UND football Week 12 primer: How to watch, injuries and matchups with North Dakota State

GRAND FORKS — North Dakota State’s house venue of the Fargodome can mess with opponents, fueled by noise that may make it troublesome to name performs and get off on the snap.

UND will enter the hostile ambiance at 2:30 p.m. Saturday with one of many Missouri Valley Soccer Convention’s youngest offensive traces.

The excellent news for the Preventing Hawks? UND has been flagged for the fewest penalties per recreation in the complete FCS.

UND is averaging 3.33 penalties per recreation.

“Our guys have accomplished job getting in the correct mindset and controlling what we will management,” UND coach Bubba Schweigert mentioned.

That clear play has allowed the Preventing Hawks to rank No. 5 nationally in time of possession.

UND averages about 34 minutes in time of possession this season. The Bison have historically accomplished the identical, rating No. 32 in time of possession nationally this season.

With clear play and lengthy drives, it is no shock each UND and NDSU are ranked excessive nationally in third-down conversions.

The Bison are No. 3 within the FCS with a 53.9 conversion charge, whereas UND is No. 15 with a 46.8 conversion charge.

A 12 months in the past, UND began league play towards North Dakota State. It was a time each groups have been determining an identification.

This 12 months, the groups meet to finish the common season.

“Should you look throughout the nation, a whole lot of locations finish with the sort of recreation,” Schweigert mentioned. “If it was my alternative, but it surely’s not my alternative, I would say we should always do it yearly.”

Kickoff: 2:30 p.m., Saturday.

The place: Fargodome.

TV: WDAY, Dom Izzo play-by-play, Kyle Emanuel analyst, Logan Campbell sideline.

and

Midco Sports activities, Brian Shawn play-by-play, Ryan Kasowski analyst.

Radio: 96.1 FM (Jack Michaels on play-by-play, Tom Dosch analyst, Paul Ralston sidelines)

Streaming: WDAY Sports activities Plus and ESPN-Plus

Accidents: UND’s newest harm got here earlier than final week’s recreation towards South Dakota when Peyton Lotysz went down throughout observe. That thrust Danny Carroll again into the beginning lineup. Carroll began earlier this season till snapping points plagued the redshirt freshman. Different season-ending accidents for UND embody linebacker Caden White and security Sammy Fort. Lengthy-injured working again Luke Skokna has began to observe extra and noticed motion on particular groups the final two weeks.

The Preventing Hawks have to hold quarterback Tommy Schuster upright. The Hawks have given up 22 sacks this 12 months, and it has solely been a difficulty in two losses — Southern Illinois and South Dakota State. Schuster was sacked 12 occasions mixed in these two video games. Schuster is at his greatest when he is extending performs, so it is a harmful line to toe for the Hawks’ offense. Defensively, stopping the run towards the Bison is all the time the place it’s important to begin as a result of NDSU desires to determine the run first. Cam Miller is a succesful passer and the Hawks will want their secondary to play their greatest recreation of the 12 months. The protection struggled to get off the sphere on third down final week towards South Dakota. If UND would not see the particular groups bail the staff out once more this week, the Hawks protection must do higher on third down this week.

The Bison have to drive UND’s secondary to sort out in area and never permit particular groups to alter momentum like UND has accomplished towards South Dakota and Youngstown State. NDSU receivers had 0 yards receiving within the tight win over UND final fall, and that’ll have to be very completely different if the Bison are to achieve success on Saturday. That is to not say the run recreation will not be vital. The Bison could also be a little bit beat up with accidents however NDSU can all the time lean on a dominant offensive line. Whereas UND’s struggles have come within the secondary, the Bison have a whole lot of expertise up entrance and can check the UND entrance seven. Left guard Nash Jensen will begin his 66th straight recreation on Saturday.