CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston
football program officially released their 2018 schedule Mon., May 21. The
Golden Eagles will play an 11-game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
slate. Minnesota Crookston will host five games with six tilts played on the
road.
The format for the NSIC season has changed as the Golden
Eagles will play four games against NSIC North opponents, followed by four
against NSIC South foes. Minnesota Crookston will finish with three games
against NSIC North competition. The previous format across the league was to
play four NSIC South opponents followed by seven divisional games versus NSIC
North foes.
“I am excited about our
football schedule this fall; we will begin the year with a key rivalry game
against MSU Moorhead on Thurs., Aug. 30,” said Head Coach Mark Dufner. “We will
face a high level of competition each week and are looking forward to the
opportunity.”
Minnesota Crookston will open the season with a rivalry game as the Golden Eagles face MSU Moorhead in the Red River Valley Showdown for the State Farm Traveling Trophy. The game will be a Thursday evening meeting Aug. 30 at 6:30 p.m. at Scheels Field at Nemzek Stadium in Moorhead, Minn. The Dragons finished 2017 with a 5-6 mark.
The Golden Eagles will host their home opener at Ed
Widseth Field Sat., Sept. 8 against St. Cloud State University at 1 p.m. The
Huskies posted a 6-5 record in 2017.
Minnesota Crookston then hits the road for a pair of
games. The Golden Eagles will first battle Bemidji State University for another
rivalry trophy as they take on the Beavers in the Hub Cap Game Sat., Sept. 15
at 4 p.m. at Chet Anderson Stadium in Bemidji, Minn. Bemidji State went 8-3 on the 2017 season.Minnesota
Crookston remains on the road the following weekend as they take on Minot State
University Sat., Sept. 22 at 2 p.m. at Herb Parker Stadium in Minot, N.D. Minot
State finished with a 3-8 record.
The Golden Eagles return to the friendly confines of Ed
Widseth Field Sat., Sept. 29 for their Homecoming game against Augustana
University at 1 p.m. Augustana finished 2017 with a 4-7 mark.
Minnesota Crookston takes to the road Sat., Oct. 6 for a
5 p.m. meeting with Southwest Minnesota State University at Mattke Field at
Schwan Regional Event Center in Marshall, Minn. The Mustangs went 2-9 last
season.
The Golden Eagles host Winona State University Sat., Oct.
13 at 1 p.m. at Ed Widseth Field. The Warriors finished 2017 with a 10-2
record.
Minnesota Crookston then heads for the Twin Cities the
following weekend to face Concordia University-St. Paul Sat., Oct. 20 at 12
p.m. at Sea Foam Stadium in St. Paul, Minn. Concordia-St. Paul went 2-9 in
2017.
The Golden Eagles return to Ed Widseth Field Sat., Oct.
27 to take on University of Minnesota Duluth at 1 p.m. The Bulldogs posted a
9-2 mark last season.
Minnesota Crookston will play their final road tilt Sat.,
Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. at Swisher Field in Aberdeen, S.D. against Northern State
University. The Wolves went 6-5 in 2017.
The Golden Eagles wrap up the 2018 slate Sat., Nov. 10 at
1 p.m. against University of Mary for Senior Day at Ed Widseth Field. U-Mary
posted a 1-10 record. They are under the direction of new coach Craig Bagnell
heading into the 2018 season, who was a former quarterback for the Marauders.
Minnesota Crookston is entering their second season under
Dufner. The Golden Eagles are looking to improve upon a 0-11 mark on the 2018
season. Minnesota Crookston returns several key pieces. Rod Stewart (Sr., WR,
Fort Worth, Texas) was All-NSIC Second Team as a wide receiver and All-NSIC
First Team as a kick returner. Stewart was also named 2017 Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America Honorable
Mention as a kick returner. Stewart had 47 catches for 633 yards and
five touchdowns as a junior. As a return specialist, he averaged 28.3 yards per
return with one touchdown of 94 yards on the season. Defensively, Will Cross
(R-Jr., LB, Turtle Lake, Wis.) leads the way after notching 79 tackles and
three tackles for loss last season. Cross returns along with four other leaders
from the defense last season in Ali Alkhatib (R-Sr., LB, Rosemount, Minn.),
Will Cole (Sr., DB, Compton, Calif.) and Trevor Long, Jr. (R-Jr., DB, Brooklyn
Park, Minn.). Cole was an All-NSIC Honorable Mention pick, along with Stephen
Day (R-Sr., K/P, Eveleth, Minn.), who averaged 38.3 yards per punt last season.
Offensively, Kevin Evans (Sr., RB, Groveland, Fla.) also returns after leading
the team with 264 yards rushing last season. Noah Lee (R-Sr., OL, Vadnais
Heights, Minn.) looks to anchor an offensive line that returns seven players
with starting experience.
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Location
|
Home / Away
|
NSIC Game
|
Time/Result
|
Details
|
|
8/30/2018
|
Minnesota State University
Moorhead
|
Moorhead, Minn.
|
A
|
*
|
6:30 p.m.
|
Details
|
|
9/8/2018
|
St. Cloud State University
|
Crookston, Minn.
|
H
|
*
|
1 p.m.
|
Details
|
|
9/15/2018
|
Bemidji State University
|
Bemidji, Minn.
|
A
|
*
|
4 p.m.
|
Details
|
|
9/22/2018
|
Minot State University
|
Minot, N.D.
|
A
|
*
|
2 p.m.
|
Details
|
|
9/29/2018
|
Augustana University (SD)
|
Crookston, Minn.
|
H
|
*
|
1 p.m.
|
Details
|
|
10/6/2018
|
Southwest Minnesota State
University
|
Marshall, Minn.
|
A
|
*
|
5 p.m.
|
Details
|
|
10/13/2018
|
Winona State University
|
Crookston, Minn.
|
H
|
*
|
1 p.m.
|
Details
|
|
10/20/2018
|
Concordia University, St.
Paul
|
St. Paul, Minn.
|
A
|
*
|
12 p.m.
|
Details
|
|
10/27/2018
|
University of Minnesota
Duluth
|
Crookston, Minn.
|
H
|
*
|
1 p.m.
|
Details
|
|
11/3/2018
|
Northern State University
|
Aberdeen, S.D.
|
A
|
*
|
1 p.m.
|
Details
|
|
11/10/2018
|
University of Mary
|
Crookston, Minn.
|
H
|
*
|
1 p.m.
|
Details
|
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