Kari Gibb/MDN The MSU offense breaks the huggle in action earlier this season. The Beavers will face the Wildcats in Wayne, Nebraska, on Saturday, October 4, in NSIC action.

The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) is at the halfway point with the downhill slope quickly approaching.

The scoring leader for the NSIC on both offense and defense is Minnesota, Duluth at a perfect 4-0, 5-0 on the season. What are the two teams facing each other in Wayne, Nebraska looking like in the standings?

Minot State University (MSU) 3-1, 4-1 on the season is eighth of the 13 teams in scoring offense. In the five games, the Beavers have scored 16 touchdowns and six field goals. The Wayne State College (WSC) 2-1, 3-1 football team has played one fewer game but scored 20 touchdowns with three field goals. The Wildcats are second in offensive scoring.

On the defensive scoring side of the page, MSU is at third with five games played and allowed only 13 touchdowns and two field goals this season. WSC is at seventh on the list with 11 touchdowns allowed and four field goals allowed in only four games this season.

The Wildcats are averaging just over 37-points per game. WSC is averaging 139 yard rushing per game and 205 yard passing per game. They have 126 rushing attempts and 109 passing attempts in an even offensive attack.

Those numbers have the Wildcats at seventh on rushing offense in the NSIC and seventh on passing offense.

Defensively, the Wildcats are allowing 175 yards rushing by opponents and 250 yards passing per game as well. The Wayne State College defense has tightened in the red zone and allows only 22 points per game thus far in the young season.

Those statistics have WSC at 12th in rushing defense and 11th in passing defense with the NSIC.

The Beavers sit in first place for the NCIS in rushing offense but last in passing offense. On the defensive side of the line of scrimmage, MSU is eighth on rushing defense- ahead of WSC and at sixth on passing defense- ahead of WSC as well.

Another statistical edge for the Beavers is in the turnover game. In interceptions, MSU is second in the NSIC at six with WSC in third with the same number. In fumbles forced, MSU is second with four fumbles forced while the Wildcats are fourth with three forced. In recovered fumbles, MSU leads the NSIC with five recovered while WSC is at sixth with two recovered.

The keys for a win over the Wildcats will come down to time of possession, a solid defensive effort in keeping the passing attack of Wayne State College under wraps. Causing turnovers and ensuring the lack of ‘Self Inflicted Negatives’ by the Minot State players are also keys for the road win and the chance for the Beavers to wreck the Wildcats Homecoming Game on Saturday.