Football | 11/2/2016 9:01:00 PM

SIOUX FALLS -- The #4 USF Football Team (9-0, 5-0 NSIC South), which ranks third in NCAA DII in total offense and second in rushing, will look to continue its unbeaten season and hunt for an NSIC Conference title when they host Upper Iowa (3-6, 2-3 NSIC South) at Bob Young Field at noon on Saturday.

At Stake
 A win by USF will earn the Cougars a share of its first-ever DII regular season league title in any sport. The victory would be USF's first DII conference crown and 20th overall (19 at the NAIA level). With a victory, USF will also win the NSIC South title outright, reach 10 wins in a season for a 16th time and pick up the program's 50th win at the DII level. For the first time at the DII level, USF is 9-0. The last time the Cougars started 9-0 was 2010 in a 13-1 season that ended in the NAIA title game - 10-7 loss to Carroll College. The last team to go 10-0 was also the 2010 squad, which had a 13-0 run to the title game.
 
Last Week
Both teams enter play Saturday after wins last week as the Cougars picked up a 24-14 road victory against Minnesota State (6-3, 2-3 NSIC) at Blakeslee Field. Junior running back Max Mickey rushed for 165 yards while senior quarterback Luke Papilion had three TDs, including two on the ground to lead the way over a team that they had not previously defeated as a member of the NSIC. The only previous win was a 7-0 decision in 1937. In the victory over the defending NSIC champion Mavericks, Papilion recorded his 12th career 100-yard rushing game (104) and also threw for 130 yards and a TD, which was the 75th of his career. Meanwhile, Upper Iowa edged Wayne State, 35-30 as quarterback Dimitri Morales threw for 265 yards and had four total TDs in the home win. Derrick Portis rushed for 164 yards. Jalen Amis had 10 receptions for 167 yards and a TD.

Cougars sit #4 nationally and #2 in Super Region 3
USF is ranked #4 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and #5 in the D2Football.com Poll and #4 in David Boyce's DII Power Poll at NCAA.com rank. USF is also #2 in the Super Rankings for the second straight week. The top 10 in the region rankings are listed here.
Super Region Three Rankings
(School, in-region record, DII record)
1. Northwest Missouri State, 9-0, 9-0
2. Sioux Falls, 9-0, 9-0
3. Harding, 9-0, 9-0
4. Emporia State, 8-1, 8-1
5. Minnesota Duluth, 8-1, 8-1
6. Azusa Pacific, 7-1, 8-1
7. Central Missouri, 7-2, 7-2
8. Bemidji State, 7-2, 7-2
9. Southern Arkansas, 7-2, 7-2
10. Henderson State, 7-2, 7-2

The Matchup     
When USF faces Upper Iowa on Saturday, the Cougars will look to continue its nine-game winning streak. The Cougars ranks third in the nation in total offense at 536.6 yards per game and rank second in rushing (341.9 ypg) while sitting 13th nationally in scoring at 40.9 ppg. In league stats, USF, ranks third in scoring defense at 21.4 ppg, second in total defense at 371.4 ypg and second in rushing defense, allowing just 104.4 yards per game.  Upper Iowa, which ranks 10th in scoring at 29.4 ppg, is averaging 468.3 (6th, NSIC) total yards of offense and sit fifth in rushing at 193.3 ypg.   On defense, the Peacocks give up 31.8 ppg (9th, NSIC) and allow 455.6 yards in offense per game (14th, NSIC) but just 131.9 rushing yards per game (3rd, NSIC). UIU permits 323.7 yards per game passing (16th, NSIC).

Cougars move to 43-10 in NSIC games; will try for 50th DII win Saturday
USF is 43-10 in NSIC games and 49-15 in all DII games since the transition in 2011. USF's clinched a 23rd straight winning season three weeks ago, a streak which is unmatched in D2 and the fifth-longest streak across all divisions. The string of success began with an 8-3 season for legendary head coach Bob Young in 1994. In the four seasons in the NSIC, USF has gone 9-2, 6-5, 11-1 (Mineral Water Bowl champs) and 9-3 in 2015.  
      
USF and Upper Iowa Series
The Cougars are 3-1 all-time vs. Upper Iowa, including two straight wins. A year ago, USF took a 69-20 victory in Fayette, Iowa as Luke Papilion threw for 331 yards and three TDs as USF  built a 45-7 lead at halftime. Josh Angulo had eight catches for 130 yards and a TD. USF had three special teams or defensive TDs, including an 88-yard kickoff return by Kyle Groeneweg, who had three receptions for 86 yards and a 51-yard TD catch. Solomon St. Pierre (24 yards) and John Tidwell (72 yards) had interception returns for TDs. In 2014, USF took a 45-24 win at Bob Young Field as Luke Papilion had 287 yards passing and three TDs. He also rushed for  76 yards and a TD as USF led 24-0 at halftime. Nephi Garcia had 104 yards and a TD while Max Mickey provided 75 yards and a TD. In 2013, Upper Iowa took a 30-28 decision. Peacock running back Chris Smith's record-breaking performance coupled with a fourth-down miscue cost USF in a 30-28 loss to Upper Iowa at Harms-Eischeid Stadium in Fayette, Iowa. In the game, Smith broke Upper Iowa's single season scoring mark in the third quarter and finished with 258 yards and three scores for the Peacocks. USF senior quarterback Carrington Hanna went 34-for-50 for 298 yards and two TDs and a pair of interceptions. Peacock quarterback Cole Jaeschke completed 23 of 30 attempts for 191 yards with one TD and one interception. Smith tallied a game-high 331 all purpose yards. Josh Angulo had 12 catches for 124 yards for USF. Campbell paced an outstanding defensive effort, posting 14 tackles and a forced fumble. St. Pierre, Batinich and Ahlers were credited with 10 tackles each. In 2012,  USF took a 54-41 decision, winning a shootout with the Peacocks, 54-41 at Bob Young Field. Kristian Porter racked up 108 rushing yards and two TDs. QB Taylor Perkins charted his sixth game with three or more passing TDs, finishing 15-of-25 for 230 yards and three TDs. He also added 50 yards on the ground. Jeremiah Oates recorded a career-high 162 yards and one TD, on just six receptions. The Cougars forced four interceptions, but they also allowed UIU quarterback Jaeschke to accumulate a NSIC record 606 passing yards and five touchdowns.  

USF ranks third in nation in offense and ranks in 11 top 10 categories
    The Cougars, which defeated Minnesota State, 24-14, and leads the NSIC, rank third in total offense and second in rushing offense for the second straight week Overall, the Cougars rank in the top 25 in 34 team and individual statistical categories and are top-10 in 11 categories. USF, which has had 400 yards or more total offense in every game this season, is third in DII in total offense at 536.6 yards per game. The Cougars, which have had at least 249 yards rushing in every contest, including over 300 five times, sits second in rushing at 341.9 yards per game. USF, which has the best per carry average in the nation at 7.5, has already surpassed last year's entire rushing total of 2,291 yards with its 3,077 yards this season.  It is a mark that is the best in school history through nine games. USF, which also ranks third nationally in yards per play at 7.31, has generated 505, 604, 453, 636, 562 670, 411, 432 and 477 yards in the eight games this season.  The Cougars are putting up 40.9 points per game, which ranks 13th in DII.  USF special teams are doing great work with its kickoff return unit fourth in DII with 27.24 yards per return. The Cougars are 20th in punt return defense at 4.5 yards per return and 22nd in punt returns at 14.29. Junior return specialist Kyle Groeneweg is 17th in combined returns with 658 yards and ranks 12th in punt returns at 14.3 per game. In other team categories, USF is 12th in sacks allowed (9) at 0.63 per game, 16th in red zone offense (88.9 percent), 10th in team sacks with 3.67 per game (33),  10th in interceptions with 15; and 18th in first downs with 221. Junior running back Max Mickey continues to shine as one of the nation's best, ranking in the top 10 in five rushing or scoring categories. Mickey, who is one five players nationally with at least 1,200 rushing yards, ranks first in yards per carry at 9.75, second in rushing yards at 1,329 and second in rushing yards per game at 147.3. Mickey, who had 165 yards and his seventh 100-yard rushing games this season against Minnesota State, is 13th nationally in total TDs with 15, 14th in total points scored with 90, 18th in scoring with 10.0 per game. Mickey, who ranks 13th in all-purpose yards at 161.11 per game, also sits 21st in rushing TDs with 12. In 2016, Mickey has had rushing totals of 178, 185, 77, 207, 140, 156, 91, 128 and 165 yards in his nine games this year.  Including national leader Mickey, USF has three players in the top six in DII in rushing yards per carry as senior quarterback Luke Papilion is fifth with 7.69 (106-815) while senior running back Justin Fulks is sixth at 7.21 per carry (97-699). Papilion, who already owns the school record in total offense (11,632 total yards) and passing (8,421 yards) is one of the few 8,000 yard passing, 3,000 yard rushers in DII history. With his 815 yards, he is second in DII to Reggie Bell of Ferris State (1,004 yards) in rushing yards by a quarterback. Papilion, who has 42 career rushing TDs, has 15 this year which ranks 8th in DII. In rushing yards, he is 36th in DII and 44th in rushing yards per game at 90.6. Papilion ranks 12th in points responsible for with 168 and 17th in DII with 18.7 points responsible for average. He is also tied with Mickey in both total TDs with 15, 18th in scoring at 10.0 per game and 14th with 90 total points.Also for USF, senior defensive end Westly Johnson has 7.5 sacks per game with his 0.83 sacks per game average ranking 21st in DII. Sophomore place kicker Brett Garner is 20th in field goal percentage at 77.8 percent while Cliff Redmond sits 20th in the nation with two fumble recoveries.

About Upper Iowa
Upper Iowa, which has won two of three games, opened the season with five losses in six games. They have wins over Wayne State (35-30), Concordia St. Paul (41-21) and Minot State (35-7).  UIU has lost to Bemidji State, 38-24; MSU Moorhead, 23-21; SMSU, 59-41; Winona State, 27-13 and Augustana, 54-35. The Peacocks offense, which ranks 10th in the league with 29.4 points per game, will be directed by Dimitri Morales, who ranks third in the NSIC with 331.1 yards in total offense per game. Morales ranks second in passing yards per game at 284.4 yards with 16 TDs and 14 interceptions. On the ground, Derrick Portis is sixth in the league with 118 carries for 706 yards and seven TDs while Morales has 327 yards rushing.  Wide receiver Jalen Amis has 63 catches for 748 yards and one TD. He ranks fourth in the league in receptions and nine in receiving yards. On defense, UIU is led by senior linebacker Zach Gardner with 59 tackles or 8.4 per game, which ranks eighth in the NSIC.  Senior defensive back Darius Cohen has 44 tackles. Upfront Jojo Simpson has 5.5 sacks and 10.5 TFLs.

On UIU HC Tom Shea
Tom Shea is in his eighth season at Upper Iowa, named head coach in  2009.  He spent three years at Upper Iowa as the defensive coordinator from 2004 to 2007 before becoming the head coach at Dakota State in 2007-08. The Peacock football program is the sixth program that Shea has led as the head football coach. The most notable of his years came in 1990 at Peru State College where he led the team as the Head Coach and Athletic Director to the NAIA Division II National Title. Shea was named the NAIA National Coach of the Year after the title run.  Shea began his collegiate coaching career at Dakota State College in 1979 as the defensive coordinator. He switched to the offensive side of the ball in 1980 as the offensive coordinator before taking over as the Head Coach and Athletic Director from 1981-1983.

Papilion has set total offense, passing marks
Luke Papilion, a senior quarterback from Denver, Colo., has become USF's all-time leader in passing and total offense.  Papilion, the NSIC's only two-time Harlon Hill candidate, now has 11,632 yards.  With 130 passing yards, Papilion has 8,421 passing which ranks first all-time. Plus he is the only USF QB ever to throw for 8,000 yards and rush for 3,000. He has 3,211 rushing yards, which ranks fifth all-time at USF and is first among quarterbacks.  He is second all-time in TD passes with 75. The all-time leader is Kurtiss Riggs, who had 85 TD passes from 1993-96.  He has 7,919 yards passing, eighth all-time in league play, and 3,049 yards rushing, 11th all-time in league play, in NSIC only games with his 10,958 total yards in league play fifth all-time in NSIC history. He is the only player in NSIC history with both 3,000 yards rushing and 7,900 yards passing. He is already the all-time leader in the NSIC in rushing yards by a quarterback and one of six who had 2,000 yards rushing.ith 12, 100-yard rushing games, he owns the mark for the most by a  quarterback at USF and ranks tied for fourth all-time with Nephi Garcia, 2013-14. This season, Papilion has five 100-yard rushing games (149, 101, 163, 122 104). He ranks second on the NSIC all-time chart in total offense with 296.2 yards per game, trailing only Jeff Loots of Southwest Minnesota State at 343.2.
 
Angulo approaching 200 receptions for his career
Senior wide receiver Josh Angulo has 42 receptions for 496 yards and eight TDs in 2016. With 192 career receptions, Angulo is two catches away from Alex Anderson (193, 2007-10) for fourth on USF's all-time list. He is just eight away from 200, a number that would move him past Jon Ryan (199, 2007-10) for third on USF's all-time team._ He has a season-career best 15 catches for 164 yards (1, 4, 43) vs. Bemidji State (37-36 W, 9-24-16). Angulo's 15 catches in a win over then #22 Bemidji State tied a school record (Kalen DeBoer, Nov. 2, 1996 vs. Nebraska-Wesleyan) and is the most catches by a receiver while USF has been at DII. Also this season, he had two catches for 10 yards and a TD vs. SCSU (9-1-16), recorded four caches for 71 yards and two TDs against MSUM (9-10-16) at Bob Young Field, had one catch for 18 yards against Minot State (9-17-16) and seven catches for 80 yards and a TD in the "Key to the City" victory at Augustana. Angulo added four catches for 43 yards vs. SMSU on Oct. 8. He had five catches for 53 yards and a TD in the win over MSU (10-29-16). This season, he has two TDs (37, 43) of 30 yards or more. Angulo ranks fifth all-time at USF in all three major receiving categories with 192 receptions, for 2,608 yards and 29 TDs.

Rose continues to climb receiving charts
Senior H-back Brady Rose show his flexibility in the USF offense by catching and throwing a TD vs. SCSU on Sept. 1 in the opener at Husky Stadium. In the in the win over SCSU on Sept. 1, both catching and throwing a TD.  Rose had seven catches for 163 yards and a 64-yard TD reception. He also threw a 39-yard TD pass to Kyle Groeneweg. Rose had five catches for 60 yards against MSUM on Sept. 10, three catches for 62 yards and a TD, and one catch for 11 yards vs. BSU (9-24-16). Against Augustana, he accumulated seven catches for 91 yards. Against SMSU (10-8-16), he set a career high with 12 catches and had 119 yards and added two catches for 40 yards vs. Winona State. Through nine games, he has 43 catches and a team high 622 yards receiving. The 119 yards receiving was his sixth career 100-yard receiving game. He now has 175 career yardage chart with 2,313 yards. He has 18 receiving TDs, including two this year, as he sits 10th all-time at USF, just one away from Zach Rutten, who had 19 from 1997-2001.
Angulo and Rose form historical receiving duo
Josh Angulo and Brady Rose rank second all-time for a receiving duo at USF for receiving yards and receptions. The two seniors have 4,911 receiving yards, second to Alex Anderson and Jon Ryan, who had 6,474 yards from 2007-10. Angulo/Rose have 367 receptions, which is second to Anderson/Ryan total of 392.  Anderson/Ryan had 84 TDs to 48 for Rose/Angulo.

USF's "lightning strike" offense
USF has a quick strike offense with 34 drives in under three minutes in 2016. In a week one win over SCSU, In 2016, USF is a quick strike offense. In a week one win over SCSU, USF had six TDs with drives taking three minutes or less. Of that six TDs, five came in two minutes or less and two in under a minute. Against MSUM, five of the six scoring drives were under three minutes, including two in less than 20 seconds. USF added three more scoring drives in three minutes or less against Minot State.  Against Bemidji State, the Cougars scored 34 points in the third quarter, including three TDs in 6:27 to open the second half. All five TDs by USF were scored in less than three minutes of drive time with two under a minute vs. BSU. In the victory over Augustana, USF had two drives in three minutes or less. The Cougars had three TD drives of three minutes or less in the 48-24 win over SMSU. Against Winona State, USF had two drives of three minutes or less and added six against CSP, including three in less than a minute. USF added another sub-two minute scoring drive in the win over Minnesota State. This year USF has produced nine TDs in 40 seconds or less. In 34 of the 49 TD drives in 2016, USF has taken less than three minutes and 22 in two minutes or less. A year ago, USF had 44 TD drives of three minutes or less drive time with 33 in under two minutes and 16 in one minute or less.  In the past two years USF has had 78 TD drives in three minutes or less. In the past two seasons, USF has 27 scoring driving in under one minute and 55 in under two minutes of time.

Cougars sit 58-5 all-time at Bob Young Field
USF has a home record at Bob Young Field of 58-5 (.921). The Cougars, which has won 13-of-15 home games, including 4-0 in 2016, were victorious the first 32 games at the stadium and have since taken 27-of-32 at the friendly confines of Young Field. Overall, including play at Howard Wood Field (through 2006), the Cougars have won 78 of the past 83 games and 68-of-72 home conference games, including 47 in the GPAC (NAIA) and 22 (22-4) as an NSIC member in NCAA DII.  Since 2000, USF is 96-10 at home.   

By the numbers under Stugart
USF is 59-3 when leading at halftime in the Coach Stugart era.  They are 2-11 when trailing at halftime and 1-2 when tied at halftime. USF is 49-5 when scoring first and when opponents score first, the Cougars stand 16-11.

Scoring streak hits 134 games
Since moving to DII in 2011, the Cougars have scored 2,340 points in 64 games or 36.56 ppg. In 2016, USF is averaging 40.9 points per game. It has been 134 games since USF has failed to score, which was a 55-0 loss to Carroll College in the final game of the 2005 season. USF had a DII-best 73 points vs. Minnesota State-Moorhead (Sept. 27) in 2014. The previous high was in 2011 when the Cougars defeated the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 71-0.  

Cougars are 66-0 all-time when scoring 50
When the Cougars reach 50 points, they are 66-0 all-time and 25-0 when scoring over 60 points. They are 7-0 all-time when breaking the 70-point mark. When the Cougars have scored over 40, USF has a 157-2 mark, including 27-1 in DII. When scoring over 30 points, USF is 232-8. The two times USF has lost when scoring over 40 points was a 45-40 setback to Winona State on Oct. 12, 2013 at Bob Young Field while in DII and 52-49 to Dakota Wesleyan in 1990 while in NAIA.

Offense lighting it up
With 1,352 points in the past 33 games (start of 2014 season), USF is averaging 39.8. In the past 33 games, the Cougars have scored 182 TDs or 5.35 per game.  USF has averaged more than six yards a play in 20 of the last 26 games.  With 585 yards on 64 plays, against SCSU on Sept. 1, the Cougars averaged 9.1 yards per play, which is its best mark at the NCAA DII level and the best since averaging 11.4 yards per play (638 yards on 56 plays) in a 66-13 win over Doane College on Sept. 18, 2010. With 670 yards vs. SMSU, USF had the fifth largest total in school history and second best (680, Minnesota Crookston, 2013) in the DII era. USF has had 600 yards or more in offense three times this season and 12 times in the Jed Stugart era (since 2010).

Max Mickey producing big in the backfield
Junior running back Max Mickey has been one of the nation's top backs all season. The standout from Holden, Mo., ranks first NCAA DII in rushing yards per carry at 9.75 and ranks second nationally in rushing yards per game at 147.3 per game while sitting second in rushing yards with 1,329 (136 carries).  Mickey is just one of five backs nationally with over 1,200 yards rushing. He is part of a backfield and an offense that leads the NSIC and ranks second nationally in rushing yards at 354.8 per game. The Cougars have rushed for 343 yards (SCSU), 444 yards (MSUM), 328 (Minot State), 406 (Bemidji State), 282 (Augustana), 428 vs. SMSU and 251 vs Winona State this season. Mickey had 13 carries for 178 yards and a TD in the win over SCSU and then produced 15 carries for 185 yards against MSUM before totaling 77 vs. Minot State on just nine carries and a career best 207 yards on 14 carries with a career-best 75-yard TD run against BSU on Sept. 24. He had 20 carries for 140 yards and two TDs vs. Augie and earned NSIC Offensive Player of the Week honors with 15 carries for 156 yards and a career-high four total TDs. against WSU, he had 14 carries for 91 yards and two TDs. He added 165 yards on the ground against Minnesota State. Justin Fulks (103 vs. SCSU) and Mickey (178) both had 100-yard rushing games against SCSU on the road. Mickey (185) and Luke Papilion (149) busted out for 100-yard rushing games against MSUM.  Papilion added 101 yards rushing on Sept. 17 week vs. Minot State. Against BSU Mickey had 207 yards, the most by a USF rusher since Nephi Garcia rumbled for 225 in the snow against Wayne State on Nov. 15, 2014, and Papilion had 163 yards on 17 carries with a 46 yard TD run.  So, USF, which had just five 100-yard rushing games all last year, already has surpassed that with 14 through nine games this year. Mickey (156) Fulks (140) and Papilion (122) all had 100-yard rushing game vs. SMSU, which is a school record for most 100-yard rushing individuals in same game. Mickey now has 345 carries for 2,217 yards rushing, which ranks 11th all-time at USF, just 37 yards from the top 10. Mickey, who now has 10 career 100-yard rushing games, has scored 23 career TDs, including 12 this year. Fulks, who has three 100-yard rushing games at USF, has 97 carries for 699 yards and five TDs. He now has 223 carries for 1,261 yards and nine TDs at USF. Fulks, who has been on a playoff team three straight years (twice with Northwest Missouri State, who won a national title his freshman year), has 260 carries for 1,534 yards and 10 TDs in his time at USF and NMSU.  

Rushing Attack best ever at through 9 games
Through nine games, USF has 310 carries for 3,077 yards (2nd in DII) and a nation's best 7.5 average. The total is the best at the DII era and best dating back to 1990.  USF has had 14 individual games of 100 yards or more in a game, which gives the Cougars 39 since moving to DII in 2011. For the first time in school history, USF put three players over 100 yards in a 48-28 win over SMSU on Oct. 8 at Bob Young Field. Overall USF had 428 yards, the third time over 400 this year and received 100 yard games from Max Mickey (156), Justin Fulks (140) and Luke Papilion (122).
Top Team Rushing Totals after 9 Games    
Year    Att.    Yards    Avg. Per Carry
2016    409    3,077    7.5
2009    363    2,254    6.2
2013    448    2,178    4.9
2001    407    2,110    5.2
1998    341    2,107    6.1
2002    418    2,106    5.0
2004    366    2,087    5.7
2008    454    2,078    4.6

Cougars 2nd in sacks & picks; Mehling 2nd in league with 84 tackles
USF is second in the league in sacks with 33 and interceptions with 15 as senior Clifford Redmond has four interceptions, seven pass breakups, 11 passes defended, 29 tackles and two fumble recoveries. Seniors Westly Johnson has team-highs with 7.5 TFLs, team-high 5.5 sacks. Senior Michael Mehling has been one of the best linebackers in the league with a team-high 84 tackles,  including a team-high 50 solo stops; 8.0 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, two passes defended and a pick six. Junior safety Josh Butler has 53 tackles, a sack, two interceptions and five passes defended. Kyle Campiotti, a junior linebacker, has 44 tackles, 1.5 TFls, sack and a pass breakup. USF has had 12 different players record a sack.