Following a huge conference win at Idaho State, the North Dakota football team (2-3 overall, 1-1 Big Sky Conference) will return to Grand Forks this weekend for a the Homecoming Game against the No. 6 ranked Eastern Washington Eagles.

The game will be the first for the Eagles in Grand Forks and just their second match against the Green and White. UND and EWU’s first contest as Big Sky opponents was taken by the Eagles last year in Cheney, Wash., 55-17.

Eastern Washington will be the fourth straight nationally ranked opponent for North Dakota in the Alerus Center and the second consecutive defending co-Big Sky champion the Green and White will face — Montana State was the previous. UND is winless against Big Sky opponents at home this season.

“We need to play better,” UND coach Chris Mussman said. “No ifs ands or buts about it.”

Senior wide receiver Greg Hardin has cemented his legacy in North Dakota football after passing former standout receiver Weston Dressler for the UND all-time receiving yards record. In his three years at North Dakota, Hardin has amassed 2,972 receiving yards, a figure that is third overall among active players in the NCAA’s FCS division. He  has also racked up 29 touchdown receptions, ranking him first overall in the FCS, and holds the eighth overall spot in the FCS with 4,143 all-purpose yards.

Hardin has hauled in 25 passes for 542 yards this season and comes off a 126-receiving-yard performance against Idaho State from last Saturday and will look to connect with UND’s newly official starting quarterback — freshman Joe Mollberg. Mollberg has completed 66 of 108 passes on his rookie campaign for 871 passing yards along with five TD passes while yielding six interceptions.

Mollberg will be backed up by fellow freshman Ryan Bartels, who has gone 23 for 36 with 390 yards and two TD passes. Mollberg and Bartels had been sharing snaps up until just prior to last week’s game against Idaho State, when Mussman named Mollberg the full time starter.

Wide receiver Kenny Golladay also will provide a deadly option in the air for Mollberg against the Eagles, as he has caught 25 passes on the 2013 campaign for 356 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior running back Jake Miller will lead North Dakota’s ground offense after scoring five rushing touchdowns this season off of 67 attempts for 344 yards. Miller is complemented in the backfield by Jer Garman, who has picked up 123 yards on the ground, and Adam Shaugabay, who has scored four rushing touchdowns so far.

Eastern Washington will enter the game with a fearsome passing game that has led all Big Sky opponents this season with an offense that has averaged 332.6 yards in the air per contest.  North Dakota’s defense was able to limit the Eagles in 2012 to a season-low 168 passing yards, a feat that the Green and White secondary will look to repeat in 2013.

North Dakota’s Homecoming kickoff is slated for 2:35 p.m. Saturday in the Alerus Center. Fans without cable can watch the game online at www.WatchBigSky.com.

David Butz is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. He can be reached at david.butz@my.und.edu