Football | 10/5/2016 8:33:00 PM

SIOUX FALLS -- The #7/9 USF Football Team (5-0, 1-0 NSIC South), which leads NCAA DII in total offense and ranks third in rushing, will host explosive Southwest Minnesota State (4-1, 1-0 NSIC South) on Cougars Homecoming at 6 p.m.  on Saturday Oct. 8ob Young Field.

Both teams come off wins as USF won its fourth "Key to the City" game in five tries with a 35-20 victory over Augustana (3-2, 3-2 NSIC South) at Kirkeby-Over Stadium on Oct. 1.  USF has had a 145-108 scoring edge, never scoring  less than 23 points, in the games with Augie. Meanwhile SMSU won their homecoming with a 59-41 verdict against Upper Iowa. USF is ranked #9 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and #7 in theD2Football.com Polls and #4, a move of twospots this week, in David Boyce's DII Power Poll at NCAA.com. USF will try and retain first place in the NSIC while SMSU will try and grab a share of the lead.
    
The Matchup     
    Both teams feature explosive offenses with USF relying more on its rushing game (360.6 ypg) and SMSU heavy in passing (354.8 ypg, 1st NSIC). USF is sixth in the league in scoring at 40.8 points per game while SMSU is first at 46.0. While USF leads the league and ranks second nationally in total offense at 569.0 yards per game, the Mustangs stand second in the league at 548.0 ypg. The Cougars, which has two of the league's top six rushers (Max Mickey, 157.2 ypg; Luke Papilion, 103.6 ypg), rank second nationally and first in rushing offense in the NSIC at 360.6 yards per game while SMSU is fifth in the NSIC in rushing at 193.2 yards per game and first in passing with 354.8 ypg.  On defense, the Cougars rank seventh in th NSIC in total defense (395.0) with SMSU 10th at 417.4 ypg.  USF is fifth in rushing defense at 123.0 ypg and SMSU, 11th, at 196.4 ypg. USF's defense , which ranks third in scoring defense (20.8 ppg), is tied for the league-best in sacks with 19. and tied for a league high with 10 interceptions. SMSU, which is 13th in the league in scoring defense at 33.2 points per game, ranks 14th in sacks with five and third with eight interceptions.
    
Cougars move to 39-10 in NSIC games
     USF is 39-10 in NSIC games and 45-15 in all DII games since the transition in 2011. USF's 22 straight winning seasons 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.  
      
Series Notes – USF leads SMSU, 5-3
USF owns a 5-3 lead in the all-time series with Southwest Minnesota State, but have won four straight in a series that started in 1968. A year ago, the Cougars recorded a 34-26 win at SMSU as Luke Papilion threw for 225 yards and two TDs while rushing for 92 yards and a TD. Max Mickey had 99 yards rushing while Josh Angulo finished with six catches for 77 yards and a TD. In 2014, USF defeated SMSU, 44-20, at Bob Young Field. In the win, USF forced seven turnovers, including three interceptions by Solomon St. Pierre, who had a pick six (35 yards). USF QB Luke Papilion threw for 282 yards and two TDs while rushing for 75 yards.  In the first meeting (1968) between the schools, USF took a 13-6 win over SMSU 2012. Two years ago, the Cougars won a shootout with SMSU, 55-48, in a game that produced 1,446 yards in total offense.  Three years ago, USF captured a 41-22 win. The last win by SMSU was a 24-6 decision on Oct. 20 1979.
 
 USF ranks in top 10 nationally in 17 categories, including leading in total offense
    USF leads NCAA DII in total offense and rank third in rushing, according to the most recent NCAA DII statistics released on Sunday. The Cougars are ranked in the top 10 nationally in 17 team and individual categories in DII stats. USF is ranked in the top 20 in 21 statistical categories nationally.
Junior running back Max Mickey leads the nation in rushing yards per carry at 11.07 while also ranking third in both rushing yards (786) and rushing yards per game (157.2). Mickey has had rushing totals of 178, 185, 77 and 207 and 140 yards in his five games this year. With Mickey, who ranks 17th nationally in all-purpose yards (164.4 per game), leading the ground attack and senior quarterback Luke Papilion directing the offense, USF nation with 568.0 yards per game. USF has generated 505, 604, 453, 636 and 562 yards in the five games this season. In fact, USF, which ranks second nationally in yards per play (7.87), has now generated 600 or more yards 10 times in the era of head coach Jed Stugart (since 2010). The Cougars rushing attack, which has produced four straight games of 300 yards rushing or more (344, 444, 328 and 406), is second nationally (1st in the NSIC) at 380.3 yards per game.  USF, which had five 100-yard rushing games last year, has seven already this season. Aside from Mickey, Papilion, who has three 100 yard rushing games (149, 101, 163), ranks fifth in DII with 9.94 yards per carry and seventh in rushing TDs with 10.
Papilion, who is 31st in the country with 518 rushing yards, is seventh in points responsible for with 114 and eighth in DII in average points responsible for per game at 22.8. He is also 10th in DII in scoring at 13.5 per game. On defense, Clifford Redmond ranks seventh in fumbles recovered with two and ranks 18th in interceptions per game at 0.6
 USF also ranks seventh in passes intercepted and 10th in sacks with 19. USF is ninth in kickoff returns at 27.5. The Cougars rank 20th in DII in scoring offense (40.8) and one of sixth in the NSIC in the top 20. USF is 17th in first downs offense with 123.  

On SMSU
The Mustangs have opened 4-1, 1-0 in the NSIC South after a 59-41 win over Upper Iowa on SMSU's homecoming on Oct. 1. The only loss by SMSU was a 51-35 decision at Northern State. They have a 47-13 victory over Minnesota Crookston; 47-23 decision against U-Mary and a 42-38 come-from-behind decision against Minnesota-Duluth. The  Mustangs lead the NSIC and rank third nationally in scoring at 48.0 ppg. They are third in DII and second behind USF in NSIC in total offense at 548.0 ypg. The offense is directed by QB Blake Gimbel, who ranks eighth nationally in passing, hitting on 136-of-191 passes for 1,627 yards and 15 TDs. Divonte Beale leads the rushing attack with 59 carries for 330 yards and a TD. Nate Huot is the team's top receiver with 35 receptions  for 558 yards and five TDs. Gene Germain leads the defense with 48 tackles and an interception.  The SMSU defense, which has five sacks and eight interceptions, gives up 33 points per game.
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On SMSU Coach Cory Sauter
In his seventh season SMSU head coach Cory Sauter has an overall mark of 33-39, including 32-37 in conference games. The 33 victories ranks second all-time among 10 head coaches in program history. Gary Buer (1979-92) is the program leader with 70 victories. Sauter was named head coach on March 29, 2010, after serving two seasons as an assistant coach at SMSU. In 2009, Sauter served as the team's offensive coordinator, while in 2008 he served as quarterbacks coach.  A native of Hutchinson, Minn., and a 1997 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Sauter had a record-setting career at quarterback for the Golden Gophers and spent six seasons in the NFL from 1998-2003. He played four seasons for Minnesota (1994-97), including starting the final 34 games of his collegiate career and playing in the Blue-Gray All-Star Football Classic following his senior season. He finished his career as the school's all-time career record holder for pass completions, pass attempts and passing yards. Sauter earned his master's degree from the University of Minnesota in 2003. Following his collegiate career Sauter spent six seasons in the NFL from 1998-2003. He signed as a free agent with the Arizona Cardinals in 1998 before spending time with the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts. He appeared in one regular season game in his career completing 6 of 9 passes for 59 yards in a 2002 game with the Chicago Bears. Sauter also played one season for the Barcelona.  

Papilion sets records in passing, total offense
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, passed Dax Michelena (1997-2001, 10,410 yards total offense) in total offense with 321 yards in the "Key to the City" 35-20 road win over Augustana and now has 10,662 yards.  With 280 passing yards, Papilion has 7,748 passing yards to pass Michelena who had 7,665 yards from 1997-2001. To reach #2 in passing TDs, Papilion needs one to tie Michelena with 72.

Other Papilion notes
~ With 10, 100-yard rushing games, he owns the mark for the most by a  quarterback at USF. This season, Papilion has three 100-yard rushing games (149, 101, 163). He is fifth and a tie with Terry Austin, 10, 1992-95 and Ryan Lowmiller, 10, 2006-09.
~ Ranks second on the NSIC all-time chart in total offense with 304.8 yards per game, trailing only  Jeff Loots of Southwest Minnesota State at 343.2.
~ With 2,914 rushing yards, Papilion ranks as the all-time leading rusher among quarterbacks. He is seventh all-time overall at USF.
~ Needs two passing TDs to pass Dax Michelena (72, 1997-2001) for 2nd all-time at USF. Kurtiss Riggs, 1993-96, is the career leader with 85 passing TDs.
 
Angulo moving up charts
Has 29 receptions for 343 yards and seven TDs, which ranks second in the league. 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. 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 179 receptions, for 2,459 yards and 28 TDs.

Rose continues to climb receiving charts; surpasses 2K in yards
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. He has 23 catches and 387 yards  receiving. He now has 155 career receptions, which places him sixth all-time (Trey Erickson, 151, 2004-07). Rose is sixth on the career yardage chart with 2,078 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.
 
USF's "lightning fast" offense
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. This year USF has produced seven TDs  in 40 seconds or less. In 21 of the 28 TD drives, USF has taken less than three minutes. 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 106 TD drives in three minutes or less. In the past two seasons, USF has 23 scoring driving in under one minute and 46 in under two minutes of time.

Cougars sit 56-5 all-time at Bob Young Field
Despite a loss at home on Oct. 24, 2015, USF has a home record at Bob Young Field of 56-5 (.918). The Cougars, which has won 11-of-13 home games, including 2-0 in 2016, were victorious the first 32 games at the stadium and have since taken 25-of-30 at the friendly confines of Young Field. Overall, including play at Howard Wood Field (through 2006), the Cougars have won 76 of the past 81 games and 66-of-70 home conference games, including 47 in the GPAC (NAIA) and 20 (20-4) as an NSIC member in NCAA DII.  Since 2000, USF is 94-10 at home.   

By the numbers under Stugart
USF is 55-3 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 46-5 when scoring first and when opponents score first, the Cougars stand 15-11.

Scoring streak hits 130 games
Since moving to DII in 2011, the Cougars have scored 2,176 points in 60 games or 36.26 ppg. In 2016, USF is averaging 40.8 points per game. It has been 130 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 65-0 all-time when scoring 50
When the Cougars reach 50 points, they are 65-0 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 154-1 mark, including 24-1 in DII. When scoring over 30 points, USF is 229-8. The only time USF has lost when scoring over 40 points was a 45-40 setback to Winona State on Oct. 12, 2013 at Bob Young Field.

Offense lighting it up
With 1,188 points in the past 29 games (start of 2014 season), USF is averaging 40.96. In the past 29 games, the Cougars have scored 161 TDs or 5.6 per game.  USF has averaged more than six yards a play in 17 of the last 22 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 636 yards vs. then #22 Bemidji State, USF has had 600 yards or more in offense twice this season and 10 times in the Jed Stugart era (since 2010).

Max Mickey producing big in the backfield
Junior running back Max Mickey has had a big start in his junior season at USF. The standout from Holden, Mo., ranks first NCAA DII in rushing yards per carry at 11.07 and ranks third nationally in rushing yards per game at 157.5 per game while sitting third in rushing yards with 786 (71 carries). He is part of a backfield and an offense that leads the NSIC and ranks second nationally in rushing yards at 360.5 per game. The Cougars have rushed for 343 yards (SCSU), 444 yards (MSUM), 328 (Minot State), 406 (Bemidji State) and 282 (Augustana) 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. Interestingly he has done it off the bench as senior Justin Fulks has started with Mickey entering in the second or third offensive series. 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 eight through five games this year. Mickey now has 296 carries for 1,805 yards rushing. Mickey, who now has eight career 100-yard rushing games, has scored 18 career TDs, including five this year. He already has 173-yards more (789-to-616) than he had a year ago.
Senior Justin Fulks, who earned the start in the opener, has two 100-yard rushing games at USF, has 44 carries for 349  yards and a TD. He now has 170 carries for 911 yards and five TDs 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 207 carries for 1,184 yards and six TDs in his time at USF and NMSU.  

Rushing Attack best ever at through five games
This year, the Cougars' ground game has played a huge role in the team's 5-0 start. USF is averaging 360.5 yards per game on the ground, which ranks first in the NSIC and third nationally. USF has had eight individual games of 100 yards or more in a game, which gives USF 33 since moving to DII in 2011. Through five games, USF has 213 carries for 1,803 yards and a 8.5 average. The total is the best at the DII era and best dating back to 1990. In fact, USF's total for five games this season betters any season .
Top 5 Rushing Totals after 5 Games
2016     213    1,803     8.5  
2013    264    1,531    5.8
1998    218    1,420    6.5
2008    266    1,332    5.0
1995    221    1,238    5.6

Cougars tied for league lead in sacks and picks
With USF tied for the league lead in sacks with 19 and interceptions with 10, here is a look back at the best totals at USF since 2002.
Team Sacks at USF since 2002
2002 -- 43
2015 -- 39
2006 -- 37
2008 -- 35
2010 -- 34
2009 -- 33
2005 -- 33
2004 -- 32
2014 -- 30
2003 -- 29
2007 -- 22
2012 -- 21
2011 -- 20
2016 -- 19 (five games)
2013 -- 16
Interceptions, - Returns since 2002
2014 -- 26 -474
2009 -- 24-305
2012 -- 23 - 296
2002 -- 22 -- 337
2010 -- 21- 274
2005 -- 21 -231
2015 -- 20 -- 374
2008 -- 20-288
2004 -- 20 -- 247
2006 -- 16 -- 148
2003 -- 16 -- 175
2011 -- 15 -- 258
2007-- 14 -- 162
2016 -- 10 -- 140 (five games)
2013 -- 9 -- 105