WAYNE, NEB. – Led by a suffocating defense and a balanced offense, the University of Sioux Falls Football Team (6-1, 2-1 NSIC South) put together a dominating 31-7 victory over Wayne State (4-3, 2-1 NSIC South) on Thursday night before 1,635 in attendance.

After falling behind 7-0, the Cougars scored 31 unanswered points, including 17 second quarter points, to register their sixth win in seven games this season. With the victory, USF clinched a winning season for the 24th straight season, which is the best in NCAA DII and fifth across all divisions. In addition, USF recorded its 15th consecutive NSIC road win. They have won 17 of the past 18 NSIC games overall.

"Our guys really came to play tonight," said USF Head Football Coach Jon Anderson. "They played with a purpose and together as a team. It is really pleasing to see how they play for each other and this school. I am very proud of them. They know they still have everything (goals) in front of them. Our defense stopped Wayne State all night and the offense ran and passed the ball effectively," said Anderson.

USF, which will travel to face Concordia-St. Paul on Oct. 21, had career-best games from a number of players, including sophomore running back Winston Maxwell. In a career-best performance, Maxwell had 11 carries for 76 yards and scored two TDs (1, 2) in a game for the first time at USF. Maxwell was part of a USF running back trio that produced 167 yards on 45 carries. Despite missing All-American Max Mickey, the trio was explosive and productive. Senior Jason Towns added 11 carries for 60 yards and a TD, and also supplied 40 return yards for 110 all-purpose yards. Sophomore Colton Myles added 15 carries for a career-high 52 yards with a TD.

In total, the Cougars, under the direction of offensive coordinator Jim Chapin, generated 376 yards in total offense, including 209 yards passing. USF quarterbacks, Ian Fieber (12-of-17-123 yards) and Matt Young (7-of-9 for 86 yards) combined to complete 19-of-26 passes without any interceptions.

The receiving corps came up big, led by junior Anthony Holmes, who had three catches for a game-high 88 yards. Junior Michael Maxwell had a career-best with six receptions for 55 yards while junior A.J. Garrow added four catches for 25 yards.

While the offense consistently moved the ball against the Wildcats, the Cougars' defense, under the leadership of defensive coordinator Nick Benedetto, shut down an offense that ranked sixth in the league in total yards per game (387.5 ypg). USF allowed just seven points and 198 yards in total offense. USF, which ranks second nationally in rush defense, held the Wildcats to 28 yards on 26 carries. In addition, the Cougars recorded four sacks, pushing their league-leading total to 25.

Leading the way was NSIC sack leader Dennis Gardeck, who had two against the Wildcats and 10 on the season. He also had two tackles for loss, which gives him a league-high 13.  Sophomore Steven McKee had three tackles and his fourth sack of the season while senior defensive end Derek Landis recorded his fourth sack of the season. USF had five tackles for loss and five pass breakups as WSC passed for just 170 yards or 75 below its season average.

"I was really pleased with how the team rebounded from a loss and did so in a short turnaround and on the road against a hot team," said Anderson, whose defense held WSC to 126 total yards after the first quarter. "The guys showed tremendous fight and effort," he said.

After the defenses controlled the play in the first quarter, WSC broke through on a 50-yard TD pass from Zach Osborn to Sam Wegner late in the first quarter.

Down 7-0, the Cougars responded with a 17-point second quarter. At the 13:34 mark of the quarter, Towns scored his fourth TD of 40 yards or more this season. After Fieber connected with Garrow on a 16-yard pass, Towns found an opening on the left side and raced 40 yards to paydirt for the game-tying touchdown.

After the defense held WSC on the next possession, the Cougars' offense went back to work. USF grabbed a 14-7 lead on a one-yard TD run by W. Maxwell with 8:57 to play in the second quarter.  Maxwell had 22 yards rushing on the drive while Fieber completed passes to M. Maxwell (14, 9) and Ty Smith (10).

Late in the first half, the USF special teams unit came up with a big play. Joe Rodino recovered a fumbled punt by Willie Walton of WSC. While the Cougars couldn't punch it into the end zone, kicker Stuart Vanden Heuvel converted a 26-yard field goal for a 17-7 lead with just seven seconds left in the half. And, when the Cougars lead at halftime, they are 6-0 this season.

USF took complete control of the game right away in the second half. On its first possession, USF took off on an 11-play, 82-yard scoring drive, engineered by Young and capped by Myles' one-yard TD run for a 24-7 lead. Early in the fourth quarter, the Cougars put the game on ice as W. Maxwell scored his second TD on a two-yard run with 13:43 to play.
 
Notes –
~ By allowing just seven points to Wayne State, USF dropped its defensive scoring average to 9.9 on the season, a total which ranks second in NCAA DII. In addition, the Cougars' rushing defense dropped its average yards allowed to 55.1, which also ranks second in DII. USF even dropped its total defense mark to 236.0 per game.

~ USF second half dominance continued. With a 14-0 second half edge over the Wildcats, USF now has a 94-to-35 margin in the final half, including 47-to-7 in the fourth quarter.

~ Jason Towns now has 327 rushing yards and five total TDs while W. Maxwell now has 182 yards on the season.
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