“The spring game gives you a pretty good idea of what you have to work with,” said MSU head football coach Ian Shields after the game. “We might have a couple of fall transfers and you can be surprised by the ability of a high school player in the first season, but typically, the core of your team is here for spring ball.”

In the game, two quarterbacks highlighted their skills and abilities for the Beavers offense. Freshman Chris Calhoon II wore No. 15 and showed his dual athlete capabilities with rushing attempts being the more successful of the run / pass options. Sophomore Matthew Donovan, wearing No. 16, threw a touchdown pass and had one longer run off the option in particular that had teammates on the sideline chirping praise for the surprising game time speed he showcased.

The spread option offense used by MSU typically will produce running success. The running game, with players like senior Evan Lovett, redshirt freshman AJ Jones and even redshirt freshman – and local ball carrier from Minot High – Camden Backman, chomped up yards in the ground game.

Offensive play design used in the spread offense forces defenses to assign a player for the dive running back, another for the quarterback and a third for the pitch back on each side of the formation. This brings as many defenders into the “box’ and requires them to read the play before reacting. That delay in reaction creates the opportunity for more creative plays.

An example of creative play design is using non-typical players in the running game. Some of the bigger chunks of yardage were acquired by MSU players with some very specific rushing calls that mirrored the attitude of the San Francisco 49ers and Debo Samuel. The six-foot, 215-pound player is listed as a wide receiver, but has 160 rushing attempts compared to the 283 receiving attempts over a five year career with 19 touchdowns in each category.

An example of this was a reverse play off of the spread option called to the right of the formation that resulted in a very productive run by freshman wide receiver Eli Singleton that looked almost identical to several plays by Samual the NFL wide receiver.

“We were encouraged by the effort and physical play on both sides of the ball,” said Shields. “It is beginning to be a part of our team DNA to be tough.”

The defensive forced and recovered two fumbles, intercepted the ball once as well as several hurries on the quarterbacks in the passing game. The defense was stellar on the base plays run by the offense in the spread option.

“The defense did a stellar job of forcing turnovers,” said Shields. “That will be a serious focus going forward for the offensive skill players – ball security will be a focal point going forward.”

The players have a much needed break from the hours of practice as they prepare for the last couple of weeks of classes and a week of finals before summer break. The Beavers goal is to maintain a team 3.0 grade point average each session of school. So far that goal has been met by the athletes.

The spring practice and spring game were a highlight opportunity for MSU as their ‘Junior Day’ took place between Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13 where 60 juniors from the North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana and Iowa areas were in Minot with their parents and family friends to take in the Red and Green game as part of the recruiting process.

“We encourage the players to take some time to rejuvenate,” said Shields. “We will see most of the players back in July and start working with strength and conditioning programs as well as player-led sessions of practice.”

Fall camp will begin in August for all incoming freshmen as well as any transfer students in addition to returning players.