Football | 11/24/2016 5:35:00 PM

SIOUX FALLS -- The #4 USF Football Team (12-0), which won the NSIC Championship, for the first time, is seeded second and will host #5 and third seeded  GAC champion Harding (12-0) in the NCAA DII playoffs second round at noon on Saturday, Nov. 26 at Bob Young Field.

USF to host 2nd DII playoff game
This will be the second-ever home playoff game for USF in the D2 era (since 2011) at Bob Young Field. A week ago, the Cougars recorded the first DII playoff win (34-21) over #7 seed Azusa Pacific on Nov. 19. The Cougars improved to 13-0 all-time in playoff games at Bob Young Field. USF  was 12-0 in NAIA games and 1-0 in NCAA DII home playoff games.  

Winner moves onto to regional finals
The winner on Saturday will play the victor of the #1 Northwest Missouri State (11-0) and Emporia State (11-1) match up in the other regional semifinal. Regardless if USF or Harding wins, Northwest Missouri State would host a regional final/national quarterfinal matchup with a victory. If Emporia State defeats their MIAA counterpart (NMSU) then the game will be held at the home field of the USF/Harding game.  USF is 12-8 against ranked opponents in the D2 era, including 3-0 this season.

Cougars - Bisons relationship
Both second seeded Sioux Falls and third seeded Harding won their first ever playoff game a week ago. While the two schools have never met, they do have a relationship of sorts. In 2014, the Cougars were bypassed for the DII playoffs for Harding when both teams had just one loss. Harding was seeded sixth and earned the last playoff spot while USF was #7 and instead went to the Mineral Water Bowl . That season, USF finished 11-1 after a 42-10 win over Central Oklahoma in Excelsior Springs. Meanwhile Harding lost 59-42 to Pittsburg State (Kan.) in a first round game. HU led, 21-0 before the Gorillas rallied. A year ago, USF earned its first DII playoff berth and dropped a 23-16 decision to Henderson State at Arkadelphia, Ark. Harding did not make the playoffs in 2015. This year, both teams have gone undefeated through 12 games and earned top three seedings in the regional rankings through the four week rating period. USF was #2 in all four ratings and Harding #3. A week ago in the first round of the DII playoffs, USF defeated APU, 34-21, racing to a 21-0 lead. Meanwhile HU took a 48-31 decision over Central Missouri (9-3). As it stands, both teams enter play Saturday at 12-0 and winners of their respective conferences. While both schools played in NAIA, they have never met previously.

In just five years at DII, USF's is making a second straight appearance in the NCAA DII playoffs. A year ago, they dropped a 23-16 decision to #8 Henderson State (11-1) at Arkadelphia, Ark. For the first time at the DII level, USF hosted and defeated Asuza Pacific, 34-21 in a playoff game on Nov. 19 to even its record at 1-1.

USF sits 38-13 all-time in postseason play
Before moving to DII in 2011, the Cougars had a highly successful run in NAIA, including winning national championships in 1996, 2006, 2008 and 2009. In the NAIA playoffs, USF was 36-12, including the four national titles, three runner-up finishes and three semifinal appearances. USF won its first ever league title in 1981 and with the NSIC title this season have 20 total conference crowns. USF's first unbeaten regular season was in 1988. This year, USF had its 16th 10-win seasons, including two in the past three seasons. Overall USF has a 38-13 mark in postseason play, which includes a 42-10 win over Central Oklahoma in the 2014 Mineral Water Bowl and the DII playoff home win against Azusa Pacific.

Season Turning Points  
The University of Sioux Falls has recorded 12 straight wins for the first time in the NCAA DII era (since 2011). In this season, the Cougars have had a number of "turning points."
~ In a 37-36 win over nationally ranked Bemidji State at Bob Young Field, the Cougars overcame a 20-3 half-time deficit with 34 straight points in the second half. After a late first half interception cost USF some points, the Cougars came out fast in the second half with Max Mickey taking the first play from scrimmage to the house. He had a 75-yard TD run, including a straight arm to a defender that enabled him to finish it. Then, the Cougars stopped a late two-point conversion to record the win over BSU, which finished 8-3 and advanced to the Mineral Water Bowl.
~ In a 24-14 win over nemesis Minnesota State at Blakeslee Stadium, the Cougars overcame a slow start to win for the first time against MSU. In fact, USF trailed 7-0 and MSU had the ball in USF territory but the defense stiffened. After a field goal in the second quarter, Luke Papilion scored on a four-yard TD run with 21 seconds to play that enabled USF to take a 10-7 lead. They scored two straight TDs in the second half to build 17-point lead in the fourth quarter and won on the road.
~ After leading Augustana 21-0, the Vikings made a run at USF with 13 straight points. But the Cougars used a TD throw to Josh Angulo and a 42 yard TD run by Mickey to build a 35-13 lead on their city rivals on the Vikings' home field as USF won its fourth game in five "Key to the City" games.

Things to Know --
~ Of note, the Cougars is making its third appearance in the postseason, including two straight in the NCAA DII playoffs, in just five seasons at the DII level.
~ The Cougars have recorded its 12th unbeaten regular season in school history. The other unbeaten regular season teams 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.
~ USF had head coach Jed Stugart earn the NSIC Coach of the Year, the seventh USF coach to win coach of the year honors at the conference level.
~ The Cougars had 24 players, including eight first-team performers, named to the All-NSIC squad released on Thursday. Of that group, senior defensive back Delvin Batiste was named the NSIC Defensive Newcomer of the Year.
~ USF has 26 seniors, who were recognized on Senior Day on Nov. 12.

Cougars sit 61-5 all-time at Bob Young Field
USF has a home record at Bob Young Field of 61-5 (.924). In the playoffs, USF has a 12-0 record at Bob Young Field, including the most recent victory, a 38-0 win over MidAmerica Nazarene of Kansas on Dec. 4, 2010. The Cougars, which has won 16-of-18 home games, including 7-0 in 2016, were victorious the first 32 games at the stadium and have since taken 30-of-35 at the friendly confines of Young Field. Overall, including play at Howard Wood Field (through 2006), the Cougars have won 81 of the past 86 games and 71-of-75 home conference games, including 47 in the GPAC (NAIA) and 24 (25-4) as an NSIC member in NCAA DII.  Since 2000, USF is 98-10 at home.  

At Stake
    A win by USF will earn the  NSIC champion Cougars its second straight playoff victory. The winner of the USF/HU game moves on to the third round of the DII playoffs and will match up with the winner of the #1 Northwest Missouri State (11-0) and Emporia State (11-1) matchup in the other regional semifinal at Maryville, Mo. If NMSU wins, they will host the winner of USF/Harding. If Emporia State is victorious, then either the Cougars or Harding will host the third round game on Saturday, Dec. 3 for the chance to move onto the national semifinals.

About Harding U
Harding U, led by 10th year head coach Ken Huckaba (68-39), who is coaching in his last season, won the GAC with an 11-0 record and then defeated Central Missouri State, 48-31, in the first round of the DII playoffs at Searcy, Ark. Against CMU, HU had 528 total yards. The Bisons, which won its first conference title in program history after three titles shares while in NAIA, run a flexbone option offense, led by GAC Player of the Year Park Parish, who has rushed for 1,028 yards on 159 carries with 19 TDs. Fullback Michael Latu has accumulated 825 yards on 165 carries with 14 TDs. Harding's rushing offense not only leads the GAC but DII with 385.7 yards per game with 59 rushing TDs. In the pass game, Harding ranks at the bottom of the league with just 63.1 yards per game which means the squad generates 448.8 yards per game. While the squad does not have any interceptions, they fumbled 27 times, losing 19. Harding has scored 506 points, including a 294-to-99 points edge in the first half. Defensively,  Harding allows just 68.4 yards rushing per game and 172.2 passing yards for a DII and league-best 240.6 total yards total offense. The Bisons also lead the GAC in scoring defense at 12.8 points per game. They have also only 55 points in the second half of games this season.
      
Cougars is 45-10 in NSIC games
     USF is 45-10 in NSIC games and 52-15 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 have established a legacy of winning at USF
This playoff match up with Harding U will be another opportunity for 26 seniors to build in a significant legacy in the program.  The senior class is responsible for a 38-7 record overall, including 19-4 at Bob Young Field. USF, which was 19-5 on the road, compiled a 36-8 record in NSIC games. In the class are 23 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 35 consecutive weeks in both the D2football.com and AFCA Coaches Poll, including 25 total top 10 rankings. With a 11-0 record in 2016, the Cougars have had the best start in a season at the DII level while recording a 11-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 ranks third in nation in offense and rushing yards; rank top 10 in 14 stats categories
The #4 University of Sioux Falls Football Team is ranked in the top 25 in 30 team or individual statistical categories, including 14 in the top 10.  The Cougars stand third in rushing yards per game at 322.8 and third in total offense with 528.4 yards per game. The high powered offense is seventh in first downs offense with 300 for the season and 18th in points per game (40.3). The offensive line ranks eighth in DII in sacks allowed with 10 in 12 games (0.83 per game). A year ago, they led DII by allowing just five sacks all season, which means they have given up 15 over a 24-game span. Harlon Hill candidate Max Mickey is ranked in the top 10 in seven categories, including holding the top spot in yards per carry at 8.93. Mickey, who 22 carries for 164 yards and three TDs, ranks second in NCAA DII with 1,714 yards, trailing the leader Bubba Jenkins of Southwest Baptist (1,739 yards) by just 25 yards. While Mickey will be back in action on Saturday against #5 Harding at USF's Bob Young Field in Sioux Falls, Jenkins team lost to Colorado Mines, 63-35, and is done for the season. Mickey, who ranks 22nd nationally in all-purpose yards (154.17 ypg and was a first team All-NSIC selection, remains the national leader in yards per carry at 8.93. Led by one of the nation's top offense lines, Mickey is one of three Cougars ranking in the top 11 in DII. Quarterback Luke Papilion, who has 964 yards (47th, DII), is averaging 7.77 yards per carry and senior running back Justin Fulks, who has 797 yards, is at 6.7 yards per carry. In fact, USF's threesome is ranked first, second and fourth in the NSIC. In yards per game, Mickey is fourth in DII with 142.8 yards per game. He is also fourth in rushing TDs with 19 while Papilion, a senior business administration major from Denver, Colo. And three-time All-NSIC selection, is 15th with 16 rushing TDs.  In addition, Mickey ranks fourth in total points scored with 132, fourth in total TDs with 22 and ninth in scoring at 11.0 ppg. Papilion, who is 19th in points responsible for with 186, 27th in TDs with 16.USF also has a pair of defensive standouts, sitting high in national rankings.  Senior linebacker Michael Mehling, a media studies and theatre major, who was named All-NSIC first team, is 16th in DII and first in the NSIC with 6.1 solo stops per game. He ranks 42nd in total tackles (9.4 per game, 113 overall) in DII. Second-team All-NSIC defensive back Clifford Redmond ranks 20th in interceptions (6-30 yards) with 0.5 per game and seventh in fumbles recovered with three. In total he has been involved in nine turnovers. USF's second team all-league placekicker Brett Garner ranks 19th in field goal percentage at 76.5 percent. In team categories, USF is 10th in kickoff returns (25.07 ypr). On defense, USF ranks 12th in interceptions (19), 13th in team sacks with 42, 16th in fourth down conversion percentage defense at 29.6 percent and sit 21st in scoring defense  at 19.0 ppg. Also on offense, the Cougars are 21st in red zone offense at 87.3 conversion rate.

USF's "lightning strike" offense
USF has a quick strike offense with 42 drives in under three minutes in 2016, including two vs. both Azusa Pacific in the DII playoffs and vs. Wayne State in a 30-7 home win. USF had four  sub three minute drives in the 51-7 win over Upper Iowa. In the APU game, USF had one drive in 1:56 and another in 2:55. Against Wayne State, USF had one in under three minutes (2:26) and another than took just 37 seconds. Of those four scores vs UIU, 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 11 TDs in 40 seconds or less. In 42 of the 62 TD drives in 2016, USF has taken less than three minutes and 27 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 86 TD drives in three minutes or less. In the past two seasons, USF has 30 scoring driving in under one minute and 61 in under two minutes of time.

USF moves to 62-3 when leading at halftime
USF is 62-3 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 52-5 when scoring first and when opponents score first, the Cougars stand 16-11.

Papilion needs 68 yards to reach 9K passing
Luke Papilion, a senior quarterback from Denver, Colo., is USF's all-time leader in passing and total offense.  Papilion, the NSIC's only active two-time Harlon Hill candidate, now has 12,292 yards, which ranks him fifth all-time in league history.  He is 68 yards away from 9K (8,932)in passing which would make him the school's only 9,000-3,000 quarterback and just one of two in league history. With 127 passing yards against Azusa Pacific (11/19/16), Papilion has 8,932 passing yards which ranks first all-time. Plus he is the only USF QB ever to throw for 8,900 yards and rush for 3,000. He has 3,360 rushing yards, which ranks fifth all-time at USF and is first among quarterbacks.  He is second all-time in TD passes with 77. The all-time leader is Kurtiss Riggs, who had 85 TD passes from 1993-96.  
In NSIC play only, he finished with 8,302 yards passing, eighth all-time in league play, and 3,137 yards rushing, 11th all-time in league play, in NSIC only games with his 11,333 total yards in league play is 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 has had 2,000 yards rushing.
~ 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 Max Mickey, and 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 293.2 yards per game, trailing only Jeff Loots of Southwest Minnesota State at 343.2.

By the Numbers - Cougars in Postseason Play
In three postseason games, Luke Papilion has 37 carries for 210 yards and a TD. He completed 61-of-105 passes for 630 yards with three TDs and four int. In just DII playoffs, he has 27 carries for 125 yards and a TD while completing 42-of-72 passes for 405 yards and 0 TDs.

Max Mickey has played in three postseason games, accumulating 53 carries for 382 yards and three TDs with five catches for 39 yards. He had 22 carries for 164 yards and three TDs vs Azusa Pacific.

Josh Angulo has 19 catches for 272 yards and three TDs. He had seven catches, 142 yards and three TDs in the Mineral Water Bowl in 2014 and 10 catches for 87 yards vs. Henderson State.

Brady Rose has eight receptions for 108 yards and no TDs.

USF's trio has produced nearly 7,500 career rushing yards
Between Max Mickey, Luke Papilion and Justin Fulks, a total of 3,475 yards have been generated on the ground for an average carry of  7.98 (435 carries between the trio). In terms of career yards at USF, Papilion (3,360), Mickey (2,733) and Fulks (1,359) have totaled 7,452 yards and 83 TDs (Papilion, 43; Mickey, 32; Fulks, 8).
 
Angulo passes 2,800 receiving yards for his career
Senior wide receiver Josh Angulo has 57 receptions for 707 yards and eight TDs. With 207 career receptions, Angulo has moved up to third on USF's all-time receiving list. He has 2,821 receiving yards which ranks fifth all-time at USF.. He also sits fifth at USF all-time with 29 career TDs. Earlier this year, Angulo had 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).  Against Wayne State (11/12/16), Angulo had seven catches for 63 yards adding two catches for 43 yards in the playoff win over Azusa Pacific. 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 207receptions, for 2,818 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 as well as passing.  Rose is one of the most flexible of USF's offensive players. This season, he had 53 catches for 699 yards receiving and three TDs. He also has  21 carries for 133 yards. He also has completed two passes in two attempts for 76 yards and a TD (39). In his career, he now has 185 receptions  (sixth all-time at USF) for 2,390 yards (sixth all-time at USF) and 19 TDs (tied for 9th all-time). He also has 101 carries for 478 yards and four TDs. He has 2,868 all purpose yards. Against Azusa Pacific, he had one carry for 11 yards and three receptions for 31 yards as well as the option pass to Erik Albeck for 37 yards. Rose had four catches for 21 yards and a four-yard TD reception and had one carry for five yards in a 30-7 win over Wayne State. 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. 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. 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 5,208 receiving yards, second to Alex Anderson and Jon Ryan, who had 6,474 yards from 2007-10. Angulo/Rose have 392 receptions, which is tied with Anderson/Ryan total of 392 for the best total by a receiving duo on the same team.  Anderson/Ryan had 84 TDs to 49 for Rose/Angulo.

Scoring streak hits 138 games
Since moving to DII in 2011, the Cougars have scored 2,454 points in 67 games or 36.62 ppg. In 2016, USF is averaging 40.2 points per game, which ranks 18th nationally. It has been 138 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.  

USF stands 67-0 all-time when scoring 50 or more
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 236-8. 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 1,467 points in the past 36 games (start of 2014 season), USF is averaging 40.75. In ,that span the Cougars have scored 196 TDs or 5.5 per game.  USF has averaged more than six yards a play in 23 of the last 29 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 named Harlon Hill candidate
Junior running back Max Mickey has been one of the nation's top backs all season and this week was named one of 42 candidates for the Harlon Hill Award as the DII's top player. The standout from Holden, Mo., ranks first NCAA DII in rushing yards per carry at 8.93 and ranks fourth nationally in rushing yards per game at 142.8 per game while sitting second in rushing yards with 1,714, just 25 from national leader Bubba Jenkins of Southwest Baptist.  Mickey is just one of four backs nationally with over 1,500 yards rushing and one of two over 1,700. Incredibly, he has just 41 lost yards on 192 carries. He is part of a backfield and an offense that leads the NSIC and ranks third nationally in rushing yards at 322.8 per game. The Cougars have rushed for 343 yards (SCSU), 444 yards (MSUM), 328 (Minot State), 406 (Bemidji State), 282 (Augustana), 428 (SMSU), 251 (Winona State), 197 (Upper Iowa), 281 (Wayne State) and 318 (Azusa Pacific) yards 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). In the regular season finale, Mickey had 17 carries for 132 yards and two TDs. Mickey recorded a second straight 100 yard game with 22 carries (season-high) on 164 yards and tied a career high with three TDs in the playoff win over Azusa Pacific. It was his first 100-yard rushing game in the DII playoffs. He now has 53 carries for 382 yards with three TDs in two DII playoff games.

Cougars have set school mark with 16 100-yard rushing games
USF, which had just five 100-yard rushing games all last year, already has surpassed that with a school record 16 through 12 games this year. Mickey (156) Fulks (140) and Papilion (122) all had 100-yard rushing game vs. SMSU (10/8/16), which is a school record for most 100-yard rushing individuals in same game. Mickey, whose 1,714 yards is the second best seasonal rushing yardage total in USF history, now has 417 carries for 2,773 yards rushing, which ranks 9th all-time at USF. Mickey, who now has 12 career 100-yard rushing games, has scored 29 career TDs, including 19 this year.  He is just 13 yards from overtaking David Ruter for the best single season total of 1,726 in USF's first NAIA championship season in 1996.

Justin Fulks approaching 1,400 career yards at Sioux Falls
Fulks, who has three 100-yard rushing games at USF, has 119 carries for 797 yards and six TDs. He now has 245 carries for 1,359 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 282 carries for 1,562 yards and 11 TDs in his time at USF and NMSU.  He has a career high 21 carries for 140 yards and two TDs in a win over Southwest Minnesota State.

Rushing Attack best ever in program history
In 2016, USF has set  a school record for rushing yards in a season with 549 carries for 3,873 yards (third in DII) and a nation's best 7.1 average. The 2009 team finished with a school record 3,842 yards on 635 carries for a 6.1 yard average but went unbeaten at 15-0, three more games than the current team has played.  The 2008 team, which finished 14-0, had 3,299 yards on 724 carries at the end of the season but played two more times than this 2016 team has played to this point. This year, USF has had a school record 16 individual games of 100 yards or more in a game, which gives the Cougars 41 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; Green named Gene Upshaw Finalist
The USF offensive line, led by Gene Upshaw Award finalist Antonio Green, has again been one of the best in DII. They are ranked ninth 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 322.8 yards per game. It has paved the way for  a third 1,000 yard rusher in four seasons. Max Mickey has 1,714 yards, which ranks second nationally, while quarterback Luke Papilion has 964 yards  and on the verge of a second 1,000 yard rusher, which would be a first in school history. In addition Justin Folks has 797 yards. All three are averaging over 6.7 yards per carry and all rank among the top 11 in DII. Mickey is at 8.9 with 192 carries with the yards per carry best in DII. Papilion sits 7.8 yards per carry at  to rank first and second in NCAA DII. It is notewortnd ranks second while Fulks is 11th. USF's rushing attack is averaging 7.1 yards per carry and has set a school record for rushing yards at 3,873, breaking the 2009 mark of 3,842. 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 -- 88 percent grade, 843 reps, 732 positive reps, 77.5 knockdowns, 0 sacks allowed. This week, Green was one of eight players named a Gene Upshaw Award finalist.
Offensive Tackle Trey Pipkins -- 92.5 percent grade, 855 reps with 751 positive reps, 37.5 knockdowns, one sack allowed
Offensive Tackle Terry Huber -- 88.2 percent grade, 855 reps, 755 positive reps, 30 knockdowns, 0.5 sacks
Offensive guard Jesse Springer -- 94.6 percent grade, 855 reps, 810 positive reps, 36.5 knockdowns, one sack allowed
Offensive Center Trevor Wescott -- 89.9 percent grade, 855 reps, 755 positive reps, 40.5 knockdowns, 1.5 sacks allowed

Cliff Harris nominee Michael Mehling leads NSIC with 113 tackles - 73 solos
Led by standout linebacker Michael Mehling, USF is second in the league in sacks with 42 (-288 yards in losses) and is second in the league in interceptions with 19. Mehling, who ranks first in the league in tackles with 113, including a league high 73 solo stops, which is 16th nationally. He has 5.5 sacks and 15.0 TFLs (-69 yards) which ranks second in the league and first among linebackers. Nominated for the Cliff Harris Award as national DII player of the year, 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 six interceptions for 39 yards in returns. He had a pick-six against Upper Iowa. He has 52 tackles, including 40 solo stops along with a TFL, eight pass breakups and three fumble recoveries. Junior linebacker Kyle Campiotti has 60 tackles, 1.5 TFls, sack and two pass breakups. USF has had 12 different players record a sack. Junior Josh Butler has registered 73 tackles with a TFL, two interceptions and seven pass breakups.
Team Sacks at USF since 2002
2002 -- 43
2016 -- 42 (12G)
2015 -- 39
2006 -- 37
2008 -- 35
2010 -- 34
 
USF has 65 interceptions over past three years
In the past three seasons, USF has recorded 65 interceptions for 1,164 yards and 15 defensive TDs. USF had 26 interceptions in 2014, 20 in 2016 and 19 this season. On the 65 picks, USF has averaged 17.9 yards per return.
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 -- 19 -- 316 (12 G)
2006 -- 16 -- 148
2003 -- 16 -- 175