For Immediate Release
Monday, September 8, 2025
NSIC Media Relations
Media Packet
NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
#15 Jack Strand (QB, 6-5, 240, Sr., Bloomer, Wis. / Bloomer HS) – MSU Moorhead
- Threw for an NSIC best 319 yards in the first half of a 51-3 victory over SMSU
- Completed 22 of 34 pass attempts for a 64.7 completion percentage
- Also tossed five touchdown passes in the half with a long of 55 yards
- Eclipsed 10,000 career passing yards in the victory
NSIC Defensive Player of the Week
#95 Conner Haggerty (DL, 6-2, 255, Sr., Onalaska, Wis. / Onalaska) – Winona State
- Tallied 7.0 tackles with two forced fumbles in a 21-17 win over Bemidji State
- Forced the game-sealing strip sack with 0:18 left on the clock
- Key part of the Warrior defensive unit that held BSU scoreless in the game’s final 39:37
NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week
#7 Jonathan Shrum (DB/KR, 5-11, 190, R-So., Farmington, Minn. / Farmington HS) – Minnesota Duluth
- Returned the opening kick-off 90-yards for a touchdown in a 61-7 win at CSP
- Was UMD’s first kickoff return for a score since 2023
- Totaled 111 yards between two returns
Others Under Consideration
OFFENSE
Kyle Walljasper (Minnesota Duluth)
- Threw for 156 yards
- Had three touchdowns in the air with one rushing (7-yards)
- Earned a 70% completion in 10 attempts
- Longest pass measured 48 yards
TreShawn Watson (Minnesota State)
- Caught four passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns
- Caught touchdown passes of 71 yards and 28 yards
- Has recorded more than 100 receiving yards in back-to-back games to open the 2025 season
Dean Camden (Sioux Falls)
- Helped lead USF to a 42-28 win over Northern State to improve to 2-0 on the season
- Recorded 267 yards of total offense with four touchdowns - 3 passing & 1 rushing
- Went 20-for-26 for 228 yards with a long of 45 in the air while adding 39 yards on 16 carries on the ground
Dawson Forgy (Wayne State)
- Rushed for NSIC-high 172 yards on 27 carries and two TD's in 42-7 win over UMary
- Scored on TD runs of nine and one yards with long run of 52 yards
- Also had two catches for 27 yards for 199 all-purpose yards vs. Marauders
DEFENSE
Luke Humbert (Minnesota Duluth)
- Intercepted for a 63-yard pick-six at CSP
- Earned two solo tackles
Adam Kallenbach (MSU Moorhead)
- Picked off a pair of passes in MSUM's 51-3 victory over SMSU on Saturday
- Made three tackles in the game, including one tackle for loss
- Also added a pass breakup in the victory
Jake Adams (Northern State)
- Led Northern State and the Northern Sun last week with 21 tackles
- Recorded 14 solo stops and 0.5 tackle for a loss
- His 21 tackles were a single game career high for the junior
- Leads NCAA Division II in total tackles and solo tackles to kick-off the season
Parker Knutson (Southwest Minnesota State)
- Recorded a pair of first half interceptions in SMSU's season opener versus MSU Moorhead
- Also recorded a pair of pass break-ups and added one assisted tackle
Alex Kowalczyk (Wayne State)
- Recorded seven tackles with one interception and one sack in 42-7 win over UMary
- Also credited with 2.5 tackles for loss for 13 yards
- Interception late first quarter and 11 return yards set up WSC score to go up 14-0
SPECIAL TEAMS
Connor Fournier (Minnesota State)
- Went 2-for-2 in field goal attempts from 23 and 25 yards out
- Went 4-for-4 in extra point attempts and scored 10 points for the Mavericks
- Led the NSIC in kicking scoring with 10 points
Cooper Eisenbeisz (Northern State)
- Scored the first touchdown of his career and tied the game at 14 against Sioux Falls
- Ran back the opening kick-off of the second half, 94-yards to the Cougar endzone
- He now ranks third all-time in longest kick-off return at Northern State
- Recorded 143 yards on kick returns against USF, averaging 47.7 yards per return
Week 1 Results
Football Pages
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
9/8/25
O: #15
Jack Strand – MSU Moorhead
D: #95
Conner Haggerty – Winona State
SP: #7
Jonathan Shrum – Minnesota Duluth
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.
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