Sean Arbaut/MSU Athletics The Minot State football team during an NSIC football game played earlier this season at Herb Parker Stadium.

Motivation isn’t needed. But, the Beavers will need more than motivation to shock the world this afternoon in Mankato.

For as rocky and rough the Minot State football season has been this season, seeing the No. 1-ranked team in Division II next up the schedule can invoke two different feelings.

There is the, ‘Oh no, here we go again,’ or the, ‘Oh well, we got nothing lose.’

Both conflicting mentalities clash this afternoon for the 1-5 overall Beavers, who have to go on the road and line up against undefeated NSIC powerhouse Minnesota State Mankato (6-0).

“Any time you have the opportunity to play the best team in the country, it gets you amped up because you know you are playing the best,” Minot State head football coach Mike Aldrich said. “It’s going to test you to see how good you can be. Regardless of the games we have played in, whether they have been good, bad or indifferent, I think getting their excitement back up to play Mankato is not a hard task for me. They are ready to go.”

The Mavericks earned their No. 1 ranking by scoring 41.8 points per game with 459.7 yards per game. Defensively, they allow 18.8 points per game and 304.5 yards per game.

“Well, they are big and physical,” Aldrich said. “Obviously, they have a big O-line like a lot of the teams we have faced do. They have 6-foot-5 (Shane Zylstra), 6-foot-6 (Jalen Sample) wide receivers. Tight ends are 260-270 pounds (Tyler Schmidt and Trevor Nissen). Very athletic offensive linemen. A big running back (Nate Gunn). Their quarterbacks (Ryan Schlichte and JD Ekowa) are kind of a two-headed monster. They both can run really well, but they like one to run more than the other. Defensively, I wouldn’t say pretty simple, but pretty vanilla. They just have really good athletes that have been running their thing, so they know how to fit everything the right way. And they just try to outmuscle you up front.”

Along with size and athleticism, the Mavericks also have experience.

“They have a lot of juniors and seniors, a lot of experienced guys with some of them having 40-plus games under their belts,” Minot State junior running back Lane Torgerson said. “They play a lot of tough games in the playoffs, which just builds their experience and makes them a well-rounded team… The more experience you have, the more you see and have knowledge of certain situations. Then, you will know what to do.”

Torgerson, a former wide receiver still wearing a wideout number in No. 83, was moved into the backfield at the start of the season out of necessity and stuck with his new role.

“We were low on running back numbers and the coaches came up to me and asked if I would be willing to take some reps at running back,” Torgerson said. “At first, it was just going to be a just in case thing, and then numbers got real low. So, they permanently moved me and it has been a good transition. (Freshman running back) Lee Webb has really helped me. Coach (Isaiah) Sexton, coach (Shane) LaDage and all the offensive coaches really helped me with that transition.”

The Beavers’ running game is averaging 115.3 yards per game this season. It’s still a work in progress.

“We know what we get out of Lane (Torgerson),” Aldrich said. “He is smart and does the right things. We now have seen Lee Webb the last couple of games start to get better, as he increases in game time and confidence. That’s going to help. Obviously, Ben (Bolinske) in the running game is pretty vital to us as well. It’s getting there. It’s by no means to the point where we would say that’s our finished product and be happy with it. We got a lot of work to do.”

Sophomore quarterback Bolinske is Minot State’s leading rusher with 50.7 yards per game. In the passing game, Bolinske is completing 55.5 percent of his passes for 123.2 yards per game.

Defensively, Minot State wants to get back to forcing turnovers.

“For us, we just have to focus on ourselves,” Aldrich said. “Take our opportunities. If we can get back to the turnover game, which has been non-existent for us the last couple of weeks in creating them, and maybe see if that can help keep us in the game a little bit.”

Injuries on the defensive line with Logan Krueger and Matthew Cole also hasn’t helped the Beavers.

“We are still banged up a little bit on the D-line,” Aldrich said. “We are playing more of 3-4 style defense where we have our linebackers holding the edge for us. We are just trying to get through it. Hopefully, we can get those guys back soon. Probably doesn’t look like it is going to happen this week. We don’t want to rush it, just for the sake of rushing it.”

Experience Minot State can draw from in the defense is senior Kywan Owens roaming the secondary. Since being inserted into the starting lineup at free safety, Owens is averaging 8.3 tackles over the last three games.

“It’s been alright, but not where I wanted to be at,” Owens said about his season so far. “But, every time I get into the game or whenever I play, I just want to do my best. I try to give it my all for my team. Just make plays, be a playmaker.”

Multiple Minot State playmakers will be needed to slow down Mankato.

Kickoff at Blakeslee Stadium is set for 1 p.m. this afternoon.

Alex Eisen covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.