 6 on extra point kicks, with his only miss being a block that was not due to a poor kick. Tyler has been very consistent all season.

Other outstanding performances were turned in by: Jeff Flickinger (Pillager), Zach Thoma (Bagley), Logan Thorson (Bagley), Jacob Krabbenhoft (Blackduck), Christopher Zimmer (Walker-Hackensack- Akeley), Aaron Leintz (Bagley), Tyler Ziegler (Frazee), Garrett Hoffner (Mahnomen), and Nate Renner (Lake Park-Audubon).

East Division

Offensive Player of the Week – Trey Volk (Blackduck) had 24 carries for 299 yards and 4 touchdowns against Red Lake County. The junior running back had touchdown runs of 4, 58, 68 and 70 yards against a team that hasn’t given up a lot of points this year.

Defensive Player of the Week – Mitch Leifermann (Pillager) recorded 9 tackles, including two quarterback sacks. The tackle also added two fumble recoveries to his night’s work.

Special Teams Player of the Week – Trevor Smith ( Blackduck) had 2 tackles on kickoffs and recovered a fumble on a kickoff. Most importantly, the sophomore linebacker recovered the onside kick attempt by Red Lake County at the end of the game to secure the victory. Trevor made the most of his time on the field Friday night.

WCHA Weekend Preview

The University of North Dakota Men’s Hockey team will be playing shorthanded all weekend as they head into their regular season opener for the Brice Alaska Gold Rush in Fairbanks, Alaska. Friday night they will take on the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves without Captains Andrew MacWilliam, Danny Kristo, Corbyn Knight, and Carter Rowney, who are all serving suspensions. Kristo will also sit out Saturdays game against the Alaska Nancooks along with sophomores Connor Gaarder, Andrew Panzerella, and Stephane Pattyn. Also Sophmore Michael Parks will be out for a few weeks due to injury. Expect big things this year from 2 – time WCHA Preseason rookie of the year Rocco Grimaldi, who scored 2 goals in UND’s exhibition match against the US U-18 team. There will be a big presence in the net this year from Junior transfer Clarke Saunders. Thief River Falls native and former USHL Co-Goaltender of the Year Zane Gothberg is also vowing for the #1 goaltender spot. Gothberg spent his last two seasons with the Fargo Force.

Heading over to the Minnesota side, the Gophers are living up to their USCHO #1 Preseason ranking after sweeping Michigan State. Florida Panther 1^st Round draft pick and this week’s WCHA Offensive Player of the week Nick Bjugstad tallied 3 goals and 2 assists in the sweep. The nationally top ranked Gophers will face their 1^st WCHA opponent this weekend as they look to battle with the Huskies of Michigan Tech on the road. The main question for the Gophers this year is who will be there top goaltender? Patterson saw time in net in almost every single game last year and has since graduated. Between the pipes this year will be a combination of freshman Adam Wilcox and former Benilde-St. Margarets stand out Michael Shibrowski. Shibrowski, a junior, has had some time in net before he transferred from Colorado College after his freshman year.

For the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, rookie Austin Farley is off to a strong start. Farley WCHA rookie of the week honors after netting 2 goals and 4 assists in a series split against Ohio State. However, a series split against un-ranked Ohio State makes a person question a typically strong defensive and top ranked Bulldog team. Lakeville native Aaron Crandall, now in his junior year, should be looked upon as the main goalie for the Bulldogs. UMD will play a 9^th ranked Notre Dame this weekend on the road.

Other play from around the WCHA: The 9^th ranked Denver Pioneers will host Air Force on Friday and Umass on Saturday. For the CC Tigers it’s just the opposite.  St. Cloud State hosts Alabama Huntsville, Bemidji State will host Lake Superior College, Minnesota State – Mankato hosts Rensellear, and Nebraska-Omaha hosts Northern Michigan.

Written by Mark Askelson of R and J Broadcasting Inc.

UMC men's BB underway for 2012-13 season

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota, Crookston men’s basketball team opened practice at 5:30 a.m. Monday signifying the official beginning of the 2012-13 season.

The Golden Eagles return two starters from last year’s team that went 7-19 (3-19 NSIC). Point guard Almir Krdzalic (Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) and power forward Broderick Schmidt (Sr., Marion, S.D.) look to lead the UMC squad this year. Krdzalic started all 26 games last year and averaged 5.2 points per game. Schmidt started 21 contests a season ago and averaged 4.2 points per game.

Also returning from last season’s squad are two players that saw significant playing time off the bench in Justin Rake (Sr., G, Petal, Miss.) and Abdou Niang (Sr., F, Dakar, Dakar). Rake averaged 4.4 points and shot 31.0 percent from beyond the arc while Niang averaged 2.2 points off the bench.

The Golden Eagles will also rely on a pair of players that redshirted last season in James Sparkman (R-Jr., F, Ypsilanti, Mich.), a junior college transfer from Miles City Community College and redshirt freshman Derrick Redd, Jr. (G, Menifee, Calif.).

Also battling for playing time will be returnees Tim Lubke (So., G, St. Paul, Minn.) and Tomas Parker (So., F/C, Pequot Lake, Minn.), both who saw the floor sparingly last season, but will be expected to play added roles this season.

In addition, look for junior college transfers Brandon Burns (Jr., F, Baton Rouge, La.) and Ashton Harrell (Jr., G, Houston, Texas) will look to play significant roles in their first seasons for the Golden Eagles. Fellow newcomers Joseph Moorer (Fr., G, Los Angeles, Calif.), Dominique Wright (So., G/F, Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Mike Paulson (Fr., G/F, Hatton, N.D.) could also figure into the rotation in their first seasons.

Coach Jeff Oseth is in his 11th season as the head coach at UMC and his 17th overall in the NSIC as a player, assistant coach and head coach. He is the third-longest tenured coach in the conference behind Kevin Schlagel at St. Cloud State University and Winona State University’s head coach Mike Leaf.

The Golden Eagles will have a scrimmage with Concordia University, Moorhead Oct. 28 before having two exhibitions on the road at Gustavus Adolphus College Nov. 2 and at Valley City State University Nov. 6 before officially starting the regular season Nov. 9 at home against Presentation College. UMC will start NSIC play on the road at Bemidji State University Dec. 1.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics Web site 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).

UMC Women's BB underway for 2012-13 season

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota, Crookston women’s basketball team officially began practice Monday afternoon at 3 p.m. in Lysaker Gymnasium. The practice starts the 2012-13 campaign for the Golden Eagles who are entering their seventh season under the guidance of Mike Roysland.

The Golden Eagles return three starters from last season’s team that went 9-17 (6-16 NSIC). UMC will be led by a trio of seniors in Brittani Wiese (G, Albertville, Minn.), Laurie Tyson (C, Rosemount, Minn.) and Carli Bunning (F, Boone, Iowa). Wiese will be x-factor after the missing conclusion of the season due to an injury. Wiese missed the first day of practice today but is looking to be ready to go in week two of practice. She averaged 15.2 points as a junior. Tyson started 25 of 26 games last season and averaged 5.4 points and was the team’s leading rebounder averaging 6.4 points per game. Bunning came in last season as a junior college transfer from Des Moines Area Community College. She came off the bench for almost 15 minutes per game averaging 4.7 points and 4.0 rebounds.

Also returning to the Golden Eagles are 2011-12 starter Ebony Livingston (So., G, Minneapolis, Minn.) and Ashley Martell (So., G, Somerset, Wis.) who started 12 games last season and averaged 22 minutes per game. Livington averaged 6.2 points and 3.7 rebounds as a freshman while Martell was the team’s third leading scorer with 6.4 points and was the team’s best three-point shooter connecting of 39-of-92 for 42.4 percent.

Several key bench contributors also return to the fray as Kenzie Church (So., F, Fairmount, N.D.), Cienna Walker (So., G, Ajax, Ontario) and Jacy Christenson (Jr., G, Shoreview, Minn.), all who averaged over 10 minutes per game last year, return.

Coach Roysland is also expecting a lot from a freshman class that he has touted as his best since arriving at UMC seven years ago. The group consists of seven newcomers and redshirt freshman Jaya Perkins (G, Lakeville, Minn.), who is expected to be an immediate contributor after missing all of last year. Guards Christine Thorn (Fr., St. Michael, Minn.) and Alexa Thielman (Fr., Buffalo, Minn.) were both all-state picks during their high school careers, as were forwards Katrina Moenkedick (Fr., Perham, Minn.) and Erika McRoberts (Fr., Byron, Minn.).

Freshmen Avery Jackson (G, Wadena, Minn.), Lindsey Lahr (G, Isle, Minn.) and Megan Taylor (Fr., Estelline, S.D.) round out a talented group of newcomers for the Golden Eagles.

UMC opens up the exhibition slate Oct. 28 against Division I foe South Dakota State University on the road in Brookings, S.D. They follow that up with another Division I game versus North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D. Nov. 1. The Golden Eagles open up the regular season versus Valley City State University Nov. 12 on the road. The NSIC slate will commence on the road just down Highway 2 in Bemidji, Minn. Versus Bemidji State University Dec. 1.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics Web site 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).

Weekly FCS poll

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Players and coaches in the Eastern Washington football program feel quite at ease to be ranked No. 1 in The Sports Network FCS Top 25.   The Eagles grabbed the top ranking at the end of the 2010 regular season and never gave it up while going on to win their first FCS national championship.   They hope for a similar script this season.   Monday was the calm after Saturday's storm and Eastern Washington ascended five spots to No. 1 - an incredible accomplishment, but seemingly warranted after four of last week's top five teams lost for the first time. Coach Beau Baldwin's Eagles grabbed the top perch by earning 92 of the 165 first-place votes and 3,982 points.   EWU delivered a big win at Big Sky rival Montana State, 27-24, to make the leap from No. 6. Saturday's surprising day of results among the top teams led to nine teams earning first-place votes on Monday, but Eastern Washington (5-1) was still a decisive No. 1 over James Madison, which moved up two spots to No. 2 after beating William & Mary in double overtime. The Dukes (5-1) gained 42 first- place votes and 3,831 points.   Georgia Southern (5-1) moved up to No. 3 after beating Wofford, 17-9, and taking over first place in the Southern Conference.   Among the unbeaten teams to lose on Saturday was defending national champion North Dakota State, which fell to Indiana State, 17-14. The Bison (5-1) dropped from the top spot to No. 4.   A different team mans the top 11 spots from a week ago. Montana State (6-1) fell three spots to No. 5 and was followed by No. 6 Sam Houston State (4-2); No. 7 Old Dominion (5-1), which dropped four spots after falling to Villanova, 38-14; No. 8 Wofford (5-1); No. 9 Lehigh (7-0); No. 10 Stony Brook (6-1); and No. 11 Illinois State (6-1), which rallied past then-No. 8 Youngstown State, 35-28.   New Hampshire (5-2) and Appalachian State (5-2) won their games to remain at No. 12 and 13, respectively.   They were followed by No. 14 Cal Poly (6-0), No. 15 Youngstown State (4-2), No. 16 Northern Arizona (5-1), No. 17 Tennessee State (7-0), No. 18 Towson (3-3), No. 19 Central Arkansas (5-2) and No. 20 South Dakota State (5-1).   Indiana State (5-2) moved back into the rankings at No. 21 after its upset of North Dakota State. Ivy League power Harvard (5-0), which has the longest active winning streak in the FCS at 14 games, was ranked No. 22, and received one first-place vote.   The Crimson were followed by No. 23 Eastern Kentucky (5-2); No. 24 Villanova (5-2), which earned its first ranking this season; and No. 25 Delaware (4-2), which was idle this past Saturday. McNeese State and Samford fell from the Top 25 after suffering losses.   CAA Football had the most teams in the rankings with six and the Missouri Valley Football Conference had five.   A national panel of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries select the Top 25. A first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote 24 points, all the way down to one point for a 25th-place vote.   During the regular season, the Top 25 is released every Monday afternoon, except for the final weekend of the regular season, when it will be released Sunday morning, Nov. 18, prior to the selection of the FCS playoff field.
The Sports Network will release a final Top 25 following the FCS championship game, which will be held Jan. 5 in Frisco, Texas.

UND Athletics announces North Dakota Strong campaign

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Throughout October, the University of North Dakota Athletics Department is once again raising funds and helping to spread awareness for breast cancer research in the greater Grand Forks area and beyond.

UND fans are encouraged to support the North Dakota Strong campaign by purchasing t-shirts available at select events and locations. One hundred percent of the $10 cost of the shirts will be donated to Altru's Breast Cancer Coalition. The coalition is responsible for assisting women who are either uninsured or under insured to get their yearly screening mammograms. The coalition also assists with buying educational materials for all patients who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

The shirts can be purchased at the Altru Cancer Center, Wednesdays during lunch in UND's Memorial Union, the GW Gear store at UND football games, and at home men's hockey games during the month of October.

More events and locations will be announced throughout the month of October.

Northstar FB weekly award winners

(October 9, 2012)

The Northstar Football Conference has announced it’s weekly award winners for the East and West Divisions. With week six of the high school football season being complete and two weeks remaining, the action remains very exciting. Mahnomen is the only remaining undefeated team in the conference, followed by Frazee and Fertile-Beltrami as 5-1 teams in the West Division. Pillager leads the East Division with a 5-1 record followed by Blackduck and Pine River – Backus with 4-2 marks. Blackduck has been the surprise team of the league winning four straight games after dropping their first two of the season.

West Division

Offensive Player of the Week – Baxter Bachman (Frazee) played a solid game at quarterback versus a very good Warren-Alvarado-Oslo team. He completed over 55% of his passes for nearly 100 yards and a touchdown in less than ideal conditions in the north. He also ran the option well and added a rushing touchdown.

Offensive Player of the Week – Bryce Penner (Mahnomen) had 4 carries for 109 yards and two touchdowns and he and his teammates ran their record to 6-0 on the season.

Defensive Player of the Week – Wyatt Casavan (Red Lake County) had 10 solo tackles and 3 assisted tackles in the Rebels 8-0 over Fertile-Beltrami.

Other outstanding performances for the week were turned in by: Cole Joslyn (Walker-Hackensack-Akeley), Austin Torma (Frazee) and Kal Handyside (Mahnomen).

East Division

Offensive Player of the Week – Kyler LaVine (Bagley) had 11 carries for 202 yards and three touchdowns in adverse weather conditions in the Flyers 51-0 win at Fosston. LaVine’s long run of the night was 46, but he also scored from 37 and 34 yards out.

Defensive Player of the Week – Chance Halvorson (Bagley) recorded 10 tackles and was very disruptive on the interior line against Fosston. Halvorson has been a consistent force for the Flyers defense all season long.

Special Teams Player of the Week – Aaron Leintz (Bagley) made it a clean sweep of the East Division awards for the Flyers. In difficult weather conditions, he was 6 of 7 on extra points and kicked a 24 yard field goal. He also had 3 touchbacks and 1 punt of 34 yards as the Flyers evened their record at 3-3 with the win.