Players and coaches ready themselves for the bout in Fargo knowing the challenge ahead

UND vs. NDSU has always been an interesting rivalry. The two teams have not played football for twelve years, yet most students have quite a bit of animosity towards the other school.

“Well, if our players and coaches haven’t heard 18,000 people booing at you,” UND coach Bubba Schweigert said. “I think we’re gonna get that and that is going to be part of that environment.”

The last time the two schools met, UND knocked off NDSU at the Alerus Center in overtime, 28-21, giving the Green and White a 62-45-3 record over their rivals from Fargo.

Since then though, the two football programs have gone in completely different directions. NDSU made waves as an FCS school, as the Bison beat multiple FBS programs and went on to win four consecutive championship from 2011-14. UND on the other hand has not had such luck. The Green and White had solid moments, but also struggled at times without finding much of an identity like it had in the early 2000’s.

Now with some stability, UND seems to be coming into an identity of hardnosed defensive team in Bubba Schweigert’s second year has head coach.

That identity has translated well on the field in the early moments of this season. While some people would have believed just the opposite, UND comes into the contest undefeated against a 1-1 NDSU squad.

“We just expect to win and perform to the best of our abilities…” UND captain Will Ratelle said. “And while we did not do that in the second half of last game, but that week’s over, it’s a new week and we are looking forward to this game now.”

While UND’s victory over Drake during the Potato Bowl last week was marred by the poor way they finished, the Green and White did a lot of good things on both sides of the ball.

UND quarterback Keaton Studsrud had one of his best games of his young career. The sophomore threw for three touchdowns, 19-30 and 260 yards.

Studsrud may have struggled in the second half, but did enough to garner his first award of his career; The Big Sky ROOTS SPORTS offensive player of the week.

The offense has been clicking much better than it did last season, but the defense is just doing what it does best; beating up on opposing offenses.

UND has held opponents to a measly 63 yards rushing, an average of 1.6 yards per carry and one touchdown in the first two games.

This is good news for Green and White faithful as NDSU makes its living running the ball, led by King Frazier, Chase Morlock and quarterback Carson Wentz. The three have accounted for 390 yards rushing and two touchdowns to start the year and will be charging right at the teeth of UND’s staunch rushing defense.

“They will challenge us. They are going to be the best opponent at running the football and they are very skilled.” Schweigert said. “They run the ball with their quarterback, who is a very good player and that adds another dimension to it so it is going to be a big challenge to us but the big thing we are looking for is are we going to take on the challenge and play with that extra effort and bite, scratch, and claw.”

The Green and White knows it has a challenge this Saturday but they also know they have the improved tools to take on that challenge.

UND renews this heated in state rivalry in Fargo at 2:30 P.M. this Saturday.

Alex Stadnik is the sports editor for The Dakota Student. He can be reached t [email protected]