Kari Gibb/MDN MSU senior Erik Palmquist (22) leads the team in yards per rush with 8.2 and is second with touchdowns scored with two for the year.

With two games under their belts, the Minot State University (MSU) football team is off and running- figuratively and literally.

Most sports in today’s age use statistical data to find areas of strength and look for ways to improve performance, both as a team and as individual players. While the numbers will be reviewed by all, there is one stat that jumps off the page after two games.

MSU has lost 14 yards under the category of tackles for loss and the Beavers have attacked their opponents with tackles for loss for 34 yards. That stat speaks volumes.

There will not be a team this season that is unaware of the running attack that MSU puts on the field. In two games, the Beavers have 618 total net yards on the ground. The offense averages 5.8 yards per rushing attempt and the team has seven touchdowns on the ground, with four of those by junior quarterback Carson Chrisman.

MSU has lost 14 yards, and eight of those were on one play. The quarterback has four of the seven offensive touchdowns. Everyone knows the Beavers will run the ball. The message is loud and clear after two games.

Everyone, from the offensive line, running backs and receivers are of one mind and effort on offense – MSU dares anyone to stop their running game.

It starts up front with the big men on the offensive line. Their play has kept the push moving forward and kept the defensive linemen and initial linebacking group from making plays at or behind the line of scrimmage for losses.

The fact that the quarterback has more than half of the offensive scores shows the commitment by the wide receivers in downfield blocking to free the spread option attack to succeed.

With the spread option, the fullback is the first option. With the Beavers, that would be senior Evan Lovett. Lovett has a team high in attempts with 34 and top marks in yardage with 176 for a 5.2 yard average and one touchdown as the dive option. That success reflects the push by the line at the point of attack as well as the load that Lovett brings.

In the spread option, the quarterback is the second option. This is reflected by Chrisman’s 167 yards in the two games on 21 carries. His average of 8 yards per attempt is second only to the third option, the pitch to the slot, wing or halfback in the system. The leader of that group is senior Erik Palmquist who has 12 attempts and 98 yards for an 8.2 yards per attempt average with two touchdowns.

MSU has attempted 106 rushing plays. Take out the one that had a loss for eight yards, and in 105 attempts the Beavers have lost 6 yards, recorded 618 yards and seven scores. Not bad for a team that will face extra defenders in the ‘box’ to stop that attack.

The second message that the statistical data is sending is that the MSU defense will attack non stop for the entire game.

In game two on the road in Minnesota, the Beavers defense scored four touchdowns- two by Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Defensive Player of the Week, freshman Nalu Cordeiro. His two interceptions returned for touchdowns set the tone for the efforts by MSU defenders early and often.

Another stat that shows the defensive commitment is the amount of times opponents have made it into the ‘red zone’ against the Beavers. In two games, the opposition has been to the red zone only three times. Opposing teams have only 30 first downs in two games- 14 by passing and one on penalty. The defense will stop the run and force the other team into throwing the ball, looking for turnovers in the process.

MSU has recorded six interceptions and 15 tackles for loss for 35 yards in the wrong direction for opposing offenses.

Two additional stats also are of interest.

MSU has three penalties for 35 yards while opponents have 12 penalties for 108 yards. The discipline shown by the Beavers is evident in the performance by both offense, defense as well as the kicking game is reflected in the numbers. The unity of the team is evident in the minimizing of mistakes on the field.

A final stat that will be discussed by many, including teams on the schedule is this one; seven passing attempts, three completions for 32 total yards in two games.

At some point in the season, the Beavers will need to use a passing attack to move the ball. Until another team can stop the MSU ground game, those passing stats will continue to show the dominance of the spread option rushing attack.

Will this week’s homecoming guests be the team to force the Beavers to throw the ball?

The Northern State University (NSU) Wolves are 0-1, 0-2 heading to Minot. They lost the season opening game to South Dakota, who is ranked at number five in the polls, 45-3 and lost in week two to Sioux Falls 34-10 last week.

The Wolves allowed 20 first downs in week one, 15 on the ground and four in the air with one by penalty. NSU allowed 266 rushing yards on 38 attempts and four rushing touchdowns. In game two, NSU allowed 188 rushing yards on 43 attempts and another four rushing touchdowns.

Those numbers seem to be good news for MSU. Last season, NSU was 1-4 headed into a home game with the Beavers and posted a 46-9 win in the first week of October. The Wolves held MSU to 71 yards rushing on 51 attempts and 141 yards passing on three completions in eight attempts. The Wolves rushing attack netted 217 yards in last year’s contest with the Beavers and NSU was 13-14 in the air for 158 yards.

Neither team is the same this year as last. Look for the MSU line to take control and the defense to limit red zone opportunities for NSU. The numbers don’t lie. It should be a competitive game that will tell more about the team’s future in NSIC play.