For Immediate Release
Monday, October 2, 2017
NSIC Media Relations
Media Packet (PDF)
NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
# 22 Max Mickey (RB., 5-9, 190, Sr., Holden, Mo. / Holden HS)
Sioux Falls
- Surpassed 200 yards rushing for the third time in his career, totaling 212 yards on 37 carries (tying a career-high)
- Added a pair of touchdowns in a 24-10 road win over SMSU
- Helped USF produced a season-high 484 total yards, including 274 rushing
- Scored on runs of 1 and 23 yards in the second half
- Had three carries for 33 yards during a game-clinching drive against the wind in the fourth quarter, providing USF with a 24-10 lead
- Owns a league-high 873 yards rushing (6.0 average) and is tied for a league-high with eight touchdowns
- Ranks fourth all-time at USF with 3,656 career rushing yards and now has 40 career rushing TDs, which is eighth all-time at USF
- Averaging 174.6 yards per game and has rushed for 100 yards or more 18 times in his career
NSIC Defensive Player of the Week
#23 Andrew Spencer (DB, 6-1, 210, Sr. Lake Villa, Ill./Lakes Community)
Winona State
- Returned two interceptions for touchdowns in WSU's 37-7 win over Upper Iowa
- Picks came in the final five minutes of the second quarter; including a 65-yard effort with 17 seconds left in the half
- Led all players with 10 tackles, including a team-best seven solo tackles
- Also had two pass breakups in the game and a tackle-for-loss
- His five interceptions lead the NSIC and his 27 solo tackles rank sixth
NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week
#36 Carter McCauley (K, 6-1, 215, Sr. Owatonna, Minn./ Owatonna HS)
Winona State
- Became Winona’s all-time leader in field goals made (46)
- Went 3-for-4 in on field goals and 4-for-4 in PATs on Saturday
- Season-long 48 yard FG moved him into first place on the career list
- Totaled 496 yards on eight kickoffs, including three touchbacks
- This season is 10-for-11 field goals and 22-for-23 PATs
| Augustana University Vikings |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L 16-13 vs WSC |
2-3, 0-1 South |
L2 |
4th Overall, 2nd South |
| Team Notes |
- Augustana outgained Wayne State, 436-222
- The Vikings defense forced three turnovers and didn’t allow a touchdown against the Wildcats |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Redshirt Freshman Ryan Bradberry rushed for a career-high 144 yards on 16 attempts. Also had 2 catches for 22 yards
- Jake Welsheimer had a career-high five catches for 36 yards and a TD
- Anthony Tatum and Trevor Naasz each recorded interceptions
- Matt Wagner led the Vikings with 10 tackles |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Oct. 7 at Minnesota State – 1:30 p.m. |
| Bemidji State University Beavers |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 56-0 at UMC |
3-2, 1-0 North |
W2 |
3rd Overall, 2nd North |
| Team Notes |
- Bemidji State earned a 56-0 win at Minnesota Crookston for its first shutout win since 2012
- The Gang Green defense forced eight three-and-outs on 10 Golden Eagles punts
- The Beavers scored on all five second quarter possessions and converted on four-of-five red zone opportunities
- Bemidji State outgained Minnesota Crookston 512-104 and held UMC to seven first downs
- BSU is now 13-1 during the Hubcap Rivalry since it began in 2004 and 23-2 all-time in the series |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Senior corner back EJ Olszewski recorded three interceptions with one going back for a touchdown
- Senior wide reeeiver moved into a tie for second all-time at BSU with his eighth 100-yard receiving game, coming on three receptions with two touchdowns
- Senior quarterback threw for over 300 yards for the seventh time in his career and added at least three passing touchdowns for the 14th time at BSU
- Sophomore defensive lineman Alex Hoffman forced a strip sack that led to a 13-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by sophomore linebacker Cole Schmitz
- Senior wide reciever Christian Lunde caught a team-high seven passes for 119 yards with a game-long reception of 55 yards |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Oct. 7 vs U-Mary – 1 p.m. |
| Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L 10-47 vs MSU |
1-4, 0-1 South |
L4 |
13th Overall / 8th South |
| Team Notes |
- Bears held the Mavericks to just three points on its first three possessions (FG, punt, INT)
- CSP kept the margin within one score (9-3) until the closing seconds of the half |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Freshman Blake Evans led CSP’s defense, with first career 10 tackle performance
- Junior Dion Wallisch had a 39-yard kickoff return and an interception in the end zone in the first half
- Senior Elias Arlington had five catches for a team-high 68 yards
- Junior Jake Tanner had 57 yards on a team-high six catches
- Senior Deceon Schumann led the team with 70 all-purpose yards (2-34, TD receiving, 2-36 KR) |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Oct 7 at Upper Iowa – 5 p.m. |
| University of Mary Marauders |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L 27-19 vs. Minot State |
0-5, 0-1 North |
L5 |
15th Overall, 6th North |
| Team Notes |
|
- The Marauders played their third regionally televised game when UMary hosted Minot State on Saturday. UMary will have two more games (vs. Minnesota Crookston and at Northern State) that will also be broadcast regionally
- 40 players/coaches/staff from the first Marauders varsity football team in 1988 were honored during the Battle for the Lake game against Minot State
- The Marauders are now 10-7 in trophy games (8-4 in the Paddle Trophy with MSUM and 2-3 in the Big Lake Trophy with Minot State)
- UMary is second in the NSIC in rushing yards/game at 233.8
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| Top Performer(s) |
- QB Garrett Weissinger ran for a career-high 86 yards and a touchdown against Minot State
- The sophomore had back-to-back carries of 20 and 24 yards on the opening drive of the second half, the second of the two runs resulting in a touchdown
- FB Paul Guptill ran for a career-best 64 yards against the Beavers on 12 carries
- Senior SB Brennan Doan caught two passes for 17 yards and ran for 39 yards, including a 20 yard touchdown
- Redshirt freshman LB Dylan Anthony had a career-best eight tackles against the Beavers
- Senior CB Jacob Parker broke up three passes and blocked an extra point on Saturday
- Bailey Meyer is second in the NSIC in punting with an average of 39.7 yards/attempt. He had three of his six punts downed inside the 20 against the Beavers. On the season he has dropped 12 of 28 punts inside the opponent’s 20 |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Oct. 7 at Bemidji State – 1 p.m. |
| University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L 56-0 vs. BSU |
0-5; 0-1 North |
L5 |
16th Overall, 8th North |
| Team Notes |
- Minnesota Crookston fell 56-0 on Homecoming to Bemidji State as the Beavers captured the “Hub cap” for the fourth-consecutive season. BSU looked to two defensive touchdowns and four turnovers to help guide them to the victory.
- Stephen Day broke Chris Secrest’s school record for punts in a career on Saturday against Bemidji State.
- The Golden Eagle defense came up with four stops on the game and forced three field goals as they showed signs of continued improvement.
- Minnesota Crookston hits the road next weekend to face NSIC North opponent St. Cloud State University at 1 p.m. |
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- Tommy Singer was 5-of-6 for 65 yards in the fourth quarter against BSU
- Rod Stewart notched six catches for 58 yards versus Bemidji State
- Ali Alkhatib tallied 10 tackles against BSU
- Donovan Baker notched six tackles with a sack against BSU |
| Up Next |
| Sat., Oct. 7 vs. St. Cloud State – 1 p.m. |
| University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 34-21 vs. SCSU |
3-2, 1-0 North |
W2 |
2nd Overall, 1st North |
| Team Notes |
- The Bulldogs opened up 2017 NSIC North Division play last Thursday night with a convincing 34-21 victory over St. Cloud State
- UMD one-upped the Huskies in virtually every statistical category, including total yards (471 to 283), rushing yards (288 to 76) and first downs (21 of 14)
- Both the total yards and rushing yards were 2017 bests for UMD, which also converted on 8 of 15 third down conversions while the Huskies went a mere 2-for-11
-The win was the first of the year at home for UMD, which had started 0-2 at Malosky Stadium for the first time since 1999
- It also improved the Bulldogs’ all-time home record against North Division foes to a perfect 32-0
- UMD’s five opponents to date are a combined 19-6 and the two clubs that defeated the Bulldogs earlier this year, nationally ranked Minnesota State and Sioux Falls, both sport 5-0 records
- The nine-time defending NSIC North Division champion Bulldogs will pay a visit to MSU-Moorhead this Saturday afternoon.. UMD has reeled off 15 straight victories at the Dragons’ expense (going back to a 20-14 setback on Oct. 2, 1999) and over the past nine matchups (since its return to the NSIC in 2008), has outscored them 504-173 while never being held to less than 42 points. |
| Top Performer(s) |
|
- In Thursday’s 34-21 takedown of St. Cloud State, junior running back Anthony Wood, a 2017 transfer, became the first Bulldog since last November to crack the 100-yard rushing mark, rolling up 128 yards on 17 carries (a 7.5 yards per rush average) and one touchdown
- That score, a five-yard run, put UMD up for good at 7-0 a little less than five minutes into the first quarter
- Sophomore quarterback Ben Everhart threw for a four touchdowns against the Huskies - the most by a UMD quarterback since Drew Bauer- also tossed four scoring passes against MSU Moorhead on Oct. 1, 2016
- In his third collegiate start, Everhart completed 10-for-19 passes for 183 with no picks
- Everhart ranks13th nationally and first in the NSIC in passing yards per completion (14.97)
- Junior wide out Jason Balts, who is one of 11 Bulldogs to catch a pass this fall, paces UMD in receptions (31) and reception yards (519)
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| Up Next |
| Saturday, Oct. 7 at MSU Moorhead - 2 p.m. |
| Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Standings |
| W 47-10 at CSP |
5-0, 1-0 South |
W5 |
T-1st Overall, T-1st South |
| Team Notes |
- As a team, Minnesota State recorded 479 rushing yards in its win at Concordia-St. Paul
- Both sophomore Nate Gunn and freshman Justin Taormina rushed for more than 100 yards against CSP
- Minnesota State’s 36-0 shutout of Northern State is its first shutout since week three of the 2015 season when it defeated U-Mary 48-0 at Blakeslee Stadium
- As a team, the Mavericks are averaging 523 yards of total offense a game this season, compared to 288 yards by its opponents
- The Mavericks have scored at least 35 points in every game this season. Their opponents have scored no more than 23 points in a game this season
- Sophomore Nate Gunn has rushed for 792 yards this season and has posted more than 100 rushing yards in every game this season
- The Maverick defense held CSP to 244 yards of total offense, including just 34 on the ground |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Nate Gunn – 173 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns
- Justin Taormina – 103 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns
- Corey Brent – 5 tackles, 1 interception
- Evan Perrizo – 4 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Oct. 7 vs. Augustana – 1:30 p.m. |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L 20-28 at NSU |
2-3, 0-0 North |
L1 |
7th Overall, 3rd North |
| Team Notes |
- MSUM opened NSIC North play with 28-20 road loss at Northern State
- Dragons twice had ball inside the 10-yard line in final six minutes but were unable to score
- Senior QB Demetrius Carr became MSUM’s all-time leader in passing yards during Saturday’s loss at Northern State
- Senior WR Damon Gibson leads NSIC at 9.6 catches per game and 110.8 receiving yards per game
- Sophomore DL Miles Baggett is second in NSIC at 4.0 sacks |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Senior RB Austin Stone rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown vs. Northern State
- Senior WR Damon Gibson tied an MSUM single-game record with 16 receptions vs. Northern
- Senior QB Demetrius Carr threw for 249 yards and a touchdown
- Junior DB Casey Paskey had seven tackles
- DL Darin Gipson and Matthew Domek forced fumbles
- DL Miles Baggett had a sack and a fumble recovery |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Oct. 7 vs. Minnesota Duluth, 2 p.m. |
| Minot State University Beavers |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 27-19 at UMary |
1-4, 1-0 North |
W1 |
14th Overall, 6th North |
| Team Notes |
- Minot State rushed for a season-high 260 yards in the victory over UMary
- Minot State tied its season-high with two interceptions against UMary, which marked the fifth consecutive game the Beavers have had an interception
- Minot State won the Battle of the Big Lake Trophy for the third consecutive year
- Minot State now holds a 14-12 advantage over UMary in the all-time series |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Larry Overstreet rushed for a career-high 190 yards and three touchdowns
- Bryce Broome finished with 10 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception
- Donnell Vercher had 11 tackles to lead the Beavers |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 30 at Mary – 2:30 p.m. |
| Northern State University Wolves |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 28-20 vs. MSUM |
2-3, 1-0 North |
W1 |
9th Overall, 4th North |
| Team Notes |
- Northern tallied 216 yards rushing and 129 yards passing with 15 total first downs
- NSU averaged 5.8 yards per carry and 7.6 yards per completion
- They converted on 4-of-13 third downs and 2-of-3 fourth downs, while scoring on both red-zone chances
- The Wolves notched three rushing touchdowns and one passing score in the win
- Defensively a total of three Wolves recorded double figure tackles on the afternoon |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Hunter Trautman tallied 129 yards passing, making ten completions with one touchdown and 39 yard long
- Nicholas Truen led the team with 119 yards rushing, notching his first 100-plus game of the season. Truen tallied all three rushing touchdowns for the Wolves
- Nick Kayl notched the first receiving touchdown of his career, a 39 yard pass from Trautman
- Josh Coyle led the defense with a season high 13 tackles, including eight solo stops and a tackle for a loss |
| Up Next |
| Thursday, Oct. 5 at Minot State – 7 p.m. |
| University of Sioux Falls Cougars |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 24-10 at SMSU |
5-0, 1-0 South |
W5 |
5th Overall, 3rd South |
| Team Notes |
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- For USF, the 24-10 win over Southwest Minnesota State was its 17th straight in NSIC play
- USF also won its 50th game in five plus years in the NSIC
- With a 50-10 all-time NSIC record, Cougars have an .833 winning percentage, which ranks best among all schools in the league
- USF leads the nation in rushing defense (30.8 yards per game) and scoring defense (6.2 ppg), ranks second in total defense (204.8 yards per game) and third in sacks (21). In all four categories, USF leads thee NSIC
- The Cougars have won five straight games by double digit totals
- Through five games, the Cougars have built a 159-31 point differential or 31.8-to-6.2 per game
- USF was ranked for a 40th straight week in both the AFCA Coaches at #7 and D2Football.com poll at #5
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| Top Performer(s) |
~ All American running back Max Mickey surpassed 200 yards rushing for the third time in his career, totaling 212 yards on 37 carries (tying a career-high) and two TDs in 24-10 road win over SMSU
` In 2017, Mickey has a league-high 873 yards rushing (6.0 average) and eight TDs. He ranks second in the nation in yards and his 174.6 yards per game ranks second
- Mickey ranks fourth all-time at USF with 3,656 career rushing yards and now has 40 career rushing TDs, which is eighth all-time at USF
- Also, Mickey now has rushed for 100 yards or more 18 times in his career, which ties him with USF Hall of Famer Nick Kortan, who starred for the Cougars from 1999-02
~ Dennis Gardeck led a stout defensive performance, holding SMSU to 282 yards, including 131 yards in the second half and just 39 yards rushing
- Gardeck had a sack, three TFLs and eight tackles. He leads the NSIC in sacks and TFLs
~ Michael Atonio had his first career double digit tackle performance with 10 stops in the win over SMSU
~ Quarterback Ian Fieber was 15-of-27 for a season-high 210 yards passing and 45 TD strike to Anthony Holmes |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Oct. 7 vs. Winona State - 6 p.m. |
| Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L 24-10 vs USF |
2-3, 0-1 South |
L2 |
8th Overall / 5th South |
| Team Notes |
- SMSU dropped a hard-fought 24-10 home loss to No. 7 Sioux Falls on Saturday night
- Senior WR Nate Huot had six receptions on Saturday and now is new NSIC career receptions record with 216
- Huot entered the game tied with Brian Jark of Northern State (2006-09) with 210
- SMSU senior quarterback Blake Gimbel did not play in the game—ending his 26-game consecutive start streak
- Junior Connor Wilkie quarterback made his first career start and finished the game and completing 21 of 38 pass attempts for 214 yards and one touchdown
- SMSU was limited to 281 total yards of offense
- SMSU forced two turnovers in the loss at USF and now has 13 on the season ranking 18th in Division II
- SMSU is 10th in Division II in turnover margin (+1.6)
- SMSU has lost just one fumble (on kickoff return) this season, ranking second in Division II
- Junior linebacker Alex Ney ranks 12th in Division II in tackles per game at 11.4 |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Junior linebacker Alex Ney recorded a game-high 16 tackles with one forced fumble
- Sophomore safety Michael Griffin finished with 12 tackles, two pass break-ups and recovered one fumble
- Junior punter Austin Wells had nine punts for 399 yards (44.3) with four inside the 20-yard line
- Huot finished the game on Saturday with a game-high six receptions for 92 yards
- Redshirt freshman tight end Eldridge Joyce had four receptions for 74 yards including a 60-yard touchdown reception |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Oct. 7 at Wayne State – 1 p.m. |
| St. Cloud State University Huskies |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 34-21 at UMD |
3-2, 0-1 North |
L1 |
10th overall, 5th in North |
| Team Notes |
- The Huskies lost a 34-21 contest on the road in their Thursday night game
- The team was outgained 471 to 283 in the contest including 288 to 76 on the ground
- SCSU did win the turnover battle for the third time in the last four games
-The game marked the first time that the Huskies did not hold an advantage in time of possession or on the ground this season
- The team has now lost five straight games to UMD and given up 30 or more points in each of the last 11 meetings with the Bulldogs
- This game was the inaugural Battle for the Bone and played for the traveling trophy the “Dog Bone" |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Justin Czech got his second career start and threw for a career-high 207 yards on 13 completions plus two touchdowns
- Joe Blando totaled his third rushing touchdown in his fourth game played this season
- John Solberg caught five passes for 88 yards
- John Pass had his fourth touchdown reception of the season and has had a touchdown reception in each of the last three games
- Carvel Graham led the defense with his 12 tackles and forced fumble |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Oct. 7 vs. Minnesota Crookston – 1 p.m. |
| Upper Iowa University Peacocks |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L 37-7 at #25 WSU |
3-2, 0-1 South |
L1 |
11th Overall, 7th South |
| Team Notes |
- The Peacocks lost to #25 Winona State on the road in the teams' first NSIC South Division game of the season; WSU improved to 5-0 on the year and UIU dropped to 3-2
- Turnovers plagued the offense in the loss, as Upper Iowa turned it over to their opponent four times including a pair of interceptions returned for touchdowns
- UIU's running game produced, but in a losing effort. The team rushed for 273 yards, but managed just seven points in their lowest scoring total of the season
- UIU was outgained by only 54 yards, 426-372, but the four turnovers were the difference in the game |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Brent Lammers finished with just 99 passing yards for the game, on 12-of-26 passing, but ran for 54 yards
- Running back Ryan Parmely led the way on the ground with 103 yards on 17 carries, while Antoine Conner added 96 yards and a touchdown on 8 attempts
- Conner capped off the game with a 67-yard touchdown run late in the game to make sure there would be no shutout
- Jordan Rommes and Keith Schwickerath each tallied 10 tackles in the game to lead the Peacock defense |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Oct. 7 vs. Concordia- St. Paul - 5:07 p.m. |
| Wayne State College Wildcats |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 16-13 at AUGIE |
3-2, 0-0 South |
W1 |
12th Overall, 6th South |
| Team Notes |
- WSC set single game school record with seven interceptions vs. Augustana
- WSC snaps three-game losing streak in series vs. Augustana |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Senior defensive back Glenn Harris ties WSC single game school record with three interceptions.
- Sophomore Ethan Knudson was 3 for 3 on field goals (22, 26, 33 yards)
- Junior defensive end Randy Bryan had 44-yard interception return for touchdown
- Sophomore Ian Ailts had game-high 12 tackles with 10 solo stops |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, October 7 vs. Southwest Minnesota State - 1 p.m. |
| Winona State University Warriors |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 37-7 vs. Upper Iowa |
5-0, 1-0 South |
W5 |
6th Overall, 4th South |
| Team Notes |
- First 5-0 start since 2003
- Averaged 71.3 yards rushing over first three games this year; averaging 315.5 over the last two
- Scoring defense (11.6 ppg) ranks second in the NSIC and scoring offense (32.2 ppg) ranks third
- Defense forced four turnovers Saturday and has allowed just one offensive touchdown in four of five games |
| Top Performer(s) |
- RBs Eric Birth and Javian Roebuck combined for 232 rushing yards
- DB Andrew Spencer returned two interceptions for touchdowns … also led team with 10 tackles
- K Carter McCauley went 3-for-4 in field goal attempts on Saturday (10-for-11 season) to become Winona’s all-timer leader with 46 career FGs
- WR Isaiah Frandsen hauled in his team-leading fourth TD pass of the year |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Oct. 7 at #7 Sioux Falls – 6 p.m. |
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