For Immediate Release
Monday, September 24, 2018
NSIC Media Relations
Media Packet
NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
#33 Gabriel Watson (RB, 6-1, 221, Piedmont, Calif. / Piedmont HS) - Sioux Falls
- Had 23 carries for 140 yards and a career-high four touchdowns in USF’s 51-13 win over Augustana
- Scored on runs of 33, 33, 19 and one yards
- Had his fourth straight 100-yard or better game, including 200 yards, 172 yards, 193 yards and 140 yards
- Has rushed 98 times for an NSIC best 705 yards with 10 TDs in four games
- Averages an NSIC best 176.2 yards per game with a 7.2 rushing average per carry
- Named NSIC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season (9/4/18)
NSIC Defensive Player of the Week
#7 Ali Alkhatib (LB, 5-11, 198, R-Sr., Rosemount, Minn. / Rosemount HS) - Minnesota Crookston
- Recorded a sack in the end zone for a safety in the final two minutes in a 29-21 win at Minot State
- Led UMC with eight tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss
- Notched seven solo tackles
- Helped limited Minot State to 245 yards of total offense
NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week
#43 Thomas Chapin (P/K, 6-2, 194, R-Fr., Fair Haven, N.J. / Rumson Fair Haven Regional HS) - Sioux Falls
- Recorded four punts for 216 yards and a 54.0 per kick average in a 51-13 win over Augie
- Among his kicks was a career-high 72 yard
- Also placed two punts inside the 20 yard line
- Leads the NSIC in punting at 44.0 per game, five kicks placed inside the 20-yard line and six punts over 50 yards
| Augustana University Vikings |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L, 51-13 to Sioux Falls |
2-2, 2-2 South |
L1 |
6th Overall, 4th South |
| Team Notes |
- Racked up 499 yards of total offense, including 378 passing yards from Kyle Saddler
- The Sophomore now ranks 6th in the nation in passing yards per game (326)
- With 33 first downs in week four, Augustana now leads the NSIC and the nation with 122 first downs on the year |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Kyle Saddler has now thrown for more than 300 yards in three of four games, and ranks 6th in the nation in passing yards per game (326)
- Kirby Hora finished with 10 tackles, and now has 36 on the season; at 9 tackles per game, he ranks 6th in the NSIC |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 22 at Minnesota, Crookston - 1 p.m. |
| Bemidji State University Beavers |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L 29-16 at UMD (2OT) |
3-1, 3-1 North |
L1 |
5th Overall, 2nd North |
| Team Notes |
- Bemidji State’s five-game winning streak, dating back to last season, was snapped after pushing No. 11 UMD to double overtime on the road
- BSU rallied from a nine-point deficit at halftime to score 19 second-half points to force extra time
- The Beavers continue to be perfect in the red zone, scoring a touchdown and two field goals on three red zone drives
- Bemidji State averaged 10.0 yards per pass attempt and 22.6 yards per completion while finishing with 249 passing yards and two passing touchdowns |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Defensive back Gunner Olszewski became BSU’s all-time leader in solo tackles(167) after recording 10 solo tackles and 14 total tackles against UMD
- Grant Bushinski and Michael Junker, and sophomore Gabe Ames each totaled seven tackles, including 2.0 tackles for a loss and 1.0 sack by Bushinski and one interception by Ames
- Senior wide receiver Landon Jones continues to pace the BSU receiving corps after totaling 175 yards on four catches with one touchdown
- Junior wide receiver Jacob Anderson caught three passes for 45 yards and one touchdown
- Quarterbacks Jared Henning and Alec Ogden combined for 249 passing yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 29 at Wayne State – 1 p.m. |
| Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 29-7 vs WSC |
2-2, 2-2 South |
W1 |
14th Overall, 7th South |
| Team Notes |
- Won turnover battle 2-0 with a 7-0 scoring advantage; now has a 9-4 edge in take/give and 28-0 margin off turnovers in 2018
- Won third consecutive home game for the first time in Sea Foam Stadium era (2009-present)
- Defense held WSC to just 291 yards of total offense and 160 passing |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Sophomore Shaq Johnson scored in his fifth straight game with 12-94 rushing (7.8 avg); he ranks fifth in the league with 357 rushing yards
- Redshirt freshman cornerback Marcus Haskins had his league leading fourth interception of the year (one each game) and two pass breakups, giving him a league-high 14 passes defended and a league-high 10 pass breakups on the season, ranking second in the nation in passes defended and fifth in the country in INTs
- Junior Marcus Gustaveson had four catches for 85 yards and a touchdown and is averaging 20.7 per catch on the year (14-290)
- Junior MJ Williams caught a touchdown in a third straight game with six catches for 79 yards including a 40 yard score |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 29 at Minnesota Duluth – 1 p.m. |
| University of Mary Marauders |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L 48-20 vs. MSUM |
0-4 / 0-4 North |
L4 |
15th Overall, 7th North |
| Team Notes |
|
- After playing in back to back trophy games, the Marauders host Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs on Saturday, Sept. 29, at 2 p.m.
- The Marauders intercepted a pair of passes in a game for the second time this season
- UMary has five interceptions through four games after picking off just three balls all last season
|
| Top Performer(s) |
- Luke Little has 23 catches for 262 yards through four games. He is third in the NSIC in receptions and receiving yardage
- For the second straight week, Fr. RB Bryan Lumsden scored two touchdowns; he ran 37 yards for the first score and 8 yards on the second
- On the night he had 81 yards on eight carries. He is tied for 8th in the NSIC in touchdowns with four
- DeShawn Gay returned seven kicks for 177 yards against the Dragons
- It is the 2nd highest single game kick return yardage in the NCAA era for the Marauders, trailing only the 200 yard total by Connor Graves against UMD in 2016
- Devin Sardelli had two tackles for loss, including a sack |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 29 vs. Southwest Minnesota State – 2 p.m. |
| University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 29-21 @ MINOT |
1-3, 1-3 North |
W1 |
16th Overall, 8th North |
| Team Notes |
- The Golden Eagles earned their first win since Nov. 7, 2015 as they upended Minot State 29-21 in Minot, N.D. on Saturday
- The win was also the first on the road since Nov. 3, 2007 against MSU Moorhead
- Minnesota Crookston notched 401 yards of total offense in the game, their best offensive performance since Sept. 14, 2017 against Wayne State where they also notched 401 yards of total offense
- The Golden Eagles also picked up their best defensive performance since Nov. 7, 2015, their last win against Minot State, where they limited the Beavers to 214 yards of offense
- On Saturday, Minnesota Crookston limited Minot State to 245 yards of total offense
- Minnesota Crookston returns home for Homecoming to face Augustana at 1 p.m. Sat., Sept. 29 at Ed Widseth Field |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Jalin Scott was 12-of-17 for 213 yards and 1 TD and rushed 19 times for 53 yards and 3 TD
- Elijah Todd rushed 26 times for 130 yards against Minot State
- Ali Alkhatib had eight tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack for a safety
- Julian Jackson notched six tackles and a sack
- Jonattan Mudd had three catches for 84 yards |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 29 vs Augustana – 1 p.m. |
| University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 26-19 (2OT) vs. BSU |
4-0, 4-0 North |
W4 |
4th Overall, 1st North |
| Team Notes |
- No. 11 UMD remained as one of the NSIC’s two unbeaten teams by prevailing over Bemidji State 26-19 in double overtime on Saturday
- The Bulldogs held Bemidji State to 295 yards of total offense – 226 yards below the Beavers’ season average en route to defeating their intrastate rivals for the 17th straight time overall and 22nd consecutive game in Duluth
- UMD is now 8-1 in its last nine overtime games
- UMD has won eight of the past nine matchups with the Golden Bears, including the last six in a row
- Saturday will mark UMD’s first afternoon outing of the year and it first against a team that won’t enter the game with an unbeaten record
- The Bulldogs rank among the NCAA II leaders in a host of categories including time of possession (1st; 38:23), 3rd down conversion defense (1st; 13.7 percent), total defense (3rd; 204.3 yards per game) and scoring offense (6th; 44.0 ppg) |
| Top Performer(s) |
- For the second straight week redshirt freshman running back Wade Sullivan, rushed for a pair of touchdowns and on Saturday night his two-yard run in the second overtime sealed UMD’s takedown of Bemidji State
- Sullivan finished with 89 ground yards on a personal-best 26 carries while sophomore quarterback John Larson ran 14 times for a game-high 90 yards
- Larson also completed 19 of 36 passes for 242 yards with one interception
- His favorite target was senior wide out Jason Balts, who had five receptions before being sidelined with an injury in the third quarter.
- Junior free safety Bill Atkinshad had a career-high and team-leading nine tackles against the Beavers while senior Bryce Juedes was credited with seven stops
- Sophomore quarterback John Larson paces the NSIC in completion percentage (.606), yards per completion (14.31) and points responsible for (66) |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 29 vs. CSP – 1 p.m. |
| Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W, 31-21 |
4-0, 4-0 South |
W4 |
T-1st Overall, 1st South |
| Team Notes |
- The Minnesota State defense allowed just 68 yards of total offense in the second half against Winona State
- Junior Nate Gunn rushed for 126 yards and three touchdowns. This is the 13th time he has rushed for more than 100 yards in his career
- Sophomore Parker Gloudemans caught three passes for 83 yards to lead the MSU receiving corps
- Minnesota State has won 17 straight NSIC games dating back to week 10 of the 2016 season
- Junior Shane Zylstra has caught a touchdown pass in all four games this season
- Junior Alex Goettl led the Maverick defense with 11 tackles and three tackles for a loss
- The MSU defense recorded 13 tackles for a loss and five sacks |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Nate Gunn, 126 rushing yards, 3 touchdown carries, 4.8 yards per carry
- Alex Goettl, 11 tackles, 3 sacks |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 29 vs. St. Cloud State – 2 p.m. |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 48-20 at UMary |
3-1, 3-1 NSIC North |
W2 |
10th Overall, 5th North |
| Team Notes |
- Building a 28-0 halftime lead, MSUM retained the Paddle with a 48-20 win over UMary
- MSUM has outscored its last two opponents 62-7 in the first half – both wins
- Sophomore WR Grady Bresnahan second in NSIC at 7.0 receptions per game
- Sophomore WR Jake Richter fourth in NSIC at 87.8 receiving yards per game and is tied for league lead with five TD
- Sophomore DL Darius Woods-Steichen is second in NSIC at 4.0 sacks |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Sophomore QB Jakup Sinani was 19-of-31 passing for 272 yards and three scores while also rushing for 40 yards and two scores
- Junior WR Zach Sweep caught five passes for 83 yards and two scores
- Sophomore WR Grady Bresnahan caught eight passes for 103 yards
- Sophomore RBs Denver Colgrove and Zach Simons both rushed for touchdowns
- Sophomore DL Darius Woods-Steichen had two sacks and a forced fumble
- Senior CB Jerry Raye had an interception
- Sophomore LB Matt Schoh had seven tackles, including 1.5 for loss |
| Up Next |
| Sept. 29 at Upper Iowa, 3 p.m. |
| Minot State University Beavers |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L 29-21 vs UMC |
1-3, 1-3 North |
L1 |
13th Overall, 6th North |
| Team Notes |
- Forced a turnover for the fourth straight game and have created 13 turnovers on the year
- Minot State recorded a season-high 8.0 tackles for loss against Minnesota Crookston
- The Beavers tied their season high with 2.0 sacks against the Golden Eagles |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Kywan Owens had a career-high 14 tackles, including nine solo tackles
- Chris Rivers intercepted a pass for the second straight game
- Ben Bolinske threw a career-high three touchdown passes
- Lavante Bushnell hauled in two touchdown passes, including a 42-yard TD reception |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 29 at Sioux Falls – 1 p.m. |
| Northern State University Wolves |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L 19-14 vs. SCSU |
1-3, 1-3 North |
L2 |
8th Overall, 4th North |
| Team Notes |
- NSU lost their second straight game over the weekend to St. Cloud State by a 5-point spread
- The Wolves tallied one rushing touchdown and one passing score
- Northern combined for 143 yards of total offense, 141 of which came in the air
- Defensively, the Wolves tallied four tackles for a loss of 14 yards, and broke up eight passes |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Chaka Kelly and Dakota Larson tallied the teams two touchdowns, a 5-yard run and 42 yard reception
- Hunter Trautman threw for 141 yards with a 42-yard long to Larson
- Noah MacPherson led the Wolves defense with ten tackles, including two tackles for a loss |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 29 vs. Winona State – 2:30 p.m. |
| University of Sioux Falls Cougars |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 51-13 vs. Augustana |
3-1, 3-1 South |
W2 |
3rd Overall, 2nd South |
| Team Notes |
|
- USF never trailed against Augustana, totaling a season-high 576 yards in total offense, including a season-high 332 rushing, to take a 51-13 win with the sixth “Key to the City” victory in seven games at the DII level
- USF, which now has won three straight “Key to the City” matchups, put together the most dominating performance of the series with the 38-point differential, the largest in the series
- USF also scored over 50 points for the first time in the series
- It is the most points scored by USF against Augustana since the Cougars recorded a 46-0 win in the first-ever contest between the rivals in 1916
- The Cougars have never lost at Kirkeby-Over Stadium, running their mark to 4-0 at the Vikings' home
- The USF offense rolled up 576 yards on 63 plays for a 9.1 yard per play average, which tied USF's DII mark set against St. Cloud State on Sept. 1, 2016
- The defense forced five turnovers, including four interceptions with one a defensive score
|
| Top Performer(s) |
|
- Junior running back Gabriel Watson had 23 carries for 140 yards and a career-high and Kirkeby Over Stadium record of four rushing TDs in the 51-13 win vs. Augie
- Junior quarterback Caden Walters completed 13-of-21 passes for a career-high 244 yards with 35 rushing yards and an eight yard TD run
- Junior Colton Myles led USF in rushing with a career-best 154 yards on 15 carries
- Myles capped off the scoring with a career-best 58-yard TD run
- Junior cornerback Parker Gregston had two interceptions, including a 75-yard pick six, and four tackles
|
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 22 vs Minot State at 1 p.m. |
| Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 21-20 vs. UIU |
1-3, 1-3 South |
W1 |
13th Overall / 8th South |
| Team Notes |
- SMSU snapped an 11-game losing streak that dated back to week four of the 2017 season with Saturday’s win over Upper Iowa
- The SMSU defense forced three turnovers and held UIU to 5 of 16 on third-down conversions
- SMSU rushed for a season-high 137 yards on 38 attempts
- SMSU has defeated UIU in 10 of the last 11 meetings |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Senior quarterback Blake Gimbel had a pair of touchdown passes in the victory Saturday and now has 65 in his career, moving into sole possession of second place in team history
- Junior wide receiver Daniel Davis caught a game-high seven passes for 69 yards and one touchdown
- Junior running back Max Simmons rushed for a game-high 154 yards on 30 carries, while also catching five passes for 33 yards and one touchdown
- Simmons has scored 28 touchdowns in his career which now moves him into 10th all-time in team history. He also has rushed for 1,586 career yards ranking 11th in team history
- Senior linebacker Shane Ratkovich recorded a team-high 10 tackles with two for loss and one fumble recovery |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 29 at UMary – 2 p.m. |
| St. Cloud State University Huskies |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| W 19-14 at NSU |
3-1, 3-1 North |
W1 |
7th overall, 3rd NSIC North |
| Team Notes |
|
- The Huskies tallied 239 total net yards rushing Saturday afternoon, led by Curtwan Evans’ season-high 140 yards. It marks the first time this season an individual SCSU running back has rushed for 100 yards in 2018
- St. Cloud State’s defense was once again stellar, as it held Northern State to just two net yards rushing and 141 yards in the air
- Adam Stage was once again perfect for the Huskies as a place kicker, going 2-2 on field goals and 2-2 on PATs
- He also averaged 56.0 yards/kick on kickoffs and 36.4 yards on punts
|
| Top Performer(s) |
- Jake Schley (8 total tackles (6 solo, 2 assist), 2.5 tackles for loss of 14 combined yards, one sack for a loss of eight yards, one QB hurry)
- Curtwan Evans (140 total yards, 1 TD; season-long 36 yard TD run in second quarter; ave. season-high 6.4 yards/carry)
- Jack Horter (7 total tackles (6 solo, 1 assist), one tackle for loss of eight yards; one QB hurry and one sack) |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 29 at No. 1 Minnesota State – 2 p.m. |
| Upper Iowa University Peacocks |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L, 21-20 at SMSU |
1-3, 1-3 South |
L1 |
11th Overall, 6th South |
| Team Notes |
|
- Upper Iowa lost a 21-20 decision at Southwest Minnesota State University on Saturday as the Mustangs snapped an 11-game losing streak to post their first win of the season
- Both teams scored a touchdown in each of the first three quarters before being held off the scoreboard in the fourth quarter
- UIU took a 20-14 lead in the game after scoring the final touchdown of the second quarter and first of the third quarter, but SMSU answered with the eventual winning drive midway through the third quarter
|
| Top Performer(s) |
- Antoine Conner led the Peacocks with 112 yards on 24 carries marking a season-high for the senior
- Daniel Ruffin Jr. returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown and added a tackle
- Brent Lammers threw for 234 yards and a touchdown; the senior added 7 yards and a touchdown on the ground
- Keagan Pinter paced the receivers with 81 yards and 1 touchdown
- Defensively, Mitchel Siech led the group with 12 solo tackles including 4 tackles for loss and a sack
- The Peacocks grabbed three interceptions thanks to the hands of Terrell Powell, Jordan Wymer and Isaac Barrett |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 29 vs. MSU Moorhead – 3 p.m. |
| Wayne State College Wildcats |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L 29-7 at CSP |
1-3, 1-3 South |
L2 |
9th Overall, 5th South |
| Team Notes |
- WSC lost at Concordia-St. Paul 29-7 Thursday evening
- Game was delayed twice for two hours due to rain/lightening |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Junior running back D’andre Vanexel scored on one-yard TD run
- True freshman wide receiver Mason Lee had four catches for 70 yards
- Senior linebacker Romel Hill had team-high 12 tackles |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, September 29 vs Bemidji State – 1 p.m. |
| Winona State University Warriors |
| Last Week |
Season Record |
Streak |
Preseason Poll |
| L 31-21 vs. MSU |
2-2, 2-2 South |
L2 |
2nd Overall, 2nd South |
| Team Notes |
- Led No. 2 MSU at halftime, 21-7
- Allowed 24-unanswered Maverick points after halftime while being shutout over the final two quarters
- Limited to a season-low 48 rushing yards, including just two in the second half
- Suffered a season-high five sacks |
| Top Performer(s) |
- Sophomore Sam Santiago-Lloyd led the backfield in touches for the third straight week (69 yards/1 TD)
- Senior Isaiah Frandsen hauled in a touchdown pass for the second straight week
- Sophomore Tyler Anderson caught four passes for a career-best 74 yards
- Junior Nate Gennrich knocked down field goals from 30 & 27 in his first start of the year
- Redshirt freshman Kenneth Sanders had a team-high eight tackles |
| Up Next |
| Saturday, Sept. 29 at Northern State – 2:30 p.m. |
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