The Game
Old NCC rivals South Dakota and North Dakota meet as MVFC rivals for the first time Thursday when the 20^th-ranked Coyotes (1-0) take on the fourth-ranked Fighting Hawks (2-0) at 5 p.m. inside the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It is the first meeting between the two teams since 2017 when South Dakota topped North Dakota 45-7 in what was another battle of top-25 teams. One year earlier, it was North Dakota that overcame a 20-point, second half deficit to win 47-44 in double overtime in Grand Forks.
 
The Series
It will pain Coyote fans to hear this, but South Dakota hasn't won in Grand Forks since 1985. North Dakota has won all 13 meetings since. In addition to their comeback in 2016, the Fighting Hawks overcame a 20-point, fourth quarter deficit in the previous meeting in Grand Forks in 2011. A blocked extra point turned out to be the difference in that one.
 
Overall, UND leads 62-30-5. The teams first met in 1903. The programs met every year for 66 consecutive seasons from 1946-2011.
 
The Turnovers
South Dakota forced seven turnovers in its season-opening win at Illinois State. North Dakota has forced eight turnovers and committed just one through its first two weeks of the season. The Fighting Hawks have also faked a punt to success and blocked a punt to success.
 
The Linemen
South Dakota and North Dakota are both bringing back their entire offensive line from last season. The Fighting Hawks have relied on the unit to the tune of 203 yards rushing per game thus far, and have yet to surrender a sack. The Coyotes are certainly looking to get more than the 79 rushing yards they posted against Illinois State, though the Fighting Hawk defense has been more susceptible through the air. UND's first two foes – Southern Illinois and SDSU – averaged 271 yards passing and 93 yards rushing.
 
USD left guard Mason Scheidegger did not compete in week one, but coach Bob Nielson said Tuesday that he has been cleared to play in this one.
 
The Quarterbacks
What will we learn about the young Carson Camp in week two? He accounted for all three touchdowns and all but 59 yards in the opener. Camp, of course, became the first true freshman quarterback to start at game for the Coyotes since 1999. His counterpart in this one is Tommy Schuster, a redshirt freshman who saw action in three games a year ago. Schuster has completed 35-of-55 passes for 302 yards, four scores and one interceptions in two starts this season.
 
The Defense
Linebacker Jack Cochrane just picked up his 200^th career tackle is a returning all-Valley honoree at the center of the Coyotes' defense. In week one, it was the pressure up front by tackle DeValon Whitcomb and rush backer Jacob Matthew who set the tone while linebacker Brock Mogensen gobbled up tackles. True freshmen cornerback Myles Harden and both safeties – Elijah Reed and Isaiah McDaniels – came away with interceptions.
 
North has four interceptions, seven sacks and four fumble recoveries through two games. Redshirt freshman linebacker Josh Navratil has 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks to lead the team. Senior defensive back Jordan Canady (11 tackles, 1 INT) and senior linebacker Jaxson Turner (6 tackles, 1 sack) are preseason all-MVFC picks.
 
One Last Thing
Coach Bob Nielson is in his fifth season with the Coyotes. Coach Bubba Schweigert is in his seventh season with the Fighting Hawks. Nielson, the athletic director at Division II Minnesota-Duluth at the time, hired Schweigert to be the Bulldogs' football coach in 2014. It was Schweigert's first head coaching job following 15 seasons as an assistant coach at North Dakota. Schweigert left Duluth after the 2007 season to be the defensive coordinator at Southern Illinois. Nielson hired himself to return to head football coach for the Bulldogs and immediately led them to the first of two undefeated national titles.