Football | 8/29/2017 9:34:00 PM

SIOUX FALLS -- The #15/17 University of Sioux Falls Football Team (0-0), which won the NSIC Championship, for the first time in 2016, will face #8/10 Minnesota Duluth (0-0) on Thursday, Aug. 31 in a top-25 matchup at James S. Malosky Stadium at Duluth, Minn. Game-time is set for 6:05 p.m.

USF, also the defending South Division champs, will meet up with UMD, which won the NSIC North in 2016 and like USF earned an NCAA Tournament berth. The game will mark USF Head Coach Jon Anderson first game leading the tradition-rich Cougars program.

A year ago, the Cougars had a perfect 11-0 record in the regular season, finishing 12-1 when they hosted two home playoff games for the first time.  USF's home opener will be against Northern State at 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 9 on Military Appreciation Day at Bob Young Field. 

UMD was 10 -2 overall in 2016, including 10-1 in the NSIC, going 7-0 in the North. The Bulldogs, which will be directed by head coach Curt Wiese, fell to Emporia State, 59-26, in the NCAA DII Tournament First Round (Super Region 3).  

For both teams, some familiar faces will lead the way but the teams will transition to new individuals in a number of positions. Key for USF will be replacing three-time All-NSIC quarterback Luke Papilion, who set a career record in total offense and passing yards. Plus, USF loss three starters on the offensive line, including six-time All-American Antonio Green, and has to replace a receiving tandem of Brady Rose and Josh Angulo, who combined for 5.306 yards and 404 receptions during their stellar careers. On defense, USF must replace two members of the defensive line, two linebackers and both cornerbacks.

Meanwhile, UMD lost its quarterback Drew Bauer, who like Papilion had more than 9,000 yards passing and 3,000 yards rushing, a rarity in the DII level. Plus, running back Beau Boffering is gone along with one of the top offensive lineman in the country in Peter Bateman. On defense, losing linebacker Beau Bates will hurt.

Things to Know about USF-UMD matchup

~ USF is the defending NSIC champion, finishing 2016 with 11-0 league mark and now have won 12 straight league games.

~ The Cougars have gone 9-2 in its past 11 road openers. In NSIC play, USF is 2-1 in road openers with a 49-13 victory at St. Cloud State a year ago when they had 585 rushing yards. The Cougars dropped 32-7 road decision to Minnesota Duluth in 2013 and opened their first season the NSIC in 2012 with a 32-19 victory over #16 SCSU in 2012 in St. Cloud, Minn. In overall openers, USF has a  4-2 mark in NCAA DII with a 4-1 mark in the NSIC. Over the past 15 seasons, USF is 14-2 in openers (road or home).

~ These two teams have met twice with UMD winning in 2013 in Duluth, 32-7. Before 5,217 in attendance in the 2013 opener, the Bulldogs jumped to a 19-0 halftime lead and cruised to the win. UMD had a 381-to-144 edge in total yards. The Cougars defeated the Bulldogs in a matchup of two top 10 teams in 2015, 35-31. USF was ranked #6 and UMD #7. USF jumped to a 35-14 lead at halftime held off a charge from USF in the second half. The Cougars had a 464-to-432 advantage in total offensive yards.

~ UMD Head Coach Curt Wiese is 43-8 in his career at UMD (since 2012) with four NSIC North titles and three playoffs appearances.

~ Head Football Coach Jon Anderson has announced the team captains for the 2017 season. The captains, selected by vote of the team, include seniors Max Mickey, Holden, Mo.; Joshua Butler, Aurora, Colo.; Brian Mayberry, Littleton, Colo.; and Jesse Springer, Denver, Colo.

~ Senior running back Max Mickey, the NSIC Preseason South Division Player of the Year, has been named to eight All-America Teams since conclusion of 2016 season. He returns after setting a school record with 1,764 rushing yards and has accumulated 2,783 career rushing yards, 8th on USF's all-time chart. He has 35 total career TDs, 11th all-time at USF.

-- Senior All-American Max Mickey has 13 100-yard career rushing games, which ranks fourth all-time. He needs six to pass USF HOF RB Nick Kortan, who had 18 from 1999-2002. Mickey needs 233 rushing yards to move into seventh all-time and past Terry Austin, 1992-1995, 3, 115 yards.

~ A year ago, USF ranked 17th nationally in scoring (39.0 ppg), third in DII and first in the NSIC in rushing with 308.1 yards per game and 7th nationally and third in the NSIC in total offense with 511.3 yards per game. The Cougars were second in the NSIC in total defense (348.1 yards per game), rushing defense (124.2 ypg) and scoring defense (19.6 ppg) in the NSIC. They also finished second in sacks with 42 and second  in the league with 20 interceptions.

~ USF has the fifth longest run of winning seasons -- best in  NCAA DII -- at 23 straight

~ The Cougars, picked fifth in the NSIC and third in the NSIC South in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll, have been ranked 36 straight weeks in the AFCA Poll and own a 12-game NSIC winning streak. USF has never been picked higher than third (2015) in the preseason polls and were fourth a year ago when they won the league with a perfect 11-0 mark.

~ In 82 games since 2010, USF is 65-17, including and has made 6,053 plays for 36,622 yards or nearly 21 miles of yardage. That breaks down to 446.6 yards per game or 6.05 yards per play

~ Since 2010, the Cougars have recorded an incredible 38 defense and special teams TDs. Among those scores are 26 on defense, including 19 or the road or neutral fields.

~ The Cougars have scored in 139 straight games.  

~ USF is 45-10 in NSIC games, which is a winning percentage of .818, best in the NSIC. Overall, USF is 52-16 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. 

~ UMD returns seven starters on defense and five on offense. Among those holdovers are a quartet of 2016 All-NS first team selections in senior linebacker Zach Bassuener, senior offensive guard (and part-time fullback) Nolan Folkert, junior nose tackle Dre Greer and senior wide out/return specialist Nate Ricci, who paced the Bulldogs in both pass receptions (61) and receiving yardage (1,047) last fall. Four Bulldogs who attained All-NSIC second team status in 2016 -- junior offensive tackle Matt Juneau, junior safety Sam Lynch, senior tight end Keynon Phillips, and senior defensive end Nick Thorpe -- are also back.

~ USF will seek to end UMD's 22-game home winning streak. The Bulldogs have won 22 straight since dropping a 21-17 decision to Minnesota State University-Mankato on Sept. 21, 2013.


Season Preview

     On a sunny August morning, University of Sioux Falls Head Coach Jon Anderson shared a nod of approval with defensive coordinator Nick Benedetto in a sign that things were moving in the right direction for the Cougars Football Team as they culminated fall practice at Bob Young Field.

      On a low 70 degree day when energy was high and the pads were popping, Anderson, along with Benedetto, who he coached at USF as a standout safety from 2005-08, and other staff continue to see what is a solid group of leaders on the defending NSIC champions.  Day-by-day, the Cougars, ranked #17, are building momentum as the squad draws closer to a season-opening matchup with #10 Minnesota Duluth Thursday, August 31 in Duluth, Minn.  

     "We have guys who know how to compete and what it takes to win," said Anderson, USF's first-year head coach, who has a long-history with the program, dating to 2002. "They go about those things every day with purpose and it is rubbing off on the new guys," he said. "I am pleased on how our team has come together."

     Anderson, who coached at USF during one of the program's most successful periods from 2002-2012, feels upbeat about the Cougars. "I just feel good about where we are at right now," added Anderson, who helped coach USF to a 134-26 record, three NAIA championships (2006, 2008, 2009) as well as the program's first-nine win team in the program's first-year at NCAA DII in 2012.

     As he brought the team together at the end of the final preseason practice, passion and energy was palpable. After a hug from his wife, Amanda, and hello to his two boys, the coach was off to analyze the practice and continue the evaluation of his team, which has shown a bond and connection that will pay off as the season progresses.
     As he discussed takeaways from the first week plus of practice, Anderson was confident about his team which has 10 starters and 34 letter winners returning from the program's most successful team (12-1, 11-0 NSIC) at the NCAA DII era.
 
     Leading the offense will be senior running back Max Mickey (429-2,783-32 TDs career rushing), a seven-time All-American, who set a school record and ranked second nationally with 1,764 yards in 2016. His strength and burst was evident this fall as he was able to tear off a number of big runs in practice, aided by the return of his bookend all-league tackles, Trey Pipkins (career - 52 knockdowns, allowed one sack) and Jesse Springer (career – 78 knockdowns, allowed one sack).

     The three players are a big part of an offense that averaged 308.1 rushing yards and 511.3 yards in total offense a year ago. Mickey, who was named the NSIC Preseason South Offensive Player of the Year, led the nation with 8.6 yards per carry and 135.7 yards per game. Mickey, who has 42 career receptions for 329 yards and three TDs, has accumulated 3,161 all-purpose yards and 35 total TDs in three years with the program.

       Aside from Mickey, senior Jason Towns (83-267-TD rushing; 14-169 rec.; 14-193 KOR; 629 all-purpose yards) has shown dynamic quickness and ability to make plays on the perimeter while sophomores Colton Myles (2016 - 16-81-TD) and Winston Maxwell (2016 – 3 carries, 9 yards) are a load to handle inside.

     Anderson also highlighted the fall practice efforts of all-league tight end Nicholas Stanke (career - 71 rec., 719 yards, 5 TDs) along with returning tight end, Clint Sigg (2016 – 6 rec., 64 yards), who has transformed into a 6-4, 250-pound pass catching performer.

       Up front, Nick Zimmerman has taken over the center spot and will be a force. At guard, look for Nolan Kern, Elijah Perine and newcomer Adam Sheffield to step up and solidify the middle. With Pipkins and Springer providing leadership, the offensive line looks to be a solid unit.

     With the loss of three-time All-NSIC quarterback Luke Papilion, who graduated as the school's career total offense leader (12,489), the Cougars had a question heading into camp concerning quarterback. Senior Matthew Young (Career – 58-175-TD rushing; 74-119-803 yards, 3 TDs passing), a former quarterback, who was converted to safety but is back behind center, is competing for the job with junior college transfer Ian Fieber, who has a big arm.

    At wide receiver, USF also suffered heavy losses with two of the all-time greats in Brady Rose (191 rec., 2431 yards, 20 TDs) and Josh Angulo (213 rec., 2,885 yards, 29 TD) graduating. Redshirt freshman Ty Smith has come along nicely and is a physical receiver, who can run and make catches in a crowd, noted Anderson. Newcomer Michael Maxwell has had a solid camp as has Paul Gray-Bennett, among others.

      As for the defense, it is a group that was one of the best in the NSIC a year ago, ranking second in the league in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense.      Seniors Zack Tamburo (career - 49T, 9.5 TFL, 2 sacks), and Brian Mayberry (career – 51T, 4.0 TFLs, FF, two sacks) along junior Logan Dykstra (career – 38T, 9 TFLs, 2 FR, 3 sacks), junior Adria Botella, Stephen McKee, senior Derek Landis (career – 5T, 2 TFL, 3 sacks), junior Kray Krolikowski (9T, TFL) and redshirt frosh Joey Wehrkamp form a solid unit that has depth.

     At linebacker, all-league senior Kyle Campiotti (2016  – 67T, 1.5 TFLs, 4 PD, sack, int.) is joined by senior Michael Atonio (career – 13T), transfer Dennis Gardeck (career – 273T, 37 TFLs, 19 PB), senior Trevor Coleman (career – 18T), redshirt freshman Michael Enalls, redshirt sophomore Brody Grantham (2016 – 2T), and senior Isaac Josephson (career – 9T).

    The secondary will be led by two-time all-league safety Josh Butler (career – 195T, 18 PD, 4.5 TFL, sack, 2 int., 2 FF), who is one of the hardest hitting performers in the NSIC. Another all-league safety Jeffrey Harman (46T, 4 int.) has great hands and had four interceptions a year ago. Tucker Stout (2016- 13T), Joe Rodino (2016 – 17T, PD), transfer Ayinde Warren (144T, 7 TFLs, 3 int., 2 FR, 3 FF) make the safety spot deep and talented. At corners, Austin Schaffer (29T, 1.5 TFL, 3 PD), Parker Gregston, Noah St. Pierre and Shanard Harts form a talented group.

    On special teams, Stuart Vanden Huevel (36.0 punting avg., 49 I20) looks to be both the punter and placekicker in 2017. Returners will likely be Towns, Maxwell, St. Pierre among others.