Who and what to watch in Northern State University football opener against Upper Iowa
Every season opener is filled with unknowns.
But when Northern State University takes the field against Upper Iowa tonight at Dacotah Bank Field, there will be more than the usual number of questions to answer.
That's because the Peacocks have a lot of new players and coaches, said Northern State head coach Mike Schmidt. Many players from Upper Iowa's two-deep from last year are no longer with the team, he said.
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With all the changes and no game film, it's tricky to game plan, Schmidt said.
That means the Wolves need to dictate the pace of the game, execute what they want to do and adjust on the fly, he said.
Michael Bonds will start at quarterback
Schmidt said grad student Michal Bonds will start at quarterback for the Wolves after a three-man competition to replace Hunter Trautman. Redshirt sophomore Will Madler will also likely play in certain situations, Schmidt said.
Bonds, Northern's backup last season, had a great fall camp, took care of the football and was efficient, Schmidt said.
Who else to watch for Northern State
Schmidt said wide receiver Dominick Fiscelli is a player to watch when the Wolves have the ball. Fiscelli, a senior, is new to the Northern program and had a great camp, the coach said.
Fiscelli, who previously played at Saginaw Valley State in Michigan, will be a key for the Northern offense, Schmidt said.
On defense, Ian Marshall, a 6-foot-1, 270-pound lineman, is going to be one of the best NCAA Division II linemen in the country, Schmidt said. Marshall transferred to Northern from Oklahoma State.
Schmidt said stopping the Peacocks' running game will be key. The defense will have to control the line of scrimmage and stop the run while the Northern offense settles in, he said. He wants to force Upper Iowa to use its passing game.
What to know about Upper Iowa
Last season, the Peacocks finished 1-10, with their only win coming against Wayne State. Willy Camacho and RJ Knaack were named as players to watch this season by Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference coaches.
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Camacho, a sophomore running back, ran for 663 yards and one touchdown on 150 attempts last season. He caught 24 passes for 198 yards and a score and returned 18 kicks for 335 yards, including a 71-yard return.
Camacho rushed for 138 yards against the Wolves last season in Fayette, Iowa, but Northern State took home a 40-22 victory. Still, that performance isn't lost on Schmidt, who knows the Northern defense needs to improve this fall.
Knaack is a 6-foot, 210-pound senior linebacker. He appeared in all 11 games last season, recording 28 tackles, including 18 solo tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Eddy Gosche, an All-NSIC South Division Second Team selection, is back on the offensive line. Quarterback Marcus Orr is also back for an Upper Iowa team that averaged 331.5 yards per game last season.
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Jason Hoskins is in his third year as head coach for the Peacocks. Tim Morrison has been promoted to offensive coordinator and will add wrinkles while Hoskins is more involved with the defense, Schmidt said.
Upper Iowa's special teams will be a key because it's hard to know what to expect with so many new players, Schmidt said.
Ticket information and how to watch Northern State/Upper Iowa game
Advance tickets are available online at nsuwolves.universitytickets.com.
Senior and youth tickets are only available for purchase on game days. Game day ticket sales will be at the main gate at the northwest corner of the stadium and in the south hallway of the Barnett Center.
The game will also be streamed on https://nsicnetwork.com/.
Pregame concert begins at 3:30 p.m.
Before kickoff, fans can enjoy a concert by Nashvegas All Stars, a traveling ensemble of Nashville recording artists. The free concert begins at 3:30 p.m. at the south tailgate area of the stadium. It is sponsored by Lamont Companies and the NSU Foundation.
Fans are encouraged to wear white to the game as part of a "whiteout."
This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Northern State aims to slow Upper Iowa running game in football opener
