The two most important items on Northern Colorado coach Kay Dalton’s list of things to take to Brookings, S.D., today are running back Andre Wilson and a big parka.
Dalton’s Bears (4-5, 0-3) will be hunting for their first Great West Conference victory of the season at South Dakota State (5-5, 2-2) on Saturday in the only uncovered stadium in the state.
“They tell me it’s going to be a nice day, but up there, they think anything over 32 degrees is a nice day,” Dalton said.
Other than that, said the coach, his biggest concern is the return of his star rusher from a high ankle sprain that forced him to miss the past two games. UNC is coming off a 24-3 victory over Sam Houston State.
“We’ve got play the same defense we played last week and get our running game going better,” Dalton said. “Their defense is really sound and our running game hasn’t been what I want it to be without Andre in there. If we can run the ball and protect the quarterback, I like our chances.”
With Wilson, the Bears have the nation’s leading rusher in Division I-AA, averaging 139.1 yards a game. Wilson had rushed for 100 or more yards in six consecutive games before suffering the injury against Fort Lewis. He’s eager to get back on the field.
“It’s feeling pretty good,” Wilson said. “I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to go. We need to win these last two games to have a winning season, so I need to get in there and get my job back.”
The Bears finish the season at Cal-Davis in their final conference game next Saturday.
South Dakota State beat the Bears 14-7 in Greeley last year. The Jackrabbits are coming off a 41-17 loss at North Dakota State (7-3, 3-2).
Joseph Sanchez can be reached at 303-820-5458 or jsanchez@denverpost.com.
