DULUTH, MINN. – Led by a shutdown defense and another 100-yard rushing game by All-American Max Mickey, the #17 University of Sioux Falls Football Team (1-0) ended #8/10 Minnesota Duluth's 22-game home winning streak and successfully opened defense of its NSIC crown with a 26-7 victory on Thursday night before 5,124 in attendance at James S. Malosky Stadium.  USF, which is now 2-1 in the series with UMD, now has won 13 straight games in the NSIC and stands 46-10 all-time in league play, which represents a league-best 82.1 percent.

Also on Thursday in a matchup of two NCAA playoff teams from a year ago, USF also gave first-year head coach Jon Anderson a victory in his first game as the head coach for USF. The stout defensive effort wasn't lost on Anderson, a former linebacker who was the defensive coordinator for USF in 2012 before leaving for a head coaching job at West Virginia State. USF's defense was a dominant force in stopping a nationally-ranked top-10 team, UMD (0-1) lost to an NSIC school at home for just the second time in the last 64 games.

"We executed very well on defense and then pounded the ball on offense," said Anderson, who coached at USF from 2002-2012 before returning last December to take over the program. "We designed some schemes that gave their young quarterback some different looks and then we applied pressure all night. I am really proud of this team and in all phases because each did their job. As I said to the team, 'we won together and we can do more of it by sticking as a unit because you believe in each other.'"

Defensive coordinator Nick Benedetto, who was a standout for the Cougars as a player from 2005-08, crafted a defensive scheme that was executed nearly perfectly. USF bottled up a team that averaged over 536 yards and 45 points a game a year ago. Led by senior linebacker Dennis Gardeck, USF limited UMD to 213 yards in total offense, including shutting down their rushing attack. In net rushing yards, the Cougars set a DII program defensive mark by holding UMD to a -19 yards on 30 attempts. It is the least amount of net rushing yards by a USF defense since the 2008 USF team held Northwestern (Iowa) to -22 yards (Nov. 1, 2008) when the Cougars won an NAIA national title. And, both times, tonight and nine years ago, the Cougars were on the road. Nine years ago Benedetto was a starter in USF's secondary and tonight he guided the defensive schemes from the sideline.

How dominating was USF? The Cougars defense set several DII program records, including sacks with eight and tackles for loss with 14. Plus, they forced UMD into four turnovers. Gardeck led the way with 10 tackles, including seven solo stops, five TFLs, and a career-best five sacks with a forced fumble and fumble recovery in an effort that will make him a candidate for national player of the week.

For the 24th time in the DII era, the defense scored as senior defensive end Derek Landis picked up a fumble on UMD's first offensive play and rumbled in from 17 yards. Landis, who added a tackle and quarterback hurry, scored his first career TD.  Aside from Gardeck, senior linebacker Kyle Campiotti had eight tackles, two TFLs, pass breakup, and a sack. In addition, senior linebacker Michael Atonio had seven stops, 2.5 tackles for loss, forced fumble, fumble recovery and a sack.

"I was really pleased with the way we competed," said Anderson, whose father traveled up from Maryville, Mo., to watch his son earn his first victory with USF. "We have to be proud of this but we have work to do in getting ready for Northern State," he said.

As for Mickey, he was a workhorse back for the USF offense, which was breaking in a number of new faces, including starting quarterback Ian Fieber. Mickey had a career-high 37 carries for 114 yards and a TD run. With the 100-yard game, Mickey now has 14 in his career, which ranks fourth all-time at USF. He now has 2,897 career rushing yards (8th all-time at USF) and 33 career rushing TDs (6th all-time at USF). He now needs 219 rushing yards to move into seventh on USF career chart.  

With the defense striking right away, the Cougars jumped to a 7-0 lead over UMD at the 14:44 mark of the first quarter.  USF added to the lead when Stuart Vanden Heuvel, in his first career start as kicker, booted the first of two field goals from 40-yards  to cap a 10-play, 43-yard drive. Vanden Heuvel, who also averaged 36.2 yards as USF's punter, gave USF a 10-0 lead with 9:07 to play. Later in the quarter, USF added to their advantage foiling a UMD fake punt attempt inside the Bulldogs' 30-yardd line.  But before Mickey scored his first TD of the season, a pair of Sioux Falls freshman stepped up.

Jett Thune, who prepped at Sioux Falls Roosevelt and moved to wide receiver from quarterback in fall camp, connected with former Sioux Falls Washington standout Ty Smith on a 15-yard gadget pass play on the first play of the offensive series. From there Mickey had runs of 7, 1, 5, and the one-yard TD run for a 17-0 lead. It would be all the points USF needed.

UMD was able to cut into USF's lead in the second quarter by benefit of a rare fumble by Mickey, who was stripped after a 23-yard run. From there, Jason Balts hauled in a 43-yard pass from Bulldog QB Mike Rybarczyk. On the ensuing play, Nolan Folkert had a one-yard TD run as UMD drew within 17-7 with 3:04 to play in the second quarter.
Midway through the third quarter, Jason Towns and USF's special teams found pay dirt. Towns, who scored USF's 11th special team TD of the DII era, fielded a punt inside UMD territory and raced 42-yards for the score and a 23-7 lead. In the fourth quarter, Vanden Heuvel closed the scoring by knocking home a career-best 42-yard field goal with 14:28 left for the 26-7 lead.

Next for USF will be a home game on Saturday, Sept. 9 with in-state foe Northern State on Military Appreciation Night.

Game Notes
~ In his first career start, USF junior Ian Fieber was 9-of-18 for 73 yards with a long of 26 yards. Michael Maxwell, in his debut at starting wide out, had four catches for 12 yards and rushing for 10 yards.
~ UMD quarterback Mike Rybarzzyk was 26-of-50 for 228 yards. Jason Balts had nine receptions for 117 yards to lead UMD receivers.
~ Eight different USF defenders had tackles for loss while Yankton native Steven McKee recorded his first career sack
~ USF scored in its 140 straight game dating back to 2005
~ In its 13-game NSIC winning streak USF has won by double digit points 12 times