NSIC Players of the Week
POW HIGHLIGHTS

Jack Nelson put on a spectacular show, setting Winona State freshmen records for passing yards (347) and touchdown passes (5) in the Warriors’ 45-41 victory over Wayne State. Nelson completed 21 of 28 passes (75 percent) on the day, hitting nine different receivers. His 347 passing yards broke the school’s freshman record that Nelson had set two weeks ago against Upper Iowa. His five touchdown passes are just one off the school record and is his fourth game with at least three TDs this year. Nelson’s final touchdown pass was his best, hitting Chichi Ojika out of the backfield for a 65-yard touchdown with under a minute remaining to lift WSU to the victory. Nelson also rushed for a touchdown, playing a hand in all six of Winona State’s touchdowns on the day

Bryan Keys registered seven tackle from his defensive tackle position in No. 1 Minnesota State’s  win over Southwest Minnesota State. Keys added a team-high 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. On top of that, he also posted his first interception of the season and returned it 17 yards to the SMSU nine yard line. The Minnesota State defense tallied six interceptions against the Mustangs, which is the most interceptions by the Mavericks in a game dating back to the 1997 season. The Mavericks also head the Mustangs Tyler Tonderum – last week’s leading rushing in Division II – to a season-low 61 yards rushing on 19 carries.

Tyler Ryan connected on both his field goal attempts and downed five punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line in a 20-13 loss to #25 St. Cloud State University. Ryan connected from 34 yards and 39 yards to keep the Marauders in the game. Last week’s NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week also averaged a league high 40.4 yards/punt on nine attempts with a long of 57. Helping to win the field position battles, SCSU was forced to start drives at the 17, 13, 11, 12 and 16 after Ryan punts.  Ryan is second in the NSIC with eight field goals and third in punting at 39.7 yards per attempt.

#2 Trey Heid (QB, 6-2, 188, RFr., Lakeville, Minn./North HS) had a breakout game in Augustana’s 35-6 homecoming win over Upper Iowa. Heidhad a hand in four of Augustana’s five touchdowns, throwing for a career-high three and rushing for one. Heid finished the game 13 of 22 passing with no interceptions and a career-high 232 yards. He also led the team in rushing with 43 yards on 11 attempts, including a 25-yard scamper and a touchdown. Heid completed four passes of 36-plus yards, including a 49-yard connection and a career-high 52-yard pass.
#8 Darren Niklason (WR, 6-1, 193, Sr., Brandon, S.D./Brandon Valley HS) caught five passes for a career-high 171 yards and two touchdowns. Niklason caught two long passes in the game, including a 39-yard reception and a career-long 52-yard reception.
#22 Anthony Tucker (DB, 6-1, 194, Sr., Indianola, Iowa/Indianola HS) led an Augustana defense that forced six Upper Iowa turnovers, the most since Augustana forced Winona State to six turnovers on Oct. 15, 2011. Tucker snagged his first career interception and finished the game with two picks while adding two tackles.
#42 Ben Skelly (LB, 6-1, 205, Jr., Lakeville, Minn./North HS) was all over the field against Upper Iowa picking up a career-high 15 tackles. Skelly finished the game with six solo tackles and nine assists while the Viking defense held Upper Iowa to just six points on the day. Skelly now leads Augustana on the season with 63 total tackles, including 30 solo and 3.0 tackles for loss.
#38 Justin Greenway (RB, 5-9, 202, So., Mitchell, S.D./Mitchell HS) started the scoring in the game and gave Augustana a big momentum swing late in the first half when he recovered a muffed punt in the end zone for a touchdown. Greenway was closing in on Upper Iowa punt returner Keaton Hosch when Hosch tried to block Greenway and came in contact with the ball. The ball rolled into the end zone where Greenway jumped on it for the score. The sophomore finished the game with two tackles on special teams and a fumble recovery.
 
Bemidji State
The Bemijdji State football team failed to score for the second time this season Oct. 19, as the Beavers fell at Northern State University by the score of 27-0. The setback dropped BSU’s record to 2-5 overall, with an 0-3 mark in NSIC North play. The Beavers trailed 16-0 at the half and were clearly out-played by the Wolves in all facets of the game. NSU led 11-3 in first downs, ran twice as many plays (44-22) and out-gained BSU 223-57. The league’s fourth-leading rusher entering the game, senior Avery Walker, was held to just 10 carries for 36 yards. Bemidji State has a tough match up to end an three-game skid, Oct. 26, as No. 9 University of Minnesota Duluth visits Bemidji, Minn. Not only is UMD (6-1; 6-1, 3-0 NSIC North) a top 10 team nationally, the Bulldogs have defeated BSU in 11-consecutive games. All-time, the Beavers are 10-41-1 against Minnesota Duluth. At home, BSU is 8-18-1, but have lost in its last five contests. The last time BSU defeated Minnesota Duluth was at home, 35-26, Oct. 23, 1999. The Beavers are 2-13 under head coach Jeff Tesch.

Concordia-St. Paul
Concordia-St. Paul dropped its seventh straight meeting against Sioux Falls on Saturday in a series that dates back to the early 1970’s and falls to 3-4 overall and 0-3 in NSIC South play … after starting the season 2-0 and ranked #25 in the country (D2football.com), Concordia has dropped four of its last five … this Saturday Concordia returns to the road with a 2-1 road record on the season to play at Wayne State for a 1 p.m. kickoff … Concordia is 8-6 all-time against the Wildcats heading into the 15th meeting in a series that started in 1999 when Concordia joined the NSIC and Division II … Wayne State won the last meeting 48-21 a year ago in St. Paul however Concordia has won two of the last three contests between the teams including the last trip to Wayne, Neb. in 2010 with 17-14 win … Concordia is 3-3 in six prior trips to Wayne State.
 Senior Ronald Zollicoffer had his first career 100-yard rushing game with 15 carries for 119 yards including a 43-yard touchdown as the Golden Bears rushed for 197 yards against the Cougars … freshman Bruce Russell had career-highs of 15 carries for 66 yards in his first extended action … sophomore Gabe Boyce led the team with 168 all-purpose yards including five catches for 54 yards and a 51-yard kickoff return among his six returns for 114 yards … junior Tom Obarski punted for a career-high 329 yards matching a career-high nine punts for a 36.6 yard average, a long of 51 and two inside the 20.

University of Mary
Craig Bagnell (QB, 5-10, 185, Sr., Polson, Mont. / Polson) became the first University of Mary football player to throw for over 8,000 yards in his career. One week after setting the school mark, the senior signal caller pushed his career mark to 8,227 in a 20-13 loss to #25 St. Cloud State. Bagnell completed 31 of 53 passes for 264 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions against the Huskies. The touchdown pass was the 65th in his career, eight shy of the school record of 73... Jeremy Mayfield (WR, 5-9, 170, Sr., Stockton, Calif. / Franklin / San Joaquin CC) caught a career-high nine passes for 76 yards and one touchdown. His longest garb was 19 yards and his scoring strike covered 7 yards. Mayfield also returned one kickoff for 23 yards.
Troy Guptill (LB, 6-2, 225, Jr., Quinn, S.D. / Philip) spent all afternoon in the St. Cloud State backfield, sacking the quarterback three times and making four tackles for loss. He also had nine total tackles, including five solo stops. He tied his career-high for sacks and set a personal mark in tackles behind the line. The junior linebacker leads the Northern Sun in sacks (9.6), tackles for loss (15.5) and forced fumbles (3) and is 15th in total tackles (53).
Tyler Ryan (K-P, 5-10, 180, Sr., Mesa, Ariz. / Mesa) connected on both his field goal attempts and downed five punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line in a 20-13 loss to #25 St. Cloud State University. Ryan connected from 34 yards and 39 yards to keep the Marauders in the game. Last week’s NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week also averaged 40.4 yards/punt on nine attempts with a long of 57. Helping to win the field position battles, SCSU was forced to start drives at the visitor’s 17, 13, 11, 12 and 16 after Ryan punts. The first four spots came in the first half. Ryan is second in the NSIC with eight field goals and third in punting at 39.7 yards per attempt.

Minnesota Crookston
Talo Pascal (So., RB, Arlington, Texas) rushed for a career-high 132 yards on 33 carries as the Golden Eagles snapped a four-game losing streak against MSU Moorhead to capture the “Red River Valley Showdown” and the “State Farm Traveling Trophy”. Pascal was a force on the ground as he made the MSU Moorhead defense miss and used great footwork despite a muddy surface at Ed Widseth Field. This mark’s the second career 100 yard game for Pascal who came up big in the absence of fifth all-time leading rusher Keith McBride, out with a concussion. Pascal had a 12-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and what proved to be the game-winning touchdown reception on a 12-yard pass from Kyle Larson.
Tyler Hansen (Jr., DB, Morris, Minn.) is becoming the epitome of playmaker for the Golden Eagles this season as he came up with a huge interception late in the fourth quarter to ice a 20-14 victory over MSU Moorhead to capture the “Red River Valley Showdown” and the State Farm Traveling Trophy. Hansen had six tackles on the game with 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack along with the interception from the safety position. He also serves as the team punter and had six punts for 34.3 yards with one inside the 20.

Minnesota Duluth
UMD moved to 6-1 on the year by derailing Minot State 52-0 at James S. Malosky Stadium. The Bulldogs parlayed two fumble recoveries and a blocked punt into a 17-0 lead with just over four minutes gone into the opening quarter en route to posting its first shutout since the 30-0 decision over Bemidji State in 2012. UMD, which gave up 45 points and nearly 700 yards of total offense the previous week in  a win at  MSU Moorhead,  did a 180 defensively, holding Minot State to minus-35 yards on the ground and just 138 yards overall. The Bulldogs forced eight Beaver fumbles and recovered five of them. Junior tight end Taylor Grant, who transferred from the University of North Dakota this fall, had a pair of touchdown receptions (his first two as a Bulldog)and junior running back Austin Sikorski rushed for two more scores in the win -- UMD’s 43rd in its last 44 NSIC home games.  Senior wide out Joe Reichert finished with a game-high six pass catches after coming into the day having caught seven pass all year.
Since the NSIC instituted divisional play in 2008, the Bulldogs are a sizzling 32-2 against NSIC North Division foes with both of those two losses being inflicted by St. Cloud State on the road in 2012 (51-49) and 2011 (35-7). UMD is the reigning five-time defending NSIC North Division champion.
The Bulldogs have outscored the opposition 100-17 in the first quarter of play this season. They’ve allowed just two touchdowns  -- both of those coming at Wayne State on Sept. 28) -- and a field goal one week ago at Minnesota State-Moorhead during that stretch.
The Bulldogs will take their show on the road to Bemidji, Minn., this Saturday for a NSIC North Division engagement with Bemidji State. UMD has reeled off 11 straight victories over their long-time northern Minnesota rivals, including a 30-0 whitewash one year ago (Oct. 20) in Duluth.  That’s the Bulldogs’ second longest current win streak against any NSIC foe, bettered only by their 12-game run versus MSU Moorhead. The Beavers’ last triumph over the Bulldogs came on Oct. 23, 1999 (35-26 in Bemidji, Minn.). Beginning this Saturday, the Bulldogs will be away from home for three of their final four outings of the 2013 regular season.

Minnesota State
#8 Dennis Carter, WR, 5-10, 177, Sr., Brooklyn Park, Minn./Spring Lake Park Senior Dennis Carter posted 111 receiving yards and one touchdown in MSU’s 20-10 win over Augustana. His 111 receiving yards represents the first time this season he has posted at least 100 receiving yards in a game. He has now tallied at least 100 receiving yards in three games during his career at MSU. He caught a 53 yard touchdown pass with less than four minutes left in the game to give MSU the 20-10 lead.
#93 Chris Schaudt (DE, 6-4, 272, Sr., Slater, Iowa/Slater)recorded six tackles in the Mavericks 20-10 win over Augustana. He led the team with two tackles for loss (3 yards) and broke up one pass.
#18 Sam Brockshus, K, 5-11, 205, Sr., Spencer, Iowa/Spencer Senior Sam Brockshus went 2-of-2 in field goal attempts against Augustana with kicks from 22 and 21 yards out. He also went 2-o-2 in extra point attempts for a total of eight points on the day. He tallied five kickoffs during the game, four of which went for touchbacks.
With its 20-10 win over Augustana, MSU has now won 17 straight NSIC games dating back to week one of the 2012 season.
The Maverick defense posted two interceptions against the Vikings as Patrick Schmidt and Jordan Hale each posted one.
The Maverick defense held the Vikings to 176 yards of total offense and 11 first downs.
MSU rushed for 231 yards against Augustana, with Jon Wolf leading the way with 91 rushing yards and a touchdown.

MSU Moorhead
Zayne Medhaug (RB, 6-1, 203, So., Wahpeton, N.D. / Wahpeton HS) rushed for a career-high 135 yards on 19 carries in the Dragons’ 20-14 loss at Minnesota Crookston on Saturday. Medhaug averaged 7.1 yards per carry with a long of 38. He also caught three passes for 21 yards.
Chris Binford (CB, 5-7, 147, So., Artesia, Calif. / Valley Christian HS) recorded a career-high 13 tackles from his cornerback position in the Dragons’ 20-14 loss to Minnesota Crookston on Saturday. Binford finished the night with 10 solo tackles and three assists and also had a half-tackle for loss.  For the season Binford has 49 tackles, including 3.5 for loss.
Michael Schwichtenberg (P, 6-0, 215, Fr., West Bend, Wis. / West Bend West) had a solid day punting for MSUM during the Dragons’ 20-14 loss to Minnesota Crookston on Saturday. He averaged 36.6 yards per punt with a long of 54, and had three punts inside the 20.  For the season Schwichtenberg is averaging 35.0 yards per punt.

Minot State
Minot State University struggled to hold on to the ball against No. 9 University of Minnesota Duluth and the Bulldogs made the Beavers pay by the tune of 52-0 Saturday. #40 Chad Marshall (LB, 6-2, 234, Jr., Hazen, N.D. / Hazen High School) continued to have a stellar senior season with 12 tackles, a sack and a pass breakup in the loss. Marshall leads the Beavers with 66 tackles on the season, ranking him fourth overall in the NSIC. #34 Marcel Brinson (DB, 5-11, 195, So., Gilroy, Calif. / Palma High School) and #42 Casey Weinmann (LB, 6-0, 212, Jr., Selz, N.D. / Harvey High School) also finished with double figure tackles as both recorded 11 on the day. On offense, #16 Zac Cunha (QB, 6-3, 233, So., Rocklin, Calif. / Roseville High School) finished with 173 yards passing, but was sacked seven times in the game. #9 Leon LaDeaux (WR, 6-3, 200, Jr., Port Orchard, Wash. / South Kitsap High School / Central Washington) caught five passes for 56 yards. The Beavers offense was hindered by seven fumbles in the game. Minot State remains on the road in NSIC North play, traveling to Minnesota Crookston Saturday for a 1 p.m. start.

Northern State
Jared Jacobson (QB, Jr., Rapid City, S.D., St. Thomas More HS) passed for a season-high 295 yards and three scores Saturday as the Wolves defeated Bemidji State 27-0. Jacobson went 24-for-35 on the day and also added 10 yards rushing in the win. Jacobson opened up the scoring Saturday with a 26-yard touchdown strike to Tanner White in the first quarter. Jacobson then hit Connor Doherty on third and goal from the seven in the second quarter and finished up the day with a 32-yard passing strike to Sean Schweichler for the touchdown.
Cam Pudwill (DE, So., Redfield, S.D., Redfield HS) led a defense that recorded its first shutout since 2011. The Wolves held BSU to 234 yards of total offense and just 74 yards rushing in the win. Pudwill recorded 1.5 sacks in the win Saturday and also led the Wolves with 2.5 tackles-for-loss to go along with a QB hurry. Pudwill finished the game with five total tackles in the shutout.

Sioux Falls
#2 Carrington Hanna  (WR/6-2/222/Sr./Pre-Medicine/Streetsboro, Ohio (California-Penn),   moved under center for the first time in more than two years and led the Cougars to a 47-7 blowout win over Concordia-St. Paul. Hanna, who was converted to wide receiver halfway through his sophomore season, hadn’t played quarterback for the Cougars since Oct. 15, 2011. On the game’s opening drive, the Cougars easily marched down the field and Hanna capped the 8-play, 78-yard drive with a 37-yard touchdown strike to redshirt freshman Josh Angulo. Hanna completed 24 of 36 passes for a career-best 407 yards and four touchdowns. His only hiccup was an interception thrown to Hank Goff with five minutes remaining in the first half. He is the first Cougar signal caller with 400 passing yards since Chad Cavender (2006).
#44 John Batinich (LB/5-11/220/Jr./Criminal Justice/Sunnyvale, Calif. (Butte College),  forced one fumble, recorded a team-high 10 tackles (including 2.5 TFL for 14 yards) and sacked Concordia-St. Paul quarterback James Peterson down 11 yards behind the line of scrimmage as the USF romped the Golden Bears 47-7. His forced fumble led to the Cougars’ second touchdown of the day while his sack both held Concordia to a three-and-out and gave USF the ball back in Golden Bear territory—and the Cougars scored 28 seconds later on a 19-yard strike from Carrington Hanna to Nephi Garcia to extend their lead to 24-0. Batinich currently ranks seventh in the NSIC in tackles (59, 8.4 per game).
Sioux Falls entered the game with starting quarterback Luke Papilion out with a shoulder injury and back-up Matt Young also listed as questionable.
 USF hosts Augustana College (3-4, 1-2) next Saturday night in the second annual “Key to the City” showdown. The Cougars beat the Vikings on their home turf last season, 32-31 in double overtime.

Southwest Minnesota State
Junior wide receiver Adam Olson (6-1, 205, Pine City, Minn.) caught a career-high 11 passes for a career-high 114 yards in SMSU’s 52-27 loss to No. 1 Minnesota State on Saturday night. Olson entered the game with 10 receptions on the season and following Saturday night’s game he has caught 21 passes for 187 yards this season.
Senior safety Tate Bunkers (6-0, 200, Dell Rapids, S.D.) led SMSU with 12 tackles, including six solo stops in SMSU’s loss to MSU on Saturday night. Bunkers ranks second on the team with 55 tackles, including a team-high 28 solo stops.
Junior running back Tyler Tonderum – last week’s leading rushing in Division II – was held to a season-low 61 yards rushing on 19 carries, but did catch four passes for 67 yards and one touchdown. Tonderum now has team-high 14 touchdowns this season. Junior quarterback Charlie Kern completed 23 of 35 pass attempts for 216 yards and two touchdowns, but threw a season-high three interceptions. Kern left the game early in the second half due to an injury. SMSU finished the game with a season-low 92 yards rushing, but did finish with 489 yards of total offense and now has amassed more than 400 yards of offense in every game this season.

St. Cloud State
St. Cloud State, ranked #25 in the AFCA Division II poll improved to 6-1 overall with a 20-13 win at U-Mary last Saturday. With five games remaining the Huskies are assured of their sixth straight winning season under head coach Scott Underwood.Phillip Klaphake (Sr., QB, Princeton, Minn.) needs 357 passing yards to break the school record of 9,695 held by Keith Heckendorf (2000-03). Klaphake threw for 163 yards and one touchdown in the win at U-Mary. Michael Walker (Sr., RB, Walworth, Wis.) rushed for two touchdowns and has eight rushing TD’s this season to lead the team. He finished the game with 14 carries for 75 yards. Jeff Bias (Sr., DT, Racine, Wis.) returned a fumble 64 yards to set up the Huskies first score of the game. Marvin Matthews (Sr., DB, Roseville, Minn.) had a team high ten tackles.
The Huskies, 3-0 at home this season, will host Northern State next Saturday at 4 p.m. St. Cloud State is 13-2 all-time against the Wolves since the series began in 1946.

Upper Iowa
Augustana College broke a three-game skid in their Homecoming game Saturday in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Vikings forced six Upper Iowa turnovers and also scored on special teams to claim a 35-6 victory over the Peacocks. Augie converted three of the turnovers into touchdowns including the only score of the first half.  Upper Iowa fumbled on each of their first two possessions despite gaining 88 yards and running 18 plays. Both fumbles occurred inside the Augie 35-yard line. Augie’s offense only managed 62 yards on 23 plays in the half, but Augie still took a 7-0 lead into the break after taking advantage of a punt return miscue.
Chris Smith  ran for 82 yards with two fumbles, while Jaeschke threw for 189 yards on 25-38 throwing with 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions. Hefty and Derek Giesking each caught seven passes for 47 and 72 yards, respectively.  Ethan Douglas led the UIU defense, who allowed only 299 yards of offense, with 9 tackles including one for loss. Keaton Martin recorded 7 tackles with two for loss, while Tom Nesvik and Alex Wahl each posted five stops. Nesvik had 2.5 tackles for loss and Wahl added .5 for loss. Tyler Fisherhad 4 tackles including 1.5 sacks. In total, the Peacocks racked up 14 tackles for loss (50 yards) and 3 sacks (17 yards).
 The Peacocks will return home to Harms-Eischeid Stadium next Saturday for a game under the lights against the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University. Upper Iowa will be celebrating Bill Prochaska Night on October 26.

Wayne State
The Wayne State College football team suffered its third loss this season by seven points or less as the 2-5 Wildcats fell at Winona State 45-41.  After Wayne State scored the go-ahead TD with 1:07 to play on a 20-yard pass from Zach Osborn to Grant Otten, the host Warriors answered 13 seconds later to hand the Wildcats a heart-breaking loss.  Senior running back Charlie Davidson ran for 189 yards on 24 carries and scored twice on runs of 27 and 57 yards.  It was his fifth 100-yard game of the season.  Junior wide receiver Adam Stark added career-high nine receptions for 162 yards and two scores on TD grabs of 62 and 17 yards.  The Wildcats out-gained Winona State in the contest 520-448 and held a sizeable advantage in time of possession (34:33 to 25:27) but fell in the final minute to the Warriors.  Wayne State will be at home Saturday entertaining Concordia-St. Paul in a 1 p.m. game at Cunningham Field.
 
Winona State
Jack Nelson, QB, Fr., 6-4, 195, Byron, Minn. (Byron) put on a spectacular show, setting Winona State freshmen records for passing yards (347) and touchdown passes (5) in the Warriors’ 45-41 victory over Wayne State. Nelson completed 21 of 28 passes (75 percent) on the day, hitting nine different receivers. His 347 passing yards broke the school’s freshman record that Nelson had set two weeks ago against Upper Iowa. His five touchdown passes are just one off the school record and is his fourth game with at least three TDs this year. Nelson’s final touchdown pass was his best, hitting Chichi Ojika out of the backfield for a 65-yard touchdown with under a minute remaining to lift WSU to the victory. Nelson also rushed for a touchdown, playing a hand in all six of Winona State’s touchdowns on the day
AJ Shipp, DB, Jr., 5-9, 163, St. Louis, Mo. (RCTC) had a strong day in coverage, breaking up six Wayne State passes in the Warriors’ 45-41 win. Shipp’s six pass break-ups are the most by a Warrior this season. The junior also made six tackles, with five of the stops solo.
Brett Cochran-Bray, K, Fr., 6-3, 165, Spirit Lake, Iowa (Spirit Lake) connected on all five of his extra point attempts in the Warriors’ 45-41 win over Wayne State. Cochran-Bray has now made his last 28 extra point attempts.

Past NSIC Players of the Week
9/9/13
OFF: Cole Jaeschke  - UIU
DEF: Connor Quinn - BSU
SPT: Lucas Wainman - Augie

9/16/13
OFF: Tyler Tonderum - SMSU
DEF: Troy Guptill - U-Mary
SPT: Elby Pope - U-Mary

9/23/13
OFF: Chris Smith - UIU
DEF: Nathan Hancock - MSU
SPT: Alan May - WSU

9/30/13
OFF: Chichi Ojika - WSU
DEF: Jack Moro - SCSU
SPT: Zach Pulkinen - BSU

10/07/13
OFF: Anthony Dean, SMSU
DEF: Patrick Lazzara, WSU
SPT: Sam Brockshus, MSU

10/14/13
OFF: Jake Hodges, MSUM
DEF: Grant Singer, U-Mary
SPT: Tyler Ryan, U-Mary

10/21/13
OFF: Jack Nelson, WSU
DEF: Bryan Keys, MSU
SPT: Tyler Ryan, U-Mary (2)

    #NSIC#