For Immediate Release
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
NSIC Media Relations
Media Packet

NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
#12 Gunnar Hensley (QB, 6-2, 210, Jr., Carlsbad, Calif. / Mission Hills HS) - Augustana
- Tallied a career and NSIC-best 441 total yards in Augustana’s 30-26 win over Missouri Western
- Threw for three touchdowns while passing for an NCAA DII-high 430 yards
- The 430 yards is the seventh highest mark in program history
- Finished the day with a passing efficiency of 151.02
- Completed 31 of 51 passes to nine different receivers
- Found Cody Oswald in the end zone with 10 seconds remaining for the game-winning score

NSIC Defensive Player of the Week
#45 Mitchell Jezierski (LB, 6-1, 216, Sr., Rogers, Minn. / Rogers HS) - MSU Moorhead
- Recorded a career-high and NSIC-best 18 tackles in MSUM's 44-37 win at Northern Michigan
- Had 12 solo takedowns in the performance
- Added in two tackles for loss, including one sack for a total of nine lost yards
- Credited with two forced fumbles in the victory, both recovered by the Dragons

NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week
#14 Connor Fournier (K, 6-0, 200, So., Maple Grove, Minn. / Maple Grove HS) - Minnesota State
- Went 5-for-5 in extra point attempts in a 38-14 win over Northwest Missouri State
- Connected on a 24-yard field goal to extend the Maverick lead to 38-14
- Scored eight of MSU's 38 points in the victory

Others Under Consideration
OFFENSE
Connor Carver (Bemidji State)
- Scored both touchdowns for No. 16/19 Bemidji State against Michigan Tech
- Marked 14 rushes for a gain of 105 yards, net of 96
- Had a long rush of 39 yards, resulting in a touchdown
- Averaged 6.9 yards per rush
- Went 5-11-0 through the air
- Threw for 38 yards
Luke Bodine (UMary)
- Caught three touchdown passes to lead UMary to a 28-22 Week 0 win over Midland
- Scored on receptions of 5, 12 and 21 yards
- Added a pair of first down catches on final drive as UMary controlled the ball for the last six minutes
- Posted a career-high seven catches for 79 yards
Dehnicke Luke (Minnesota Duluth)
- Six receptions for 152 yards (avg. 25.3 yds) in a 35-7 win over WSU
- Included a 64-yard receiving touchdown
TreShawn Watson (Minnesota State)
- Recorded a career-high 155 receiving yards in MSU's win over Northwest Missouri State
- Caught seven passes of the nine passes thrown his way and notched 45 yards after the catch
- Caught a 38-yard touchdown pass to put MSU up 21-0
- Also caught a 41-yard pass
Gage Florence (MSU Moorhead)
- Hauled in 17 receptions for 147 yards and three touchdowns in a 44-37 win at Northern Michigan
- Led the NSIC in receptions, receiving touchdowns and points scored (18) for the week
- Averaged 8.6 yards per reception with a 25-yard long, which was also a go-ahead touchdown reception
- Eclipsed 300 career receptions, becoming the 10th player in NCAA Division II history to eclipse 300 receptions
Camden Dean (Sioux Falls)
- Led USF to a season-opening 27-21 win over Black Hills State
- Had three touchdowns and 382 yards of total offense
- Leads the conference in rushing yards with 129 yards and two scores on 20 carries
- Added 18 completions for 243 yards and a score

DEFENSE
Mauloa Wells (Sioux Falls)
- Helped lead USF to a 27-21 win over Black Hills State
- Recorded four solo tackles with one TFL and one pass breakup
- Sealed the victory with a 30-yard interception return
Jes Krcil (Wayne State)
- Recorded 15 total tackles in Wayne State's 28-21 loss to Nebraska-Kearney
- Second-most tackles in a game by an NSIC player in opening week
- Credited with one forced fumble and 1.5 tackles for loss

SPECIAL TEAMS
Connor Mantelli (Bemidji State)
- Earned 30% of the Beavers' points against Michigan Tech
- Tallied four punts for 141 yards, with a long of 38 yards
- Made a 14-yard second-quarter field goal
- Marked four kickoffs for 219 total yards, averaging 54.8 per kickoff
- Added two made PAT kicks
Logan Matthews (Minot State)
- Punted six times for 303 yards (50.5 avg.) in his Beaver debut at Emporia State
- Booted a 71-yard punt, tied for 10th longest in Minot State’s 100-year history
- Placed three punts inside the opponent’s 20

Week 0  Results

MSU Moorhead 44, Northern Mich. 37
Bemidji State 17, Michigan Tech 37
Minnesota State 38, Northwest Mo. St. 14
Concordia-St. Paul 7, Quincy 38
UMary 28, Midland 22
Wayne State College 21, Neb.-Kearney 28
Winona State 7, Minnesota Duluth 35
Minot State 7, Emporia St. 27
Sioux Falls 27, Black Hills State 21
Augustana 30, Missouri Western State 26

 

NSIC Football Players of the Week
9/2/25
O: #12 Gunnar Hensley  - Augustana
D: #45 Mitchell Jezierski  - MSU Moorhead
SP: #14 Connor Fournier - Minnesota State

About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past quarter century, maturing into a union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 27 team national championships and crowned 122 individual national champions. For additional information, visit NorthernSun.org.

About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes can earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.