FARGO — A casual observer walking by the North Dakota State practice softball fields may have noticed something unusual on Friday morning, Aug, 23. There were three students kicking footballs on the infield dirt.

It turns out they were Bison football kickers, the real McCoys, practicing their craft.

“I’m sure if somebody were to see us over there they would question it for sure,” said NDSU punter Garret Wegner.

Wegner also doubles as the holder on field goals and extra points and the Bison special teams units were using the softball fields as a way to prepare for next Saturday’s opener against Butler at Target Field in Minneapolis.

Most of the Minnesota Twins dirt baseball infield will be part of the football field setup. And that’s fine with sophomore Jake Reinholz, who will get the starting nod as the Bison kicker replacing four-year starter Cam Pedersen.

The Fargo Shanley graduate has kicked off of dirt infields before when the Deacons played some smaller-town teams that had a combined baseball and football stadium.

“Maple Valley-Enderlin, that kind of thing,” Reinholz said. “I’m used to it.”

Reinholz, Wegner, long snapper Ross Kennelly and backup freshmen kickers Griffin Crosa and Will Cardinal worked on the Bison infield on Friday. It was the fourth time for Wegner and the three kickers, who went over to the softball field for about a half hour each day before practice.

The sand was too soft the first day, so the athletic department brought in some rollers to packed it down.

“We’re expecting to see a pretty hard surface at Target Field so that’s what we’re getting used to,” Reinholz said.

The crew is expecting to go to the softball fields every day next week. Reinholz says he’ll still use his regular cleats against Butler, but footing could come into play.

“It’s just very short, your foot slips a little bit,” he said. “The cleats don’t really dig into the dirt as much so when you’re taking a kickoff or a field goal, it’s going to affect you a little bit.”

Extra points on the south end zone at Target Field will take place on the baseline between first and second base. The north end zone won’t be an issue since kicks there will take place in the Twins outfield.

Wegner said taking a snap on dirt puts more of a premium on being perfect with a hold.

“It’s definitely a slicker surface than grass, there’s a lot less give on the sand so you have to be spot-on with your holds,” he said. “But I don’t think it will be a huge issue for us.”

Just getting back into game mode is what next week is all about, Wegner said. He said it’s been a long off-season since NDSU defeated Eastern Washington in the Division I FCS national title game last January.

“Just the crowd,” Reinholz said of Target Field, which will carry a capacity of about 38,000 for the game. “It will be so great to see all the fans travel down there. It’s going to be a new venue, it’s going to be loud, it’s going to be exciting and we’re ready to kick off the new season.”

Even if that kick is on dirt.