Sioux Falls Opens NSIC South Play at SMSU
With their cross-divisional schedule behind them, the University of Sioux Falls Cougars (2-2) have their sights set on the top of the NSIC South standings and that journey opens this Saturday night in Marshall, Minn., against the Mustangs (2-2). Both squads posted .500 records against NSIC North opponents but the Mustangs are still stinging from last week's disappointing 41-40 loss at Bemidji State. The game will serve as homecoming for the Mustangs, who are 3-11 in their last 14 homecoming games (20-24 overall). October has been kind to the Cougars since head coach Jed Stugart took the helm; USF is 11-1 in the 30 days prior to Halloween since the 2010 season.

The Broadcast
Live Stream: Southwest Minnesota State will provide a free live stream of Saturday's NSIC matchup at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/smsu.portal#

Radio: KWSN (AM 1230/ FM 98.1) will air Saturday's game. Player interviews and the Jed Stugart pregame show airs 30 minutes prior to kickoff. Tom Frederick and Tim Hiatt will call the play-by-play.

A Little Bit of History
USF and Southwest Minnesota State have some history, as USF served as the Mustangs' first-ever football opponent back on Sept. 21, 1968. The then SFC Braves defeated the Mustangs 13-6 in that first matchup and SMSU took the next three games (1969, 1978, 1979). The series was dormant for more than 30 years until USF becamea member of the NSIC last season and the squads squared off for the first time as NSIC South foes. The Cougars knocked off SMSU at home by a 41-22 score. SMSU enters Saturday's contest holding a 3-2 lead in the all-time series and SMSU head coach Cory Sauter is 0-1 all-time versus the Cougars.


USF By the Numbers

• 0: Sacks allowed by the Cougar defense versus Minnesota Crookston after USF quarterbacks were sacked twice by the Marauders. It's the second time this season that USF quarterbacks have finished a game with clean jerseys (Northern State).
• 4: John Tidwell's NSIC ranking for passed defended (1.3).
• 6: The Cougars' NCAA D-II ranking for kickoff returns (30.22). In contrast, SMSU is 68th (20.63).
• 7-0: The Cougars remained perfect under Coach Stugart when recording at least 500 yards of total offense.
• 8: Different Cougars caught passes on Saturday. In contrast, five different Golden Eagles hauled in a pass.
• 9: Where Wes Smith ranks nationally for kickoff returns. His 33.4 yards per return is also tops in the NSIC.
• 10: Punts forced by the Cougar defense last Saturday, the most for an opponent since 10/24/09 (Dakota Wesleyan).
• 12: Current USF players are Minnesota natives.
• 17: Carrington Hanna's 11-yard reception in the first quarter of the Crookston game extended his streak of games with at least one reception to 17. The streak started on 10/29/11 vs. Minot State and Mr. Reliable now has 1,062 career receiving yards.
• 19: Consecutive winning seasons for the USF football program.
• 3,292: Approximate number of miles that USF will travel for its six NSIC road contests in 2013; the most of any team in the league.

Scouting Southwest Minnesota State

SMSU in the NCAA Stats: The Southwest Minnesota State offense begins week five ranked 10th in the country in rushing (281.5), 19th in total offense (501.5), 45th in scoring offense (34.8) and 91st in passing offense (220.0). The SMSU defense ranks 72nd in total defense (376.5), 97th in passing efficiency defense (133.5), 109th in scoring defense (32.8) and 102nd in rushing defense (174.5).

SMSU in the NSIC Stats: SMSU ranks high in several team categories in the NSIC statistics heading into week five. SMSU is first in rushing (281.5), second in total offense (501.5), fifth in scoring (34.8) and eighth in passing (220.0) ... Junior running back Tyler Tonderum leads the NSIC in rushing (196.2), scoring (15.0) and all purpose yards (233.2) ... Junior quarterback Charlie Kern is sixth in total offense (262.8) and seventh in passing (220.0) ... Sophomores Jared Twedt and Donovan Woods both are tied for third with two interceptions ... Junior AJ Page ranks first in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (9.0) and fourth in tackles (38) ... Junior punter Mike Wenk is second in punt average (42.2).

Mustang Defense Making Plays: The SMSU defense has forced four turnovers in back-to-back games the past two weeks with four interceptions, four fumble recoveries and one defensive touchdown. The defense made several big plays in its victory over Minot State in week three recording six sacks along with four turnovers. The six sacks were the most by an SMSU defense since recording six on Oct. 6, 2008, at Concordia-St. Paul, while the four turnovers was the highest total since Sept. 11, 2010, at U-Mary. SMSU also limited Minot State to just 56 yards rushing - the lowest total by an opponent since MSU Moorhead was held to 69 yards on Oct. 8, 2011.

Long Drivers: Southwest Minnesota State has put together several impressive drives in the first four weeks of the season. SMSU had three scoring drives of 80 or more yards and had another that covered 75 yards in the week one loss to St. Cloud State, with four of the five scoring drives racking up 10 plays or longer. In week two, SMSU had one 71-yard drive and three other drives that spanned 65 or more yards. In the win over Minot State, SMSU had a pair of 70-plus-yard drives, including a season-long 16-play drive. Last season SMSU recorded just eight scoring drives of 80 or more yards.