GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- After a needed week off, the University of North Dakota football team will set its sights on Cal Poly this Saturday in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
The key for UND will be its defense, which took some big hits in the injury department two weeks ago against Southern Utah. However, as it's been all season, this game is a chance for the young Fighting Sioux student-athletes to step up when asked to make a play.
Head coach Chris Mussman said some different looks and variations were worked into the defensive playbook. That may mean having redshirt freshman nose tackle Devin Benjamin (Minneapolis, Minn.) play a larger role, while usual starter Ty Boyle (International Falls, Minn.) move to the end. It may also mean having outside linebacker Ross Cochran (Kenosha, Wis.) play more or a hybrid role, putting his hand on the ground like an end on some plays.
Whatever the situation, Mussman said it still comes down to players making plays.
"If we can do those things for four quarters, I'll be satisfied," Mussman said, referring to limiting big plays and making plays in the secondary, "and I think we have a chance to win a football game."
Building off last year
Last year at the Alerus Center, UND stunned Cal Poly, then ranked No. 16 in the nation. UND was solid defensively and scored 14 unanswered points in the second half.
A key last year was UND's ability to control the line of scrimmage with its offensive and defensive lines. UND ran the ball well and limited Poly's option attack.
"I think there's a lot of confidence with our defensive staff having been in it the option days," Mussman said. The Sioux switched to a 3-4 defense in the early 1990s to deal with many teams in the North Central Conference that ran option offenses.
Controlling the lines once again, will be key on Saturday.
"At any given time, they can run multiple options and multiple looks at you," said senior defensive back Joel Schwenzfeier (Hallock, Minn.). "Everyone's got their rules, and you can't break down. That's what option football lives on."
Poly at home
After five games on the road, Cal Poly will host UND in its first home game since beating Montana 35-33 on Sept. 11. Mussman said he's sure the Mustangs will be excited to be back and home on Parent's Day, and UND needs to overcome that challenge.
Week off
The Saturday off also gave the Sioux a chance to mentally recharge. The team did some game planning last week for the Poly game. There was the more than the usual conditioning too. But there was also a chance for fun.
The team held some fun competitions last week after practices. Players from each position deemed with the "worst hands" became representives in a punt-catching competition. Another had each position and one team of coaches tossing eggs at varied distances.
While watching a teammate get hit with an egg launched from 40-yards away was fun, it also gave the team a chance to refocus its energy on this Saturday, where things like pride, tradition and intesity will lead the way to an even more fun victory.
