Bulldogs set to Host Huskies

NEWS RELEASE-NSO

Oct. 3, 2013

NO. 18 ST. CLOUD STATE IN TOWN SATURDAY AS NO. 11 UMD’S HOMECOMING GUESTS

HUDDLE UP: For the second time in as many games, two nationally-ranked clubs will collide at James S. Malosky Stadium (4,500 capacity/artificial turf) as this Saturday (Oct. 5) the University of Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State are set to meet in the Bulldogs’ annual Homecoming game. The opening kick off is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

THE RECORDS: UMD is 3-1 both overall and in NSIC play while St. Cloud State sports a perfect 4-0 record, which represents its best start in eight years.

HOW THEY RANK: Here is how UMD and St. Cloud State stacked up in this week’s American Football Coaches Association Division II and the D2Football.com polls.

AFCA    D2Football    UMD    No. 13    No. 8
SCSU    No. 18    No. 23
THE BROADCAST: The UMD-St. Cloud State matchup will be carried live on 1490 The Fan (KQDS-AM) with Jeff Papas handling the play-by-play responsibilities ex-University of North Dakota offensive lineman Gregg Swartwoudt doing color. The broadcast can also be heard on KQ 105.5 FM in Grand Rapids/Hibbing , KQ 106.7 FM in Ely/Virginia and at: www.fan1490.com.

In addition, My9 (KBJR DT 6.2/KRII DT 11.9) is televising all UMD home games during the 2013 season, including Saturday’s bout with the Huskies. Northland Newscenter sports director Zach Schneider and former long-time UMD defensive coordinator Vince Repesh will serve as the on-air talent. The telecast, which is also available locally on Charter and Mediacom cable, will be videostreammed as well and can be accessed for free at: client.stretchinternet.com/client/umd.portal#

THE COACH: After spending the previous five years overseeing UMD offensive units which moved the football with as much proficiency as any NCAA II team in the country, Curt Wiese received a much-deserved promotion on Dec. 21, 2012 when he became the sixth head coach in the Bulldogs’ storied 81-year history.

During his successful half-decade run as the team’s offensive coordinator, the Bulldogs finished near the top of the NCAA II leader board four times in scoring (third last fall with a school-record 46.5 points per game average, fifth in 2008, sixth in 2010 and ninth four years ago) and in 2012 possessed the nation’s seventh best rushing attack (after ranking seventh, fourth, and third, respectively, in that department the previous three seasons). The 2012 Bulldogs were also the nation’s leader in third down conversions (54.8 percent). In addition, no less than 15 of his pupils landed some kind of All-American recognition, including a pair of Harlon Hill Award finalists — quarterback Ted Schlafke (2008), the school’s career passing and total offense leader, and running back Isaac Odim (2009), UMD’s all-time top ground gainer and scorer and the holder of 17 school records. Wiese’s starting offensive guard from 2009–12, Garth Heikkinen, became the school’s first recipient of the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year of Award and earned a playing spot in the annual East-West Shrine Game last January while offensive tackle Jake Bscherer participated in the Seattle Seahawks Training Camp this past summer.

Since Wiese’s arrival at UMD in 2008, the Bulldogs have gone 65-8 (a record unmatched by any NCAA II school), captured two NCAA II national championships (2008 and 2010), four overall NSIC titles and five NSIC North Division crowns, made five NCAA II playoff appearances and produced two perfect 15-0 seasons.

Wiese, 37, came to UMD following two years of employment as the head coach at NCAA Division III member Marietta College (Ohio). He compiled a 9-11 career overall record with the Pioneers, including a 6-4 mark in 2006. The Stoughton, Wis., native signed on with the Marietta football program in 2003 when he became the team’s offensive coordinator — a duty he continued to maintain after he was elevated to head coach. In five years of directing the Marietta offense, Wiese helped churn out two All-Americans, 12 All-Ohio Athletic Conference selections and five Academic All-OAC honorees and was a finalist for the American Football Coaches Association Division III Assistant Coach of the Year Award in 2004.

Prior to his move to Marietta, Wiese worked as a graduate assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, tutoring the tight ends for two years and the offensive line for one season. He entered the coaching arena a little over a dozen ago on the heels of a four-year collegiate playing career. After three seasons at Minnesota State University-Mankato (1995-97), Wiese transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where as a senior in 1998, he quarterbacked the Pointers to a share of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title.

WIESE BY THE NUMBERS
Record at UMD (Year)    3-1 (1st)
Overall Coaching Record (Year)    12-12 (3rd)
Career NSIC Record    3-1
vs. St. Cloud State     0-0
THE SERIES: The Bulldogs and Huskies have collided 45 times previously in a rivalry which began back in 1933 — the third year of intercollegiate football at UMD. St. Cloud State holds a 24-21 lead in the all-time series, but is just 2-7 in its last nine meetings with its long-time intrastate rival. The Huskies have prevailed, however, in two the most recent confrontation (51-49 on Sept. 29, 2012 and 35-7 on Oct. 27, 2011 — both in St. Cloud). One year ago, UMD was seconds away from keeping its perfect 2012 record intact, but a walk-off touchdown on the final play of the night by St. Cloud State quashed those plans. The Bulldogs, after falling behind for the first time all game with 2:09 to go in the fourth quarter, regained the lead at 49-45 on senior quarterback Chase Vogler’s 35-yard touchdown scamper only to see the Huskies take the ensuing kick off and march 75 yards on 10 plays. That 76-second drive was capped off with an eight-yard scoring reception by Michael Walker with no ticks on the clock left. The stunning setback overshadowed a gritty performance from Vogler, who figured in on six of the Bulldogs’ seven touchdowns, passing for a career-high four scores and running for two more. He also rushed for a game-high 120 yards on just 14 carries. The Bulldogs were outdone by the Huskies in a host of statistical categories including total offense yards (637 to 367), passing yards (461 to 164), first downs (34 to 20) and total plays (80 to 61).

LAST WEEK: UMD got back on the winning track and erupted for a season-high 483 yards of total offense in cruising to a 64-21 victory at Wayne State College on Saturday afternoon. UMD also eclipsed 2013 bests for rushing yards (316) while holding Wayne State to just 52 yards on the ground and 258 yards overall (and only 35 yards the entire second half) Sophomore running back Logan Lauters ran for 103 yards and three touchdowns (all before halftime) on just 11 carries for UMD, which forced three turnovers in the road win. Redshirt freshman quarterback Drew Bauers completed 12 of 21 passes for 129 yards and added another 51 yards on the ground as UMD hiked its all-time record against the Wildcats to 11-1.

St. Cloud State throttled Augustana College 31-6 Saturday night in St. Cloud to terminate a five-game losing skid to the Vikings. Senior quarterback Phillip Klapke threw for two touchdowns and passed for a third score and senior free safety Jack Moro (three interceptions) spearheaded a Husky defense which gave up just 162 total yards on the evening.

THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING: The Bulldogs’ team captaincy responsibilities this fall are being shared by a quartet of seniors — strong safety Travis Nordhus, offensive tackle Tom Olson, inside linebacker Colby Ring and outside linebacker Nate Zuk — along with junior wide receiver/return specialist Aaron Roth.

ANOTHER FAVORABLE NSIC FORECAST: For the first time since 2007 (when UMD was a member of the now defunct North Central Conference), the NSIC coaches chose someone other than the Bulldogs as the team to beat. In their annual preseason poll, the league coaches picked the defending NSIC kingpin Minnesota State-Mankato to finish first in both the South Division and in the overall standings while the Bulldogs were slotted to capture the North Division crown (for a sixth straight years) and place second to the Mavericks overall (like the did one year ago after a four-year run as league champs). UMD had been chosen as the overall NSIC preseason favorite during each of its previous six years of league membership (2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2003.

IT’S BEEN A WHILE: The Bulldogs have reeled off four straight home wins at the Huskies’ expense since being blanked 28-0 in the 2004 season finale when both clubs were members of the now-defunct North Central Conference. That remains the only time UMD has been held scoreless at Malosky Stadium in the last 21 years (St. Cloud State prevailed 33-0 over the host Bulldogs in 1992).

SAME OLD, SAME OLD: This Saturday will mark the fourth time in the last five UMD-St. Cloud State matchups that both teams have been nationally ranked. The following is listing of those confrontations with each team’s ranking in that week’s AFCA II poll:

Date    Result
9/29/12    SCSU 51, (No. 2) UMD 49
10/29/11    (No. 11) SCSU 35, (No. 16) UMD 7
11/27/10    (1) UMD 20, (15) SCSU 17 – OT*
10/30/10    (2) UMD 40, (20) SCSU 17

*NCAA II playoffs

QUITE A RUN: Since the 2008 season opener, UMD owns both the highest victory total (65) and best winning percentage (.890 off a 65-8 record) of any NCAA II program.

Wins (2008-present)
1.    UMD            65
2.    Northwest Missouri State    64
3.     Grand Valley State        55
4.    California U. (Pa.)        54
5.    Bloomsburg             52
6.    Minnesota State-Mankato    51
7.    West Texas A& M        50
8.    Missouri Western        48
9.    CSU-Pueblo            47
10.    Pittsburg State        46

Winning Percentage (2008-present)
1.    UMD    (65-8)    .890
2.    Northwest Missouri State    (64-11)    .853
3.    Grand Valley State    (55-12)    .820
4.    Bloomsburg     (52-12)    .813
4.    Minnesota State-Mankato    (51-14)    785
5.     California U. (Pa)    (54-15)    .783
6.    CSU-Pueblo    (47-14)    .770

BULLDOG BITS: In Saturday’s triumph at Wayne State, senior inside linebacker Colby Ring returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown — UMD’s third pick-six of the somewhat young 2013 season.
•The Bulldogs currently rank third among all NCAA II schools in average time of possession (35:45) and are eighth in rushing defense (77.5 yard per game).

• Jeron Johnson, fellow senior running back Chaz Thomas and junior tight end Taylor Grant, a transfer from the University of North Dakota, all made their first pass catches as Bulldogs at Wayne State.

• UMD has generated points (three touchdowns and a field goal) on its opening series in all four outings thus far.

• Logan Lauters registered the third 100-yard rushing day of his collegiate career last Saturday and the first one by a Bulldog since the 2012 finale at Missouri Western State University.

•The Bulldog have outscored their opposition 63-14 in the first quarter this season, but has managed just seven points (while giving up only six) in the final 15 minutes of play all year.

•Senior Grant Schnobrich, who had made 13 straight starts at center before being sidelined at Upper Iowa University with a lower body injury, returned to the starting lineup last Saturday, but this time as an offensive right guard

•In its two home engagements to date, UMD is averaging 5,470 spectators at the 4,500-seat Malosky Stadium.

•The Bulldogs have cracked the Top 25 in every AFCA II poll since Aug. 12, 2008, and haven’t fallen out of the Top 15 in over five years (the last time being Sept. 8, 2008).

•Junior running back Austin Sikorski, UMD’s leading rusher this fall, has rolled up more career ground yardage (1,789 on 322 attempts) than any other current Bulldog. In addition, he has a team-best six 100-yard rushing days to his collegiate credit with his last coming in the first round of the 2012 NCAA II playoffs at Missouri Western State.

•The 2013 UMD roster sports 22 seniors — believed to be the most in program history.

•Two players — senior Alex Brown and sophomore Andrew Brees — have split UMD’s punting duties thus far. Brown, a third-year starter, has punted seven times for a 30.4 yard average while Brees, the team’s primary placekicker is averaging 31.4 yards (five punts). This is the first year since 1999 that two Bulldogs have had five or more punts.

•Since falling to Concordia University-St. Paul 37-27 back on Oct. 7, 2000, UMD is 41-1 in NSIC games at Malosky Stadium and 46-1 overall against NSIC members (playoffs and non-conference outings while it was a member of the NCC). The lone defeat during that stretch was inflicted by second-ranked Minnesota State-Mankato (21-17) two weeks ago. In addition, from the 2010 season opener on, the Bulldogs have compiled a 21-2 home mark.

•Senior offensive tackle Tom Olson is expected to make his 46th consecutive start (which covers every game over the past four seasons) this Saturday. That’s the third longest ironman streak in team history, trailing only quarterback Ted Schlafke (47 games between 2005-08) and offensive guard and current Bulldog graduate assistant coach Garth Heikkinen (54 games between 2009-12)
WELCOME BACK: Some 40-plus past team captains, as well as members of the 1973 Bulldogs, will be UMD’s honored guests Saturday. Forty years ago, this band of Bulldogs captured a share of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference — the last UMD club to do so (it would join the NSIC ranks three years later) — and finished 8-1 on the year thanks in part to a defense which allowed just 8.6 points per game.

UP NEXT: The Bulldogs will be in Moorhead, Minn. next Saturday (Oct. 12) for a NSIC clash with Minnesota State University-Moorhead.