SIOUX FALLS – With an offense churning out 296 rushing yards and a defense that produced its first shutout since 2015, the #7 University of Sioux Falls Football Team (4-0, 4-0 NSIC) put together a 34-0 victory over Minnesota Crookston (0-4, 0-4 NSIC) on Saturday before 1,520 in attendance on a rainy, humid night at Bob Young Field. On a night when the start of the game was delayed 30 minutes due to lightning in the area, USF registered its 16th straight in NSIC play and kept the Cougars at the top of the league standings.

"Our team really plays well together on both sides of the ball and special teams," said USF head football coach Jon Anderson, whose team now has allowed just 21 points in four games or 5.20 per game, a total that leads the NSIC and ranks second nationally. "Our guys stayed after the Golden Eagles all night. This victory was accomplished through hard work and effort," added Anderson, who is now 4-0 in his first season as head coach. For the fourth straight season, USF has opened the season with at least four straight wins.

For USF, the shutout was the first since a 49-0 road win over Concordia-St. Paul on Oct. 31, 2015 in St. Paul, Minn. The Cougars' last home shut out was a 36-0 win over St. Cloud State on Sept. 19, 2014. But, the shutdown was a further indicator of the stoutness of the USF defense, which allowed just 154 yards on 62 plays or 2.5 yards per play to Minnesota Crookston. USF was allowing just 29 yards rushing per game coming into tonight's game and permitted only 28 yards on 33 carries or less than a yard per tote.

The defense was led by senior defensive back Ayinde Warren who had a team-high seven tackles, two tackles for loss and his third interception of the season. Also for the defense, senior all-league linebacker Kyle Campiotti had five tackles and one of the three sacks by USF, which now has a league-high 19 in just four games. Campiotti also had two of USF's eight tackles for loss. Also recording sacks for USF was Steven McKee and Brody Grantham.

Offensively, the Cougars totaled 483 yards on 79 plays, including 296 yards rushing on 52 carries. All-American running back Max Mickey continued to lead the way with 24 carries for 180 yards and a TD. He rushed for over 100 yards for the 17th time in his career, which ranks fourth all-time and just one behind USF Athletics Hall of Fame running back Nick Kortan (18, 1999-00). Mickey, who passed former teammate Luke Papilion (3,383 rushing yards) for fifth on USF's all-time rushing chart, now has 3,444 career yards.

Mickey, who now has 661 yards on 109 carries (6.1 avg.) in 2017, wasn't the only back making noise against Minnesota-Crookston. Senior Jason Towns had his first-career 100-yard rushing game (eight carries, 101 yards) and provided a pair of big plays, including a career-long 41-yard TD run. He also had his second punt return TD of the season, a career-best 66-yard return in the second quarter. Towns, who had his second straight week of scoring two TDs, accumulated a career-best 169 all-purpose yards. Winston Maxwell also added 44 yards rushing.

"Our rushing attack continues to produce at a high level," said Anderson. "It was exciting to watch Max and Jason continue to make big plays. Let's also credit our offensive line, which continues to get better by the game."

After the defense forced a three and out by the Golden Eagles, the Cougars quickly moved in for an early TD and a lead. Mickey capped a seven-play, 82-yard scoring driving, which used up just 2:11 of the clock for a 7-0 lead at the 11:19 mark of the first quarter. Just seven minutes later, junior quarterback Ian Fieber connected with Michael Maxwell on a 20-yard TD strike as the Cougars pushed the lead to 14-0 with 4:13 to play in the first quarter. It was Fieber's third TD toss of the season.

In the second quarter, USF added to their advantage when Towns electrified the USF crowd with his 66-yard punt return. The special teams TD was the program's 12th during the NCAA DII era. 

Towns struck pay dirt again in the third quarter by capping a 75-yard scoring drive with a 41-yard TD scamper with 12:31 to play in the third quarter. The scoring was closed out by Stuart Vanden Heuvel who connected on a pair of short field goals (22, 20) in the fourth quarter.

Next for USF is a road match up with Southwest Minnesota State (2-2) in Marshall at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30.

NOTES –
~ With the victory, the Cougars are 49-10 all-time in the NSIC, just one win away from 50. USF also extended its scoring streak to 143 straight games.
~ With the victory, USF moved to 63-6 at the friendly confines of Bob Young Field.
~ The Cougars are averaging 4.8 yards per rushing, accumulating 894 yards to just 115 for opponents.
~ With its 19 sacks, USF has registered -122 yards in losses.  
~ The Cougars had 187 passing yards, including Matt Young, who was 11-of-17 for 92 yards and Ian Fieber, who connected on 7-of-10 passes for 95 yards and a TD.