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The time has come yet again for the Minot State Beavers football team to take the field.
The Beavers are entering this new season off a final record of three wins and eight losses..
Last season, the bulk of Minot State’s offense focused on their rushing game, and on the ground, the beavers were far and above ahead of their competition.
The Beavers finished the season with 3331 total yards gained on the ground, while allowing just 2048 yards from their opponents. The Beavers were averaging 287 rushing yards per game, while their opponents were averaging just 172.6 yards.
And though the Beavers were far ahead of the others on the ground, they had trouble keeping up in their air.
The Beavers averaged just 47.73 yards per game passing the ball, for a total of 525 yards over the course of the season.
Meanwhile, their opponents averaged 227.27 passing yards per game for a total of 2500 yards.
Heading into this new season, the Beavers have expanded their team. On National Signing Day alone, the Beavers signed 30 new players fo their team, including Christian Deadmond and Gabriel Mendez from Minot North and Jason Spain from Bishop Ryan.
The Beavers also have a number of new transfers making their way onto the team.
With all the new incoming freshmen and transfer, the Beavers will need strong leadership from their veteran players, and head coach Ian Shields feels they are up to task.
“We have a great group of leaders here in place right now,” head coach Ian Shields said in a release.
This year, the Beavers will kick off the new season against a familiar foe, the Emporia State Hornets.
The Beavers and the Hornets have played just once before, facing off against each other for last year’s season opener.
Last season, the Hornets took home the win over the Beavers, finishing 27-7.
Their first game against a familiar opponent with work as a good litmus test for the Beavers’ new team.
“It’s time to go put on a different color jersey and find out some more about ourselves playing a really quality opponent,” Coach Shields said.
The Beavers’ first game of the season will kick off on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. at Herb Parker Stadium.