Midlands football capsules

UNK at Mesa State
• When/where: 2 p.m., Grand Junction, Colo.
• Records: No. 8 UNK 9-1, 8-0 RMAC; MSC 5-5, 5-3 RMAC
• Player to Watch: UNK RB Rustin Dring is averaging 131 yards per game and is looking to produce his fifth straight game of 100 yards or more. Mesa is among the league leaders in stopping the run, allowing just 76 yards per game.
• Outlook: UNK can win the RMAC title outright by beating Mesa State for the 15th time in 18 all-time meetings. The Mavericks have dropped two straight and are struggling on offense; they will face a Loper defense that has allowed just 26 points the past two weeks. A Loper win would also give the team a home playoff game next week, likely against Saginaw Valley State of Michigan.

C. Missouri at NW Mo. State
• When/where: 1 p.m., Bearcat Stadium, Maryville, Mo.
• Records: No. 16 Central 8-2, 6-2 MIAA; No. 3 Northwest 9-1, 8-0 MIAA
• Player to Watch: Northwest receiver Jake Soy leads the nation with 19 touchdown receptions and is the third-leading scorer overall. RB LaRon Council has been named a regional finalist for the Harlon Hill Award.
• Outlook: Northwest’s seniors are striving for a perfect career record against MIAA opponents. They’re 35-0. Central Missouri needs a win to qualify for the NCAA playoffs. Northwest has won the last five meetings and 12 of the last 14 overall.

U. of Mary at Wayne State
• When/where: 1 p.m., Cunningham Field, Wayne, Neb.
• Records: Mary 5-5, 5-4 NSIC; Wayne 7-3, 6-3 NSIC
• Player to Watch: Wayne State senior WR Logan Masters, a regional finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, has one more catch than Northern State’s Brian Jark (203 to 202) for the all-time lead in NSIC games. Masters set an NCAA Division II record last week by making at least one catch in his 45th consecutive game (every game he has played in a Wildcat uniform).
• Outlook: The Wildcats look to close out the season with a win in the Egg Bowl Game for 16 seniors. Wayne State is 14-6 in Egg Bowl Games, including a 41-17 win over Concordia-St. Paul last year. Wayne State is 2-0 all-time against Mary, including last year’s 31-16 win in Bismarck, N.D.

Chadron St. at Western St.
• When/where: 1 p.m., Mountaineer Field, Gunnison, Colo.
• Records: Chadron State 6-4, 5-3 RMAC; Western State 3-7, 3-5 RMAC
• Player to Watch: WR Brandon Harrington needs 101 receiving yards to reach 2,000 in his career.
• Outlook: Chadron State is looking to end the season on a positive note at Western State after some early season struggles. The Eagles have won five of their past six games.

Nebraska Wesleyan at Doane
• When/where: 1 p.m, Simon Field, Crete, Neb.
• Records: Nebraska Wesleyan 5-3, 5-3 GPAC; Doane 2-7, 2-6 GPAC
• Player to Watch: NWU defensive end Cameron Kolling leads the GPAC in tackles for loss with 11.5. He will be playing against his younger brother this week: Clayton Kolling is a sophomore starting DE for Doane.
• Outlook: NWU of late has dominated the series between old rivals. The Prairie Wolves have won five straight and outscored the Tigers 88-7 the past three years. Wesleyan RB Kory Kahlandt needs just 65 yards to go over 1,000 and become the seventh player in NWU history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. He will face a Doane defense that ranks 11th in the GPAC at stopping the run, allowing 226.1 yards per game.

Peru State at Benedictine
• When/where: 1 p.m., Atchison, Kan.
• Records: Peru State 6-3; Benedictine College 4-5
• Player to Watch: Peru State’s Max Virus is leading the nation in interceptions with seven.
• Outlook: The Bobcats look to build on their six-game winning streak. Peru’s defense must control the Ravens’ multi-faceted offense as Bobcats QB Curtis Thompson aims to win time of possession.

Hastings Coll. at Concordia
• When/where: 1 p.m., Bulldog Stadium, Seward, Neb.
• Records: Concordia 3-6, 3-6 GPAC; Hastings College 7-2, 6-2 GPAC
• Player to Watch: Bronco WR/RB Maurice Mansfield has rushed for 576 yards and six scores. He also leads the team in receiving with 26 catches for 584 yards and four touchdowns.
• Outlook: Hastings is in the hunt for a playoff spot and must win to get in. The Bulldog defense may have trouble slowing a Hastings offense led by QB Troy Huebert and the talented WR/RB Maurice Mansfield. The Concordia offense will also have its hands full with a fast and physical Hastings defense.

Dana Coll. at Midland Luth.
• When/where: 1 p.m., Memorial Field, Fremont, Neb.
• Records: Dana 0-9, 0-8 GPAC; Midland 5-4, 5-3 GPAC
• Players to watch: Midland CB Chris Luly, with 13 interceptions, needs two more to set a school record. Dana WR Mark Schlueter has 61 catches for 813 yards and is closing in on a second straight 1,000-yard season. DB Ben Mezak has three interceptions.
• Outlook: Midland needs to eliminate mistakes and control the football. This is the Battle of the President’s Cup, a traveling trophy given to the winner of the game. Midland leads the series 2-1 after a 21-0 win in Blair last year.

Morningside at Briar Cliff
• When/where: 1 p.m., Sioux City, Iowa
• Records: No. 4 Morningside 8-0, 8-0 GPAC; Briar Cliff 3-6, 3-5 GPAC
• Players to watch: Morningside QB Tim Richard leads all college classifications in pass efficiency and has 25 TD passes. Jake Peterson leads the NAIA in rushing, and the defense allows just 10 points per game. The Charger defense, which is third-best in the GPAC in yards allowed, is led by Jarrod Makovicka, the league leader in tackles.

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