BILLINGS, Mont.- The Battlin' Bears return from a bye week seeking their second divisional win as they take on Dickinson State on Saturday afternoon.

Matchup

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Rocky Mountain College (2-3, 1-0 conf.) vs Dickinson State (3-4, 2-0 conf.)
Dickinson, N.D.
1:00 pm (MT) 

Preview

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On the Road Again
Fresh off a bye week, the Battlin' Bears look to secure their second divisional victory when they visit Dickinson State on Saturday afternoon. Rocky has won four of the last five matchups between the two programs dating back to 2018.

Player of the Week
Wide receiver Javonte King earned Rocky's first Frontier Conference Player of the Week honor of the season following his standout performance in the Battlin' Bears' 31-24 victory over Valley City State in the East Division opener. King doubled his season receiving yardage in a single game, hauling in nine receptions for 130 yards and three key touchdowns, including the game-winner with just 19 seconds remaining. The 6-foot-5 junior recorded two catches of 40-plus yards, marking the team's two longest receptions of the season.

Protect The Rock
A key narrative in Saturday's showdown centers on ball security. The Battlin' Bears have excelled at protecting the football, ranking in the top 20 in the NAIA with just seven turnovers this season. Conversely, Dickinson State also ranks in the NAIA top 20 in takeaways, with eight interceptions and six fumble recoveries.

Scouting the Blue Hawks 
After a tough 1-4 start, Dickinson State enters the weekend with momentum from back-to-back victories, most recently upsetting No. 23-ranked Dakota State on the road. Rocky and Dickinson State share three common opponents so far this season as the Blue Hawks fell to both Montana Western and Valley City State, teams Rocky defeated, while both squads suffered losses against Carroll College.

Statistical parity defines the offensive comparison. Rocky and Dickinson State feature nearly identical averages in passing (160 to 154 yards per game), rushing (136 to 134 yards per game), and scoring (21.0 to 21.5 points per game). Dual-threat quarterback Hudsen Grovom sparks the Blue Hawks' attack, leading the team in both passing (145.0 yards per game) and rushing (47.3 yards per game) while distributing the ball to four different receivers with at least 10 catches on the year.

Defensively, Dickinson State excels at forcing mistakes, with six different players recording an interception. Defensive back Ryan Racht leads the unit with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. After allowing 31.0 points per game through their first five contests, the Blue Hawks' defense has locked down in divisional action, surrendering just 12.5 points per game and yielding zero passing touchdowns across their past two victories.