Football | 9/14/2017 12:09:00 PM

SIOUX FALLS -- The #7/8 University of Sioux Falls Football Team (2-0, 2-0 NSIC), which leads NCAA DII in rushing defense and sacks, will travel to University of Mary (0-2, 0-2 NSIC) Saturday at 1 p.m. for an NSIC match up at the MDU Resources Community Bowl in Bismarck, N.D., with a team that builds its offensive scheme on running and specifically a triple option look.

The Cougars, which opened the season with two wins, have moved up from a national preseason rank of #17 to top-10 spots in both national polls. USF is ranked seventh in the most recent AFCA Coaches DII Poll and eighth in the D2Football.com Poll. USF has been ranked in 38 straight polls in both AFCA and D2Football.com.

Breakdown
Led by its defense and an offense improving week-by-week, USF has opened 2-0 with a 63-14 point differential in wins over previously #10 Minnesota Duluth (26-7) and Northern State (37-7).  In week one, the Cougars, aided by a defensive score by Derek Landis and a punt return TD from Jason Towns, defeated defending North Division champ Minnesota Duluth, 26-7, snapping the Bulldogs 22-game home winning streak. NSIC Defensive Player of the Week Dennis Gardeck had five sacks to lead a USF defense that recorded a program D2 best eight sacks, 14 tackles for loss and held UMD to -19 yards rushing on 30 carries. In a 37-7 win over Northern State last Saturday, Max Mickey rushed 24 times for a career-high 217 yards and two TDs, including an 87-yard run. The defense held NSU to two net yards rushing on 30 attempts and 191 total yards. Meanwhile the USF offense rolled up 415 yards in total offense, including 246 rushing.

U-Mary has opened the season 0-2 with a 35-7 setback Minnesota State, 35-7, and Wayne State, 48-10.  The Marauders rushed for 196 yards and had 286 total yards but allowed 420 yards of total offense to MSU in falling, 35-7. U-Mary scored first against the Mavericks but then allowed 35 straight points. In the setback at Wayne State, U-Mary fell behind 28-3 at halftime. Overall the Marauders were outgained 458-to-356 yards in total offense. U-Mary had 312 rushing yards on 59 attempts but just 44 yards throwing.

Something has to obviously give in this week's match up as USF, the league's top ranked defense (200.5 yards per game) and top unit in stopping the rush (-8.5 yards per game), meets the number two ranked rushing team in the NSIC. Featuring a triple option scheme, Mary is averaging 254.0 yards rushing per game or 4.3 yards per game.

Series Notes -- USF holds a 7-4 lead
The Cougars and the University of Mary have met 11 times since 1988 with the Cougars owning a 7-4 series record. The Cougars and Marauders have met twice, including a 55-7 USF win two years ago at Bob Young Field. In 2013, the  Cougars dropped a 17-10 decision to U-Mary in Bismarck, N.D. USF has outscored the Marauders 299-223 in the 11 contests. USF took the first two games against U-Mary in 1988 (37-13) and 1989 (28-17) before the Marauders evened the series by defeating the Cougars in 1990 (17-6) and 1991 (35-21). They handed USF its only loss in 1995 by defeating the Cougars 42-17 in the second round of the NAIA playoffs. The Cougars returned the favor in 1996 as USF's Kurtiss Riggs, who is a member of the USF Athletic Hall of Fame, led the Cougars to a 56-19 win in the first round of the NAIA playoffs. USF went onto capture the school's first national title. USF and U-Mary met three more times in the NAIA playoffs with the Cougars winning by a combined 13 points, including 29-25 in 1998, 27-21 in 2001 and 13-10 in 2002.

Mickey records 15th 100-yard rushing game
Eight-time All-American Max Mickey is off to a fast start with 331 yards on 61 carries and three TDs after two games. The senior from Holden, Mo., who ranks third in the country in yardage (331) and seventh in rushing yards per game (165.5). In a 37-7 win over Northern State at Bob Young Field, Mickey set a career-best with 217 rushing yards on 24 carries with two TDs. for his 15th career 100-yard rushing game and second over 200 yards. He ranks fourth all-time at USF in 100-yard rush games. Among Mickey's two scoring runs vs NSU was a career-best 87 yard gallop in the first half for a 17-0 lead.  The NSIC Preseason South Offensive Player of the Year now has 3,114 career rushing yards (8th all-time at USF) and 35 career rushing TDs (8th all-time at USF). He now needs two rushing yards to move into seventh on USF career chart and ahead of Terry Austin, 1992-95, who had 3,115 rushing yards on 488 carries. Mickey is just 24 yards away from sixth all-time in rushing at USF, a spot held by Ryan Lowmiller, 2006-09, who had 3,137 yards on 557 carries.  Mickey also had 3,490 all-purpose yards with 38 total TDs. With one more TD, Mickey will tie Kalen DeBoer, 1993-96, with 39 career TDs, for 10th on USF's scoring list. Mickey has 44 career receptions for 327 yards and three TDs.

Butler surpasses 200 career tackles
With seven tackles in the opener against Minnesota Duluth and three more against NSU, senior captain Josh Butler has surpassed 200 tackles in his career. He has 205 career stops with 130 solo stops and 21 passes defended. Butler has recorded two interceptions in his career and also has a sack.

Gardeck named Defensive NSIC POW
USF linebacker Dennis Gardeck was named the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 4 after setting a USF D2 mark of five sacks while registering his 10th career double digit tackles game with 10. He had five tackles for a loss, fumble recovery and a forced fumble.

Anderson moves to 2-0 as head coach at USF
With a 26-7 victory over then #10 Minnesota-Duluth on Aug. 31 in Duluth, Minn, USF Football gave head coach Jon Anderson his first career win in his first game leading the program. With a 37-7 win over in-state rival Northern State on Sept. 9 at Bob Young Field, Anderson also claimed his first home win as head coach, moving to 2-0 in his USF career. He returned to USF in December to take over the program. Anderson was an assistant coach, including serving as defensive coordinator, from 2002-2012.

USF leads nation in rushing D, sacks; Gardeck individual sacks leader nationally
USF is ranked first in NCAA DII in three team and individual statistical categories (team sacks, rushing defense, individual sacks), according to national stats released on Sunday. The Cougars rank in the top 20 in 22 statistical categories and top-10 in 16 categories. In the opening two weeks, the Cougars recorded a school record 16 sacks with eight against both Minnesota-Duluth and Northern State. Senior linebacker Dennis Gardeck has an NCAA DII-best seven sacks, including a DII program mark of five against UMD in week one.  In addition, the Cougars have limited two opponents to a total of -17 rushing yards or a DII-best -8.5 net rushing yards per game. The USF defense, directed by defensive coordinator Nick Benedetto, ranks second nationally in tackles for loss with 12.5 per game and sit second in total defense (200.5 yards per game), turnover margin (3.0 per game), fumbles recovered (5), turnovers gained (9), and defensive TDs (2). The Cougars sit fifth in scoring defense (7.0 ppg) and seventh in interceptions (2.0 per game). Additionally, USF is 12th in first downs defense (23), 13th in third down conversions defense (22 percent) and 17th in team passing efficiency defense (91.07). Gardeck, a senior from Lake in the Hills, Ill., also ranks second nationally with 3.5 tackles for loss. Senior Derek Landis of Lakewood, Colo., is 10th in sacks at 1.5 sacks per game with senior linebacker Michael Atonio of Kodiak, Alaska, 27th at 1.0 per game. The offense, directed by offensive coordinator Jim Chapin, also has a pair of players ranked in the top 20 nationally. Kicker Stuart Vanden Heuvel, a senior from Watertown, Wis., is 11th with 1.5 field goals per game. Vanden Heuvel is 3-of-4 on field goals with all three over 40 yards. He had a career-best 50 yard field goal against NSU. All-American running back Max Mickey of Holden, Mo., ranks third in rushing yards with 331 and seventh in yards per game at 165.5. Mickey, who has 3,114 career rushing yards, sits 15th in rushing TDs with three and 20th in totals TDs with three.

USF Defense has recorded more sacks than allowed points
USF's defense is off to a fast start with a nation-best 16 sacks through two games. The Cougars have recorded eight sacks in both season-opening wins. In fact, USF has more sacks (16) than points allowed. In addition, the Cougars have more sacks than rushing yards allowed. To this point, USF has limited UMD to a -19 net rushing yards on 30 carries and Northern State to two rushing yards on 30 carries. Doing math shows that USF has allowed a -17 net rushing yards or a DII-best -8.5 yards per game.

Cougars have scored 36 TDs on D/ST in DII era  
Through two games, the Cougars have registered three defensive or special teams TDs in 2017 which pushes their total to 36 during the DII era. Among those scores are 25 on defense and 11 by special teams. The latest TD was senior safety Jeff Harman's 35-yard interception for a score against NSU.  In the opener against UMD, the Cougars had a 17-yard fumble recovery for a TD by Derek Landis and a 41-yard punt return for a TD by Jason Towns. The Cougars pushed their total of 35 touchdowns by special teams or defense during the DII era (since 2011). USF has scored 24 defensive TDs since 2011 and 11 special teams TDs.

Fieber settling in at quarterback for USF
Ian Fieber, a junior quarterback, won the starting role this fall and is starting to settle in at the position. He has completed 27-of-50 passes for 54 percent. He has thrown for 242 yards with a TD. He is averaging 121.0 passing yards per game.

Holmes, Smith and Maxwell leading receiving corps
Through two games, junior wide out Anthony Holmes of Des Moines, Iowa leads USF in receiving with seven catches for 69 yards, including a long of 20 yards. Freshman Ty Smith of Sioux Falls has five catches for 65 yards, including a 35-yard TD  against NSU. Smith made an acrobatic catch to haul in the 35-yard TD strike from Fieber, which closed the first quarter in USF's win. Michael Maxwell of Richmond, Texas, has five receptions for 37 yards, including a 25-yarder against NSU.

Atonio, Campiotti off to solid starts on D
Seniors Michael Atonio of Kodiak, Alaska, and Kyle Campiotti of Livermore, Calif., are off to solid starts for USF. Campiotti, who was all-league a year ago, had 77 career tackles, including 10 stops this season. He has made three TFLs with a sack, pass breakup and pass defended.  For his career, Campiotti has 4.5 TFLs, five passes defended and two sacks with one interception. Atonio has made an impact with 12 tackles, including nine solo stops. He has 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, forced fumble and fumble recovery.  After sitting out a year ago, Atonio now has 25 career tackles, including 18 solo stops in playing six games.

Scoring streak hits 141 games
Since moving to DII in 2011, the Cougars have scored 2,541 points in 70 games or 37 ppg. USF has scored in 141 games dating to 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 is 47-10 in NSIC games
USF is 47-10 in NSIC games and 54-16 in all DII games since the transition in 2011. USF's clinched a 23rd straight winning season in 2015, 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.  

Butler, Mayberry, Springer and Mickey named Team Captains
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.

Gardeck off to a fast start at USF
In two games with USF, senior linebacker Dennis Gardeck has a team high 17 tackles, including an NSIC-NCAA DII best seven sacks. He had five sacks in the opening win over UMD and added a pair in week two. A two-time All Mountain East performer before transferring to USF, Gardeck has 10 career games with double digit tackles after his opening season outing against UMD. In his career, he now has 290 tackles with 25 career sacks and 44 tackles for loss.

Cougars Tracks
USF has the longest run of winning seasons in  NCAA DII at 23 straight winning campaigns. That mark is the fifth longest across all divisions.

Mary Notes

Josh Kotelnicki leads Mary Program
U-Mary is led by Josh Kotelnicki is in his fifth season as head football coach with the Marauders. He is currently 7-28 with the program, including 0-2 this season. Kotelnicki is a former assistant head coach at North Dakota, where he was defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, recruiting coordinator. A team captain and starting outside linebacker on the 2001 UND national championship team (DII), he was named U-Mary's sixth coach in 2014. The Litchfield, Minn., native also served as offensive line coach at Murray State University in 2002. He returned to UND in 2004 and was named defensive coordinator at Truman State in 2006. From there he moved to Kansas State, serving as a defensive graduate assistant in 2007.  He returned to UND in 2008 as special teams coordinator and linebackers coach. He has a bachelor's degree in psychology from UND in 2002 and a master's degree in business from Murray State in 2003.

Quick Take on Mary
Mary, which operates out of a triple option offense, ranks second in the NSIC in rushing with 254.0 yards per game. With use of the triple option, the Marauders rarely throw the ball with just 67 yards per game and 20 total passes in two games. They have averaged 321.0 yards in total offense through two games. Defensively, they have allowed 439.0 yards in total rushing over two games. Directing the offense is redshirt freshman Logan Nelson, who has 47 rushing yards on 15 carries. DeShawn Gay is the leading rusher with 186 yards on 24 carries with a TD. Colton Farmer has 77 yards on 29 carries while Paul Guptill has 75 yards rushing on 17 carries. Nelson has yet to complete a pass in eight attempts. When they throw it, Colton Farmer takes the reigns as he has eight completions on 12 attempts for 134 yards.