Football | 11/10/2016 5:51:00 PM

SIOUX FALLS -- The #4 USF Football Team (10-0, 6-0 NSIC South), which ranks third in NCAA DII in total offense and second in rushing, will look to record its 12th unbeaten regular season in school history and win the NSIC Conference title outright when they host Wayne State (3-7, 2-4 NSIC South) at Bob Young Field at noon on Saturday.  It will be both Senior's Day and Military Appreciation Day on Saturday. Active or retired members of the armed services will be admitted free to the game. USF's 26 seniors and their parents will be recognized in pre-game festivities.

At Stake
    A win by USF will earn the Cougars its first-ever DII regular season league title in any sport. The victory ensures USF's first DII and NSIC conference crown and 20th overall (19 at the NAIA level). USF, which clinched the NSIC South title with a 51-7 home win over Upper Iowa on Nov. 5, has reached 10 wins in a season for a 16th time and picked up the program's 50th win at the DII level. For the first time at the DII level, USF is 10-0. The last time the Cougars started 10-0 was 2010 in a 13-1 season that ended in the NAIA title game - 10-7 loss to Carroll College. The Coo's win over Upper Iowa was also the 50th in the program's DII history and the 425th win in school history. If the Cougars win Saturday, they will finish the regular season 11-0, the program's first unbeaten regular season in the DII era and first since 2010. The 11 unbeaten regular seasons by USF include 1988, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. In 1996, 2006, 2008 and 2009 the Cougars won NAIA national titles.
 
Playoff watch party
    USF will host a watch party on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Z Hall on the USF campus. On Sunday the Cougars will learn its playoff matchup and whether they will be hosting or earn a bye when the seedings are announced by the NCAA DII Regional Committee. At the event, USF President Mark Benedetto, Athletic Director Josh Snyder and head coach Jed Stugart will address the gathering, which is open to the public. USF will also celebrate its first-ever conference title, whether outright or shared, depending on the results of the game Saturday. Here is the link to the NCAA DII Football Selection Show -
www.ncaa.com/live/player?vid=2016/2731&date=2016/11/13       

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. Super Region Three Rankings
(School, in-region record, DII record)
1. Northwest Missouri State, 10-0, 10-0
2. Sioux Falls, 10-0, 10-0
3. Harding, 10-0, 10-0
4. Emporia State, 9-1, 9-1
5. Minnesota Duluth, 9-1, 9-1
6. Azusa Pacific, 8-1, 9-1
7. Central Missouri, 8-2, 8-2
8. Southern Arkansas, 8-2, 8-2
9. Henderson State, 8-2, 8-2
10. Augustana, 7-3, 7-3

The Matchup     
     The Cougars ranks third in the nation in total offense at 538.6 yards per game and rank second in rushing (327.6 ypg) while sitting 13th nationally in scoring at 41.9 ppg. In league stats, USF, ranks second in scoring defense at 20.0 ppg, second in total defense at 365.5 ypg and second in rushing defense, allowing just 106.9 yards per game.  Wayne State, which ranks 10th in scoring at 27.5 ppg, is averaging 391.5 (10th, NSIC) total yards of offense and sit 12th in rushing at 129.7 ypg.   On defense, the Wildcats give up 33.8 ppg (11th, NSIC) and allow 431.5 yards in offense per game (11th, NSIC).

Cougars move to 44-10 in NSIC games
     USF is 44-10 in NSIC games and 50-15 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.  

Seniors to leave a legacy of winning at USF
This home matchup with Wayne State is the final regular season and NSIC conference game for a group of 26 seniors, who have helped lead the #4 University of Sioux Falls Football Team to great heights during their career. The senior class is responsible for a 36-7 record overall, including 17-4 at Bob Young Field. USF, which was 19-5 on the road, compiled a 35-8 record in NSIC games. In the class are 10 student athletes who earned All-NSIC honors, combined four All-American honors, 18 Academic All-NSIC honors, an Academic All-American and three All-District Academic honors. In addition, the group extended USF's consecutive season winning streak to 23, was ranked 34 consecutive weeks in both the D2football.com and AFCA Coaches Poll, including 24 total top 10 rankings. With a 10-0 record in 2016, the Cougars have had the best start in a season at the DII level while recording a 10-win season for the second time in three seasons. Here is the senior class - Tosin Adedeji, CB, son of Bolaji and Kenny Adedeji, Business/Sports Management, Brooklyn Center, Minn.; Erik Albeck, WR, son of Danny and Sherry Ward, Criminal Justice, Janesville, Wisc.; Josh Angulo, WR, son of Amy and Tim Leeburton, Chiropractic Science, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Kyle Athmann, WR, son of Marty and Karla Athmann, Psychology/Criminal Justice, Bird Island, Minn.; Delvin Batiste, CB, son Stephanie Batiste and Lawrence Grant, media studies, Upland, Calif.; Keenan Baynard, RB, son of Tim and Karen Baynard, Applied Mathematics, Minneapolis, Minn.; Durant Foote, OL, son of Ray Foote, step mom Karen Foote and Laurie Brady, Sports Management, Reno, Nev; Evan Gentry, DE, son of Michael and the late Stephanie Gentry and stepmother Lynn Budd, Media Studies, Tallahassee, Fla.; Antonio Green, OL, son of Antonio Green, Sr., and Teresa Taylor, Sports Management, Dublin, Ga.; Richard Guarascio, OL, son of Louis and Elizabeth Guarascio, Exercise Science, Naples, Fla.; Justin Fulks, RB, son of Willis and Cynthia Fulks, Media Studies, Overland Park, Kan.,; Wyatt Hixon, DB, son of Derik and Kimberly Hixon, Graduate Studies, Los Angeles, Calif.; Terry Huber, OL, son of Dennis and Karen Huber, Secondary Education, Yankton, S.D.; Drew Jackson, DE, son of Derrick and Buffy Jackson, criminal justice, San Francisco, Calif.; Westly Johnson, DE, son of Westly Jr., and Savator Johnson, Media Studies, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Corbin Lawler, QB, son of John and Michele Lawler, Business/Sports Management, Tea, S.D.; Nathan Lucs, LB, Exercise Science, son of Erik and Heidi Lucs, West Des Moines, Iowa; Michael Mehling, LB, son of Michael and Kathleen Mehling, Media Studies/Theatre, Las Vegas, Nev.; Marques Mosley, DB, son of Alan Lagrosa and Caprice Mosley, Master of Business Administration, Upland, Calif.; Luke Papilion, QB, son of Pete and Linda Papilion, Business Administration, Denver, Colo.; Clifford Redmond, CB, son of Jenifer and Clifford Redmond, criminal justice, Elk Grove, Calif.; Brady Rose, HB, son of Barry and Tammy Rose, Business Administration/Sports Management, Cumberland, Wisc.; Connor Schoepp, LB, Exercise Science, son of Steve and Mary Schoepp, Watertown, S.D.; Pedro Sibiea, DL, son of Marjorie and Venance Sibiea, Master of Business Administration, Homestead, Fla.; Trevor Wescott, OL, son of Dale and Christy Wescott, Sports Management, Blue Springs, Mo.; and Jess Williams, LB, son of Gary and Debbie Williams, Psychology, Wall, S.D.

USF and Wayne State Series
USF is 4-0 all-time vs. Wayne State College, including a 59-10 victory at Bob Cunningham Field on Oct. 3, 2010. A year ago, Luke Papilion completed 20-of-30 passes for 311 yards and three TDs while also recording two TD runs. The Cougars, ranked #4/7 led 28-10 at the halftime break before breaking out with a 28-point third quarter to put the game away. USF, which had a 77-yard interception return by Solomon St. Pierre, had a 466-to-244 total yards advantage. Brady Rose had eight receptions for 112 yards and a TD.  The Cougars had nine tackles from Josh Butler and finished with three sacks, two interceptions, including one by Cliff Redmond, and eight TFLs. Two years ago at Bob Young Field, the Cougars picked up a 63-28 victory on a snowy day on Nov. 15, 2014. USF, which was ranked #17, had 21 carries for 225 yards and three TDs from Nephi Garcia. Luke Papilion threw for 225 yards and four TDs. USF had a 28-point third quarter to extend a 28-14 half-time lead to 56-28. Sioux Falls won the first-ever meeting between the two programs, 24-14, on Nov. 10, 2012 as John Tidwell had a 77-yard punt return for a TD to lead the then #22 ranked Cougars at Bob Young Field. In 2013, USF defeated the Wildcats, 35-10, at Bob Cunningham Field in Wayne, Neb. Solomon St. Pierre had his first career interception return for a TD (70-yards) and the Brady Rose had 111 yards rushing and two TDs.      

USF ranks third in nation in offense and ranks in 11 top 10 categories
Sioux Falls ranks third in total offense and rushing offense and rank in the top 29 in 27 DII statistical categories, according to statistics released by the NCAA on Sunday. Overall, the Cougars rank in the DII top-10 in 10 categories.  USF, which has had 500 yards or more total offense six times and over 400 yards in all 10 games this season, is third in DII in total offense at 538.6 yards per game. The Cougars, which have had at least 249 yards rushing nine times, including over 300 five times, sits third in rushing at 327.4 yards per game. USF, which has the best per carry average in the nation at 7.3, has already surpassed last year's entire rushing total of 2,291 yards with its 3,274 yards this season.  It is a mark that is the best in school history through 10 games.  USF, which also ranks third nationally in yards per play at 7.34, has generated 505, 604, 453, 636, 562 670, 411, 432, 477 yards and 557 in the 10 games this season.  The Cougars are putting up 41.9 points per game, which ranks 12th in DII.  Standout junior running back Max Mickey continues to shine as one of the nation's best, ranking in the top 25 in eight offensive categories and top five in three categories. Mickey, who is one five players nationally with at least 1,400 rushing yards, ranks first in yards per carry at 9.23, fourth in rushing yards at 1,418 and second in rushing yards per game at 141.8. Mickey, who has had seven 100-yard rushing games this season, ranks 17th in total point scored with 102 and 17th in total TDs with 17. He is 18th in rushing TDs with 14. He is 20th in scoring at 10.2 points per game and 24th in all-purpose yards with 154.2.  In 2016, Mickey has had rushing totals of 178, 185, 77, 207, 140, 156, 91, 128, 165 yards and 92 yards in his 10 games this year.  Joining Mickey in national statistics is senior quarterback Luke Papilion, who is averaging 7.63 yards per carry on 110 carries for 839 yards. He has also completed 156-of-270 passes for 1,907 yards with 14 TDs. Papilion, who ranks 19th in total TDs with 16, is 11th in DII . He also sits 21st in total points scored with 96 and 16th in points responsible for with 18.0 per game.  USF special teams are doing great work with its kickoff return unit sixth in DII with 26.57 yards per return. The Cougars are 25th in punt returns at 13.95. Junior return specialist Kyle Groeneweg is 14th in combined returns with 761 yards and ranks 12th in punt returns at 14.0 per game. In other team categories, USF 13th in sacks allowed (10) at 1.0 per game, 18th in red zone offense (88.2 percent), ninth in team sacks with 3.7 per game (37),  15th in interceptions with 16; and 14th in first downs with 247.     Individually, USF standout senior cornerback Clifford Redmond ranks eighth in fumbles recovered with three and 16th in interceptions per game at 0.5 with five this season. He now has eight for his career, despite starting just 13 games.     

About Wayne State
Through 10 games, WSC is 3-7, including 2-4 in the NSIC South. The Wildcats are 2-3 in road games this season.      WSC  is  10th  in  the  NSIC  in  both  scoring  offense  (27.5)  and  11th in scoring  defense  (33.8).  In total offense, WSC sits The Wildcats are 11th in the league in total offense (391.5) and 10th in total defense (431.5).  Led by quarterback Zach Osborn, Wayne State is ninth in  pass  offense  (261.8). Osborn has completed 214-of-379 passes for 2,544 yards and 24 TDs with 13 interceptions. The Wildcats, which averaging 129.7 rushing yards per game, have been led on the ground by Rashad Trimble with 114 carries for 459 yards and a TD. Osborn has added 398 rushing yards and four TDs. At receiver, Nate Rogers has 55 catches for 733 yards and 12 receiving TDs. Williams has 39 catches for 644 yards and four TDs. On defense, Cam Montgomery leads the league with six interceptions as WSC has 16 as a team, which is tied with USF for the league lead. Montgomery leads the Wildcats with 65 tackles while Tyler Thomsen has 59 tackles, and three tackles for loss.

On Wayne State HC Dan McLaughlin
Dan McLaughlin is in his 12th year as head football coach at Wayne State College.  Heading into Saturday's home game vs. Sioux Falls, McLaughlin has a career record of 66-67 (.499) overall and 62-56 (.530) in the NSIC.  Inheriting a struggling program, McLaughlin turned Wayne State into a constant winner that included six straight winning seasons (2007-12), a feat never achieved in the program's 100-year history.  McLaughlin  became  Wayne  State's  all-time  win's  leader  on  October  24,  2015  following  a  20-17  at  home  win  over Concordia-St. Paul. It was his 63rd win as Wildcat head coach, surpassing Del Stoltenberg who was 62-70-5 in his 14 years as head coach at WSC from 1969-82. Before coaching at WSC, he won state titles at three  different high schools, compiling a high school coaching record of 110-59. He earned his master's degree from Wayne State College in 1992. He is a native of Sheridan, Mont., and is a 1982 graduate of Bellevue College. Dan and his wife Nadine have two sons, Scott and Sean, and reside in Wayne, Neb.

USF's "lightning strike" offense
USF has a quick strike offense with 38 drives in under three minutes in 2016, including four in the 51-7 win over Upper Iowa.  Of those four scores, USF had two take less than one minute and one in a single play. In a week one win over SCSU, USF had six TDs with drives taking three minutes or less. Of those 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 10 TDs in 40 seconds or less. In 38 of the 55 TD drives in 2016, USF has taken less than three minutes and 26 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 82 TD drives in three minutes or less. In the past two seasons, USF has 29 scoring driving in under one minute and 59 in under two minutes of time.

Cougars sit 59-5 all-time at Bob Young Field
USF has a home record at Bob Young Field of 59-5 (.922). The Cougars, which has won 14-of-16 home games, including 5-0 in 2016, were victorious the first 32 games at the stadium and have since taken 28-of-33 at the friendly confines of Young Field. Overall, including play at Howard Wood Field (through 2006), the Cougars have won 79 of the past 84 games and 69-of-73 home conference games, including 47 in the GPAC (NAIA) and 23 (23-4) as an NSIC member in NCAA DII.  Since 2000, USF is 97-10 at home.   

By the numbers under Stugart
USF is 60-3 when leading at halftime in the Stugart era.  They are 2-11 when trailing at halftime and 1-2 when tied at halftime. USF is 50-5 when scoring first and when opponents score first, the Cougars stand 16-11.

Papilion nearing 12,000 yards in 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, now has 11,925 yards, which leaves him just 75 away from 12K for his career.  He is 310 yards away from 9K in passing which would make him the school's only 9,000-3,000 quarterback and just one of three in league history. With 269 passing yards against Upper Iowa (11/6/16), Papilion has 8,690 passing yards 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 3,235 rushing yards, which ranks fifth all-time at USF and is first among quarterbacks.  He is second all-time in TD passes with 76. The all-time leader is Kurtiss Riggs, who had 85 TD passes from 1993-96.  
In NSIC play only, he has 8,188 yards passing, eighth all-time in league play, and 3,073 yards rushing, 11th all-time in league play, in NSIC only games with his 11,251 total yards in league play fifth all-time in NSIC history. He is the all-time leader in the NSIC in rushing yards by a quarterback and one of six who had 2,000 yards rushing.

Other Papilion notes
~ With 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).  
~ 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 48 receptions for 600 yards and eight TDs. With 198 receptions, Angulo is fourth on USF's all-time receiving list. He is just two 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 198 receptions, for 2,712 yards and 29 TDs.

Rose continues to climb receiving charts
Senior H-back Brady Rose  continues to build on his stellar  career at USF, both by rushing and receiving. In the 51-7 win over Upper Iowa, he had five touches for 41 yards, including three receptions for 25 yards and two rushes for 16 yards, including a 14-yard run. With those three receptions, he has 178 career receptions for 2,338 yards, which places him sixth in both categories. 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. Rose showed 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 win over SCSU on Sept. 1, he both caught and threw a TD.  Rose had seven catches for 16caughts 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 10 games, he has 46 catches and a team high 647 yards receiving. The 119 yards receiving vs. SMSU was his sixth career 100-yard receiving game.

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 5,050 receiving yards, second to Alex Anderson and Jon Ryan, who had 6,474 yards from 2007-10. Angulo/Rose have 376 receptions, which is second to Anderson/Ryan total of 392.  Anderson/Ryan had 84 TDs to 48 for Rose/Angulo.

Scoring streak hits 135 games
Since moving to DII in 2011, the Cougars have scored 2,391 points in 65 games or 36.78 ppg. In 2016, USF is averaging 41.9 points per game, which ranks 13th nationally. It has been 135 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 67-0 all-time when scoring 50
When the Cougars reach 50 points, they are 67-0 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 158-2 mark, including 28-1 in DII. When scoring over 30 points, USF is 233-8. 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 1,403 points in the past 34 games (start of 2014 season), USF is averaging 41.3. In the past 34 games, the Cougars have scored 189 TDs or 5.55 per game.  USF has averaged more than six yards a play in 21 of the last 27 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 9.23 and ranks fourth nationally in rushing yards per game at 141.8 per game while sitting fourth in rushing yards with 1,418 (153 carries).  Mickey is just one of five backs nationally with over 1,400 yards rushing. Incredibly, he has just 34 lost yards on 153 carries. He is part of a backfield and an offense that leads the NSIC and ranks third nationally in rushing yards at 327.4 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 and 17 carries for 92 yards and two TDs against  Upper Iowa (11-6-16).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 10 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 378 carries for 2,437 yards rushing, which ranks 9th all-time at USF. Mickey, who now has 10 career 100-yard rushing games, has scored 25 career TDs, including 14 this year. Fulks, who has three 100-yard rushing games at USF, has 99 carries for 707 yards and five TDs. He now has 225 carries for 1,269 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 262 carries for 1,542 yards and 10 TDs in his time at USF and NMSU.  

Rushing Attack best ever at through 10 games
Through nine games, USF has 447 carries for 3,274 yards (third in DII) and a nation's best 7.3 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).

USF's Offensive front making a huge impact
This season, the USF offensive line has again been one of the best in DII. They are ranked 13th in DII and tops in the NSIC with just 10 sacks allowed even while adjusting to a new blocking scheme employed by new offensive line coach Josh Breske. And, that blocking scheme? Well, it has proven productive in a big way for the USF rushing attack, which ranks third in NCAA DII with 327.8 yards per game. It has paved the way for  a third 1,000 yard rusher in four seasons. Max Mickey has 1,418 yards while quarterback Luke Papilion has 839 yards and Justin Folks, 707. All three are averaging over seven yards per carry with Mickey at 7.3. It is noteworthy that USF's rushing attack is averaging 7.3 yards per carry and has over 3,000 rushing yards for the first time in school history after 10 games. The offensive line has graded out consistently high as one would expect with those numbers. Here are the breakdowns for the starting offensive wall.
All-American guard Antonio Green -- 86.4 percent grade, 697 reps, 602 positive reps, 73.5 knockdowns, 0 sacks allowed.
Offensive Tackle Trey Pipkins -- 92.4 percent grade, 709 reps with 655 positive reps, 34.5 knockdowns, one sack allowed
Offensive Tackle Terry Huber -- 87.4 percent grade, 713 reps, 623 positive reps, 25 knockdowns, 0.5 sacks
Offensive guard Jesse Springer -- 94.6 percent grade, 709 reps, 671 positive reps, 35.5 knockdowns, one sack allowed
Offensive Center Trevor Wescott -- 89.9 percent grade, 712 reps, 640 positive reps, 37.5 knockdowns, 1.5 sacks allowed

Cougars 2nd in sacks & picks; Mehling 2nd in league with 92 tackles
USF is second in the league in sacks with 37 (-253 yards in losses) and tied for first in interceptions with 16. Leading the way for Sioux Falls is senior middle linebacker Michael Mehling, who is making a push for NSIC Defensive Player of the Year. Mehling ranks second in the league in tackles with 92, including a league high 57 solo stops. He has five sacks and 10.5 TFLs (-57 yards) which ranks fourth in the league and first among linebackers. He has also forced a fumble, recorded a pick six for 36 yards against Minot State as well as registered three pass breakups and three quarterback hurries. Cornerback Cliff Redmond is one of the best in the league with five interceptions for 30 yards in returns. He had a pick-six against Upper Iowa. He has 47 tackles, including 37 solo stops along with a TFL, seven pass breakups and three fumble recoveries. Junior linebacker Kyle Campiotti has 51 tackles, 1.5 TFls, sack and two pass breakup. USF has had 12 different players record a sack. Junior Josh Butler has registered 60 tackles with a TFL, two interceptions and four pass breakups.

Team Sacks at USF since 2002
2002 -- 43
2015 -- 39
2016 -- 37 (10G)
2006 -- 37
2008 -- 35
2010 -- 34
2009 -- 33
2005 -- 33
2004 -- 32
2014 -- 30
2003 -- 29
Interceptions, - Returns since
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
2016 -- 16 -- 273 (10G)
2006 -- 16 -- 148
2003 -- 16 -- 175
2011 -- 15 -- 258
2007-- 14 -- 162