The UND football team battles at the Alerus Center earlier this season against Robert Morris. Photo by Nicholas Nelson/The Dakota Student.

The UND football team looks to return to its winning ways this weekend when it hosts Stony Brook.

The 1-2 Seawolves return to UND in hopes of claiming revenge over a 31-24 loss against the Green and White at the Alerus Center in 2009.

In three games, Stony Brook’s John Kinder and Conor Bednarski have seen time under center. Neither have thrown for more than 200 yards this season and both have a completion percentage under 50 percent.

UND’s focus this weekend is on defense. Through three games, it has seen 13 touchdowns scored against it with a relinquishing 121 rushing yards per game.

The team’s linebacker core has had an impressive start to the season, including junior Will Ratelle, who leads the team with 33 tackles.

North Dakota has claimed six fumbles in three games — an improvement from last season’s four during the entire season. But consistency still remains the key.

UND’s offense has shown sparks of productivity this season. In last week’s game, the offense was shutout, only recording 166 yards of total offense.

For an offense that has only scored two touchdowns, it will need to score often this weekend against a Stony Brook defense that has not allowed an offense more than 240 yards in a game this season.

Sophomore quarterback Joe Mollberg has notched 351 passing yards, and UND coach Bubba Schweigert sees this weekend as a challenge that will build on his abilities.

Saturday evening’s 6 p.m. kickoff will be the test of UND’s competence to carry through.

“Joe’s our starter, and the challenge is that Stony Brook is very good at defense,” Schweigert said. “That’s going to be a real challenge for our guys, but we’ll lay it out for them, and I’m sure we will have a good plan.

“Playing physical is a must this week. It’s going to be a much more physical game and we can’t allow the big plays to happen.”

Kyle Beauchamp is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. He can be reached at [email protected].