For Immediate Release
Monday, September 11, 2017
NSIC Media Relations
Media Packet (PDF)
NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
# 14 Blake Gimbel (QB, 6-4, 214, Sr., Marshalltown, Iowa / Marshalltown HS)
Southwest Minnesota State
- Led SMSU to a 51-35 road win at MSU Moorhead
- Completed 32-of-44 pass attempts for 389 yards and tied a career-high with five touchdown passes with zero interceptions
- Recorded his eighth career 300-yard passing game, ranking fourth in team history
- Completed passes to eight different receivers
- Had touchdown passes of 26, 39, 30, 1 and 24 yards in the victory
- Added a pair of big punts for a 48.5 average including two inside the MSUM’s 10-yard line
NSIC Defensive Player of the Week
#16 Je’Darien Jackson-Hanchett (CB, 6-0, 173, Jr., Kingwood, Texas / Kingwood HS / Shasta College)
Southwest Minnesota State
- Set an SMSU school record with four interceptions in SMSU’s 51-35 victory at MSU Moorhead
- The four interceptions are one shy of the conference single-game record
- He also recorded five tackles with one pass break-up
- First interception came in the end zone to end an MSUM scoring threat in the first quarter
- He also recorded an interception in the second, third and fourth quarters
- Helped an SMSU defense force six turnovers in the game and limit MSUM to just 2 of 10 on third-down conversions and 0 for 2 on fourth-down conversions
NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week
#15 Casey Bednarski (PK, 6-1, 230, Jr., Oconomowoc, Wis. / Oconomowoc / DuPage)
Minnesota State
- Went 4-for-4 in field goal attempts in 56-19 win over Minnesota Crookston, hitting from 36, 63, 50 and 27 yards out
- His 63-yard field goal set a school and an NSIC record
- Scored 16 points against UMC, including four field goals, two extra points and one two point conversion
- Averaged 55 yards a kickoff in seven attempts, including five touchbacks
| Augustana University Vikings |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 28-20 at MINOT |
1-1, 0-0 South |
W1 |
4th Overall, 2nd South |
| Team Notes |
- The Vikings used a balanced offensive attack in the win over Minot State with 212 passing yards and 210 rushing yards
- Augustana improved to 11-4 after a loss in the Jerry Olszewski era
- The Vikings had three players with 10+ carries (Singlorant 15, Rubley 12 and Bradberry 10) |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Kirby Hora recorded 14 tackles against the Beavers and leads the NSIC with 35 tackles on the season
- Jordan Determan notched six tackles and recorded an interception and returned it for a touchdown
- Rudolh Sinflorant ran for a career-high 92 yards on 15 carries with his first collegiate touchdown
- Ryan Rubley went 22-31 passing with 212 yards and one touchdown and had 12 carries for 49 yards with one touchdown |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 16 vs Bemidji State – 1 p.m. |
| Bemidji State University Beavers |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 54-17 vs CSP |
1-1, 0-0 North |
W1 |
3rd Overall, 2nd North |
| Team Notes |
- Bemidji State rolled its way to a 54-17 home-opening win against Concordia-St. Paul behind seven touchdowns, four coming from over 50 yards
- The Beavers jumped out to a 40-0 lead at halftime while outgaining the Golden Bears 389-125 in the first half
- The Gang Green defense totaled five interceptions, three sacks and seven tackles for a loss
- BSU’s 37-point victory was by the largest margin in a home opener since at least 1995 |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Senior running backs Tahi Nomane and Michael Washington each recorded over 100 yards rushing
- Washington led the offense with 138 rushing yards on five carries and two touchdowns
- BSU’s top three running backs of Nomane, Washington and junior Andrew Lackowski combined for 356 of the offense’s 558 total yards
- Sophomore wide receiver Blair Van Ess turned in two receptions for two touchdowns and 49 yards, upping his season touchdown total to three
- Senior safety Evan Tompkins and junior safety John Vogeler each nabbed two interceptions
- Vogeler ended the first half with a 72-yard interception return for a touchdown, his second pick-six of the season |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 16 at Augustana – 1 p.m. |
| Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L 17-54 at Bemidji |
1-1, 0-0 South |
L1 |
13th Overall / 8th South |
| Team Notes |
- CSP was unable to overcome a 5-2 turnover deficit including three committed in the red zone along with four BSU touchdowns of 50-plus yards
- CSP held BSU to just 13 points in three trips to the red zone in the game including only one red zone touchdown
- The Golden Bears held a decisive time of possession advantage, 35:42 to 24:18
- Concordia had over 200 yards and 12 first downs in the second half, scoring all 17 points after the break |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Junior Jonas Schenderlein stayed perfect on the year, making his two PAT attempts and making a 50-yard field goal, his second of 50-plus in his career
- Senior Sam Maedke produced a strong 35.6 net average on his 37.0 punt average on seven punts despite challenging wind conditions
- Senior Elias Arlington had a 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the third quarter and led CSP with 154 all-purpose yards, adding 3-42 receiving to his 2-112 KOR day |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 16 vs St Cloud State – 6 p.m. |
| University of Mary Marauders |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L 48-10 at WSC |
0-2, 0-0 North |
L2 |
15th Overall, 6th North |
| Team Notes |
|
- UMary accumulated 312 yards rushing against Wayne State, the 3rd highest figure during the Marauders NCAA era that began in 2006
- For the second straight week the Marauders defense posted two sacks while the offense has not yet allowed a sack this season
- The Marauders will host a nationally ranked team for the second straight home game when #9 Sioux Falls visits on Sept. 16
- UMary started just eight upperclassmen against Wayne State
|
| Top Performer(s) |
- True freshman slotback DeShawn Gay ran for 144 and scored his first career touchdown against Wayne State. Just the first UMary freshman to crack the century mark since Jamal Lomax in 2007, Gay sprinted 59 yards for the Marauders lone touchdown of the game.
- Brothers Brady and Jarad compiled 11 tackles in the game. Brady, a senior, had six stops, including a sack. Jarad, a redshirt freshman, had five tackles.
- Chris Kraft led the Marauders defense with ten tackles
- Senior K Aaron Brennen, an all-conference soccer player during his four-year career with the Marauders, connected for his first collegiate field goal
- Bailey Meyer added a fourth punt dropped inside the 20 yard line |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 16 vs. Sioux Falls – 1 p.m. |
| University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L 56-19 at MSU |
0-2; 0-0 North |
L2 |
16th Overall, 8th North |
| Team Notes |
- Minnesota Crookston hosts Wayne State Thurs., Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. in the “NSIC Thursday Night Game of the Week” on Midco Sports Network Channel 622 HD
- Adam Connette has amassed career records with 185 receptions and 2,195 yards receiving. The Golden Eagle senior needs eight touchdowns to surpass Carl Aho for the all-time receiving touchdowns record. Connette is coming off five receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown against No. 12 Minnesota State last weekend
- Minnesota Crookston Co-Offensive Coordinator Dave Volk was an assistant coach at Wayne State College from 2013-15. He was an All-Big 12 selection at University of Nebraska and is from just down the road from Battle Creek, Nebraska
- The Golden Eagles opened up Saturday’s game with a special teams touchdown as Shavez Hawkins, Jr. forced a fumble on the opening kickoff. Anfernee Cooper returned the ball for 12 yards for a quick touchdown
- Minnesota Crookston fell 56-19 to No. 12 Minnesota State Saturday. The Golden Eagles were out-scored by 60 points in 2015, improving their deficit against the Mavericks to 37 points in 2017 as they look to show continued improvement this season |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Joseph Nava was 15-of-24 for 231 yards and two touchdowns
- Rod Stewart tallied 10 receptions for 111 yards
- Adam Connette notched five catches for 107 yards and a touchdown
- Will Cole notched 10 tackles and an interception
- Skyler Quinn tallied one tackle for loss
- Ali Alkhatib notched nine tackles |
| Up Next |
| Thurs., Sept. 14 – vs. Wayne State - 7 p.m. |
| University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 33-21 at UIU |
1-1, 0-0 North |
W1 |
2nd Overall, 1st Naorth |
| Team Notes |
- UMD prevailed in its first road assignment of the young 2017 season by scoring 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter en route to a 33-21 triumph at Upper Iowa Saturday.
- The Bulldogs held the upper hand over the Peacocks in virtually every offensive category including total yards (447-329), rushing yards (249-144), passing yards (198-185), first downs (24-12) and perhaps most impressive, time of possession (40:49-19:11)
- UMD is now 7-0 all-time against Upper Iowa
- With the win, the Bulldog avoided going 0-2 for the first time since 1999
- UMD returns home for another key NSIC interdivision clash against Minnesota State University-Mankato this Saturday
- The Mavericks have reeled off three straight wins at UMD’s expense and prior to the 2017 season opener were the last club to defeat the Bulldogs in Duluth (in 2013)
- Saturday will be UMD’s annual Military Appreciation Night |
| Top Performer(s) |
|
- The Bulldogs used four different quarterbacks in the victory over the Peacocks, including third string sophomore Ben Everhart, who scored the go-ahead touchdown on an 11-yard touchdown run four minutes into the fourth quarter
- Both sophomore starter Mike Rybarczyk and his replacement, redshirt John Larson, were injured in the game while senior Nate Ricci, who was relocated from wide receiver to quarterback for the final three games of 2015, took one snap
- Junior transfer Anthony Wood paced UMD with 82 rushing yards while redshirt freshman Austin Sylvester rushed 15 times for 80 yards and one touchdown and was on the receiving end of another score
- Eight different Bulldogs carried the football Saturday
- Sophomore cornerback Bishop McDonald registered UMD’s first interception of the year at Upper Iowa and the second pick of his career
|
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 16 vs. Minnesota State - 6:05 p.m. |
| Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Standings |
| W 56-19 vs. UMC |
2-0, 0-0 South |
W2 |
T-1st Overall, T-1st South |
| Team Notes |
- Both sophomore Ian Prybil (133 yards) and sophomore Nate Gunn (102 yards) recorded more than 100 rushing yards
- Junior Casey Bedarski scored 16 points against Minnesota Crookston
- Junior Casey Bednarski set an MSU and NSIC record with a 63 yard field goal
- Four Maverick receivers caught a touchdown pass against UMC
- Sophomore Shane Zylstra led the Maverick receivers with five catches and 70 yards
- Both sophomore Ryan Schlichte and freshman JD Ekowa threw two touchdown passes
- As a team, MSU tallied 661 yards against UMC, including 440 rushing yards
- The Maverick defense notched 10 tackles for a loss and four sacks against UMC |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Casey Bednarski recorded 16 points, including a 4-for-4 showing in field goal attempts. He set a school and NSIC record with a 63-yard field goal
- Ian Pribyl rushed for a team-leading 133 yards
- Nate Gunn rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown, marking the second straight week he has rushed for more than 100 yards |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 16 at #21 Minnesota Duluth – 6 p.m. |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L, 35-51 to SMSU |
1-1, 0-0 North |
L1 |
7th Overall, 3rd North |
| Team Notes |
- MSUM suffered a 51-35 home loss to SMSU on Thursday
- Loss ended a two-game home-opener winning streak for MSUM
- Senior WR Damon Gibson recorded his 15th career 100-yard receiving game against SMSU and leads NSIC with 20 receptions
- RFr. WR Grady Bresnahan is second in NSIC at 149.5 all purpose yards per game.
- Sr. QB Demetrius Carr leads NSIC in total offense per game at 354.0
- So. DL Miles Baggett is second in NSIC in tackles for loss at 4.5 |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Senior Damon Gibson caught eight passes for 174 yards and a score
- Sr. WR Hunter Braaten and RFr. Grady Bresnahan each caught touchdown passes
- Sr. QB Demetrius Carr threw for 419 yards and three touchdowns
- Senior DL Drew Lingle had a career-high 10 tackles and a sack to lead the defense
- Junior LB Carter Thiel had nine tackles. |
| Up Next |
| Thursday, Sept. 16 at Winona State - 1 p.m. |
| Minot State University Beavers |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L 28-20 AUGIE |
0-2, 0-0 North |
L2 |
14th Overall, 6th North |
| Team Notes |
- Passed for a season-high 275 yards
- All three of the Beavers touchdowns came on plays of over 26 yards
- Minot State scored on its first two possessions of the game |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Sophomore wide receiver Lavante Bushnell hauled in two touchdown passes
- Nikko Walker recorded 2.0 sacks
- Kiante Goudeau returned an interception 42 yards for a touchdown |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 16 at Southwest Minnesota State – 6 p.m. |
| Northern State University Wolves |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L 37-7 vs. #9 USF |
1-1, 0-0 North |
L1 |
9th Overall, 4th North |
| Team Notes |
- The Wolves fell to the No. 9 Cougars 37-7 on the road in week 2 of NSIC play
- The NSU defense held Sioux Falls to just seven points in the second half, keeping the Wolves in the game
- Northern tallied ten passing first downs, to Sioux Falls five in the game and threw for a game leading 189 yards
- Jake Comeaux connected with Zech Culbreath for a ten yard touchdown reception with 4:11 remaining in the third |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Comeaux led the team with 189 yards passing and one touchdown
- Chance Olson had a career day on the defensive side of the ball with a career high nine tackles, including eight solo stops, and one forced fumble
- Culbreath led the team on kick returns with a total of 70 yards, including a 30 yard long |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 16 vs. Upper Iowa – 1 p.m. |
| University of Sioux Falls Cougars |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 37-7 vs NSU |
2-0, 0-0 South |
W2 |
5th Overall, 3rd South |
| Team Notes |
|
- As a unit, USF’s defense recorded eight sacks and 11 tackles for loss in win over NSU. In two weeks USF has an NSIC-best 16 sacks and 25 tackles for loss.
- The rush defense for USF was a wall again this week, holding NSU to two net rushing yards on 30 carries. As a result, two opponents have 60 attempts for a NCAA DII best -17 total net rush yards in two weeks.
- The Cougars have built a 63-14 point differential through wins over North Division opponents UMD (26-7) on the road and NSU, 37-7, at Bob Young Field.
- USF leads NSIC in total defense (200.5 ypg), scoring defense (7.0 ppg) and rushing defense (-8.0 per game). USF ranks second nationally in total defense; 1st in rushing defense
- Cougars, the defending NSIC champs, won their 14th straight game in league play
- USF was ranked for a 37th straight week in both the AFCA Coaches and D2Football.com poll at #9
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| Top Performer(s) |
~ All-American running back Max Mickey had his 15th career 100-yard and second 200-yard rushing game with 217 yards on 24 carries with two TD, including a career best 87-yard run.
- Senior linebacker Dennis Gardeck had two more sacks in win over NSU and now has a league-high seven on the season
~Senior Derek Landis had a career high three sacks plus five tackles as USF had eight for second straight week |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 16 at U-Mary -1 p.m. |
| Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 51-35 at MSUM |
1-1, 0-0 South |
W1 |
8th Overal / 5th South |
| Team Notes |
- SMSU earned a big road victory over MSU Moorhead on Thursday night
- SMSU finished the game with 550 yards of offense and ran a total of 99 plays
- The SMSU defense forced MSUM into six turnovers including five interceptions
- SMSU finished the game 11 of 25 on third-down conversions and limited MSUM to 2 of 10 on third-down conversions
- SMSU held a 42:16 to 17:44 time of possession advantage
- It was the first time SMSU had five interceptions in game since 2005
- Senior WR Nate Huot ranks fourth in NSIC history with 199 career receptions. He is 11 receptions shy of tying Brian Jark of Northern State (2006-09) |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Nate Huot caught a game-high nine passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns
- Huot has 10 career 100-yard receiving games ranking tied for fourth in team history
- Max Simmons rushed for 78 yards on 27 carries and also caught four passes for 50 yards
- Alex Werner recorded five tackles with 2.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 16 vs. Minot State – 6 p.m. |
| St. Cloud State University Huskies |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L 34-10 vs. WSU |
1-1, 0-0 North |
L1 |
10th overall, 5th in North |
| Team Notes |
- Fell to Winona State by a 34-10 score despite outgaining the Warriors 308 to 276 and getting 18 first downs to 15.
- The SCSU rush defense only allowed 58 yards rushing in 33 attempts (1.8 per carry).
- The team also held an edge in time of possession 31:13 to 28:47
- The program is now 42-15-4 all-time against Winona State |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Joe Blando led the offensive attack with 80 yards on the ground
- Gregory Lewis recorded 61 rushing yards and has run for at least 60 yards in each of the first two games of the season
- Sam Hartman caught his second touchdown pass in as many games
- Adam Stage made his third field goal of the season
- The program only had a total of four made field goals the last two seasons combined
- Jake Schley recorded six tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and two sacks in defeat
- Brady Westart put up nine tackles and two stops for loss plus two pass breakups and two additional quarterback hurries |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 16 at Concordia-St. Paul – 6 p.m. |
| Upper Iowa University Peacocks |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L 33-21 vs. #21 UMD |
1-1, 0-0 South |
L1 |
11th Overall, 7th South
|
| Team Notes |
- Upper Iowa took a 21-17 lead into the fourth quarter of their home opener versus #21 Minnesota Duluth, but the Bulldogs scored 16 unanswered points in the final frame to win 33-21
- UMD owned the time of possession and nearly held the ball for 41 minutes including all but 6 minutes of the second half.
- UIU's three touchdown possessions came in a total of one minute and nine seconds
- UIU's three scores also came from 34, 63 and 55 yards; the Peacocks never took a snap inside the Bulldog 30-yard line
- UMD outrushed UIU 249-144 and doubled their opponents first down tally 24-12 |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Brent Lammers finished 13-for-26 through the air for 185 yards and a score, and added 44 more yards on the ground with another touchdown
- Antoine Connor rushed for 85 yards and a score, while the leading receiver was Brandyn Tulloch, who caught five balls for 91 yards and a touchdown
- Keith Schwickerath, the reigning NSIC and D2Football.com Special Teams Player of the Week, led the UIU defense with 15 tackles, while Jordan Rommes added 9 |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 16 at Northern State - 1 p.m. |
| Wayne State College Wildcats |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 48-10 vs. Mary |
1-1, 0-0 South |
W1 |
12th Overall, 6th South |
| Team Notes |
- Wildcats had kickoff return for touchdown for first time since 2011
- WSC gained 458 yards and did not have to punt in contest
- WSC has won seven of eight meetings vs. Mary |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Senior quarterback Zach Osborn completed 16 of 22 passes for 293 yards and four TD’s
- Osborn becomes all-time leader in TD passes at WSC with 78, passing previous mark of 76 held by Silas Fluellen (2006-09)
- Junior Aaron Wright tied school record with 100-yard kickoff return for touchdown to start game
- Sophomore wide receiver Sam Wegner had three catches for 125 yards and two TD’s |
| Up Next |
| Thursday, September 14 at Minnesota Crookston - 7 p.m. |
| Winona State University Warriors |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 34-10 at SCSU |
2-0, 0-0 South |
W2 |
6th Overall, 4th South |
| Team Notes |
- Second 2-0 start since 2014 season
- Defense surrendered just one offensive TD for the second consecutive week
- Went 5-for-5 in red zone chances; 10-for-11 this season |
| Top Performer(s) |
- RB Eric Birth rushed for 51 yards and three touchdowns
- LB Nick Pridgeon three tackles and one interception |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 16 vs. MSU Moorhead – 1 p.m. |
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