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SIOUX FALLS -- The University of Sioux Falls Football Team (4-3, 4-3 NSIC South), which leads the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and ranks 10th nationally in rushing, will travel to Minnesota State Moorhead for a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game at 2 p.m. on Saturday (October 20) at Scheels Field at Alex Nemzek Stadium in Moorhead, Minn.   

#AT STAKE -- USF will look to end a two-game losing streak when they face MSUM. The Dragons have opened 5-2 with their best start since 1999. MSUM recorded a come-from-behind 28-22 road win over Wayne State in overtime. Meanwhile, USF dropped a second straight decision in a 30-27 setback to St. Cloud State in the Hall of Fame game at Bob Young Field. USF is 1-3 in games decided by four points or fewer. USF has not lost three straight games in a season as a member of the NSIC. In 2011 in USF's transition year to NCAA DII, the Cougars opened 0-3 with losses to Washburn (33-17), at Northwest Missouri State (52-17) and at McNeese State (31-17). In that season, USF defeated Minot State, 39-23, on Sept. 24, 2011 to end the losing skein.

A week ago, the Cougars led 10-7 in the second quarter and 24-21 in the third quarter but the Huskies outscored USF, 9-3, in the final 20 minutes of the game to record their first ever win over the Cougars. With the loss, USF dropped to 67-9 at Bob Young Field and stand 3-1 at home in 2018. The Cougars have a 1-2 road record as they defeated rival Augustana, 51-13 on Sept. 22 at Kirkeby-Over Stadium.

This game with MSU-Moorhead will wrap up play against the North Division with USF standing 1-2 in those games. The Cougars had an 18-game winning streak against NSIC North foes end in a 25-21 setback to Bemidji State on Oct. 6. Against SCSU, the Cougars held substantial advantages in most statistical categories with a 469-to-362 total yards edge. However, USF also had three turnovers while the Huskies did not turn the ball over. Led by junior running back Gabriel Watson, USF had a 262-to-108 yards advantage on the ground. SCSU also held an edge in passing yards (254-to-207).

#GAME BREAKDOWN -- USF leads the NSIC in rushing and ranks 10th in NCAA DII at 277.0 yards per game (6.1 yards per carry).  USF, which has 52 runs of 10 or more yards and 14 of 30 yards or better, also ranks third in the NSIC and 23rd nationally  in total offense with 461.7 yards per game. With 7.0 yards per play on 3,232 total yards, USF sits seventh in NCAA DII. USF is scoring 33.7 points per game while MSUM has produced 28.0 points per game for seventh in the NSIC. MSUM has generated 160.7 yards rushing, which is seventh in the league. While USF has 22 rushing TDs, MSUM has 14.  Against the run, USF stands fourth at 114.0 yards allowed per contest and MSU Moorhead is seventh at 136.4 yards per game. While USF has allowed just four rushing scores, MSUM has permitted nine this season. Through the air, MSUM is ninth in the league with 227.3 yards per game and 12 touchdowns while the Cougars stand 10th in passing at 184.7 yards per game and 10 touchdowns. Against the pass, USF is 15th by allowing 245.6 yards per game and MSUM is 16th with 266.7 yards allowed per game. They have give up 16 passing touchdowns and USF, 13.  As things stand entering week eight, the Cougars rank eighth in the NSIC in total defense at 359.6 yards per game while MSUM is 12th at 403.1 yards allowed per game.

#ABOUT MSUM - The Dragons, which are led by head coach Steve Laqua, will be led by quarterback Jakup Sinani, who has completed 119-of-203 passes for 1,334 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. He is averaging 222.3 yards per game.  Zach Simons is their leading rusher with 381 yards on 86 carries and seven scores.  The Dragons sit tied for second in the NSIC North at 5-2. They have wins over Wayne State (28-22 OT), Upper Iowa (17-13), Mary (48-20),Northern State (42-28), and Minnesota Crookston (34-10). MSUM has lost to No. 5 Minnesota Duluth (60-7) and No. 1 Minnesota State (42-20).

#USF LEADS MSUM, 3-0  IN SERIES -- USF owns a 3-0 edge in the series with Minnesota State, Moorhead. In the most recent match up on Sept. 10, 2016, USF defeated MSUM, 42-21, at Bob Young Field. USF totaled 604 yards in total offense and set a DII school mark with 444 yards rushing. Max Mickey had 185 yards rushing on 15 carries. Luke Papilion accounted for six touchdowns and 309 yards in total offense. He had 160 yards passing with a pair of touchdown passes while rushing 16 times for 149 yards and four TDs. Josh Butler had 13 tackles and an interception to lead the USF defense. The Cougars led 21-7, 28-14, and 35-21 before icing the game late on an 11-yard scoring run with 2:42 to play in the game. USF also owns a 45-10 win in 2012 in Sioux Falls and a 73-21 victory at MSUM in 2014. In the home opener three years ago, USF rolled up a 45-0 lead after three quarters. Kristian Porter led the USF rushing attack with 14 carries for 117 yards and a TD. QB Taylor Perkins completed 13-of-21 passes for 170 yards and three TDs. Wide receivers Carrington Hanna (5-88-2 TDs) and Jeremiah Oates (4-80-2 TDs) both caught a pair of TD passes. USF totaled 472 yards in total offense, including 258 rushing yards and 39 carries. In the game on Sept., 27, 2014 in Moorhead, Minn., USF totaled 663 yards in total offense, which is the best total at the DII level for USF. Quarterback Luke Papilion became USF's first player in the DII era with 300 yards passing (318) and 100 yards rushing (125) in the same game while totaling five TDs (3 pass, 2 rush). Josh Angulo had nine receptions for 120 yards and a TD while then redshirt freshman Max Mickey had 113 yards, including a 72 yard jaunt (his longest run from scrimmage at USF) and a TD.   

#JUST WIN BABY - USF is 58-15 (.794) overall in the NSIC.  USF is 65-22 (.747) all-time in NCAA DII with a 35-11 mark against South opponents and 23-4 vs. the North. The Cougars are 29-8 in road NSIC games and 29-7 in home NSIC games. In North Division road games, the Cougars are 10-3 and 12-1 at home against NSIC North teams. USF stands 18-6 against South opponents at home and is 17-5 on the road. USF clinched their 24th straight winning season with a win over Wayne State on Oct. 12, 2017. It is 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.

#GAME SCORING STREAK AT 158 - Since moving to DII in 2011, the Cougars have scored 3,062 points in 87 games or 35.19 ppg. USF has scored in 158 straight games, dating to a 55-0 loss to Carroll College in the final game of the 2005 season. USF recorded a DII-best 73 points vs. Minnesota State-Moorhead (Sept. 27) in 2014.  

#WATSON POWER -- Junior running back Gabriel Watson continues to make an impression after tying a school record with his straight 100-yard rushing game against St. Cloud State. With 22 carries for 161 yards and a touchdown against SCSU on Oct. 13, Watson tied USF Hall of Fame running back David Ruter (1997) and Nephi Garcia (2013) for recording seven straight rushing games of at least 100 yards. Watson, who already ranks 15th all-time for rushing yards in a season at USF, leads the NSIC and ranks second nationally in rushing at 171.0 yards per game with 162 carries for 1,197 yards and a nation-best 16 rushing touchdowns. He is one of three players in DII with 1,000 yards rushing and the 29th player in school history to surpass the 1K plateau. Watson ranks tied for first in DII in total points scored with 96  and is third overall with 13.7 points per game.  He is also the fastest running back to gain 1,000 yards in school history.  Twice this season, Watson has been named NSIC Offensive Player of the Week. This season, Watson has recorded 32 carries of 10 yards or more. In that total, he has 19 runs from 10-to-20 yards, three of 20-to-30 range, and 11 of 30 yards or more (30, 33, 33, 33, 31, 35, 45, 47, 54, 67, 81). Watson and running mate Colton Myles have a combined 14 carries of 30 yards or more.

100-yard rushing games -
Concordia St. Paul -- 27 carries 200 yards, 3 TDs
@ Winona State -- 29 carries for 172 yards, TD
Southwest Minnesota State -- 19 carries for 193 yards, 2 TDs
@ Augustana -- 23 carries for 140 yards, 4 TDs
Minot State -- 15 carries for 205 yards, 2 TDs
Bemidji State -- 27 carries, 126 yards, 3 TDs.
St. Cloud State -- 22 carries, 161 yards, TD

USF Season Rushing Leaders - All-time
1. Max Mickey, 2016, 1,764
2. David Ruter, 1996, 1,726
3.    Nick Kortan, 2001, 1,678
4.    Nick Kortan, 2002, 1,606
5.    Mike Dvoracek, 2005, 1,603
6.    Mike Dvoracek, 2004, 1,526
7.    Ryan Lowmiller, 2009, 1,487
8.    David Ruter, 1998,1,452
9.    David Ruter, 1998, 1,445    
10.    Jim Pehringer, 1988, 1,416    
11.    Terry Austin, 1994, 1,383     
12. Mike Dvoracek, 2006, 1,373
13.     Kevin Moser, 1984, 1,246
14. Nelson Cumana, 1981, 1,200    
15. Gabriel Watson, 2018, 1,197

Rushing TDs, Season -- Top 10 All-time
1. David Ruter, 1998, 29
2. Mike Dvoracek, 2005, 23
3. Nick Kortan, 2001, 22        
4. Ryan Lowmiller, 2009, 21    
4. Nick Kortan, 2002, 21
6. Max Mickey, 2016, 19
7. Nephi Garcia, 2014,18
7. Mike Dvoracek, 2006, 18
7. Terry Austin, 1994, 18
10. Luke Papilion, 2016, 17
11. Lorenzo Brown, 2009, 16
11. Gabriel Watson, 2018, 16
 
#USF HAS BEST RUSHING GAME OF SEASON IN NSIC - USF has the single best team rushing performance in the NSIC and eighth-best total in NCAA DII in 2018 with 444 yards on 56 carries against Minot State on Cougar Days on Sept. 29 at Bob Young Field.

#USF OFFENSE ON ROLL -- In the past five weeks, USF has recorded three wins by a 194-to-103 differential. The Cougars have also totaled 460 yards or more in offense four times with the 308 yards against Bemidji State breaking up a streak of three straight games of 500 yards or more in total offense. USF added 469 yards against SCSU last Saturday. When USF had 500 yards or more total offense in three straight games (SMSU, Augustana, Minot State), it was the first time the program had met that accomplishment since Sept. 10-24 of 2016.  In 2016 when USF won the NSIC title, they had  636 yards in a 37-36 win over Bemidji State on Sept. 24, 562 yards in a 35-20 win over Augustana on Oct. 1 and 670 yards in a 48-28 victory against SMSU on Oct. 8.  In games in which USF has totaled 500 yards or more in total offense, they are 21-1. In the win over Augustana (Sept. 22) and Minot State Sept. 29), the Cougars averaged over nine yards per play in two straight games for the first time in the DII era. USF tied a school mark (St. Cloud State, 9.1, 2016) with 9.1 yards per play against Augustana (63 plays, 576 yards) and against Minot State (69 plays, 620 yards) averaged 9.0 yards per play in the win over Minot State.

#THOMAS CHAPIN IMPACTING SPECIAL TEAMS -- Redshirt freshman Thomas Chapin, who was named NSIC Special Teams Player of the Week four weeks ago, has had a solid season.  He ranks second in the league in punting at 42.1 yards per kick. He has 24 punts for 1,011 yards with seven punts placed inside the 20-yard line and seven punts of 50 yards or more.  He was honored by the league after averaging 54.0 yards per game on four punts for 216 yards in the rivalry win over Augustana on Sept. 22..  In that game, he hammered a career-long 72-yard punt and placed two punts inside the Augustana's 20-yard line as USF picked up its sixth "Key to the City" win in seven games against Augustana.

#COO RECORD LARGEST VICTORY MARGIN SINCE 2016 - Against Minot State on Sept. 22, the Cougars recorded the largest margin of victory since a 51-7 win (44 points) at Upper Iowa on Nov. 5, 2016. In each of the past two weeks, USF has scored 35 or more points in two wins. The Cougars had 37 against Augustana in the 51-13 road and "Key to the City' win over the Vikings. Then against Minot State, USF opened up a 35-7 lead at the halftime break and cruised to a 56-14 win.

#WALTERS SECOND IN PASS EFFICIENCY - Junior quarterback Caden Walters ranks second in the NSIC in passing efficiency at 158.1. He has completed 84-of-132 passes for 1,211 yards with 10 TDs and five interceptions. He is averaging 173.0 passing yards per game.  He threw for a career-high 244 yards against Augustana in the 51-13 "Key to the City" victory. He had a streak of 61 straight passes without an interception end in the second half of the loss at Bemidji State.  This season, he has a low of 127 yards passing and a high of 244 yards passing (Augustana). He had a career-high four TDs (12-of-17-196 yards) in a win over Southwest Minnesota State. He also threw three TDs against Minot State.   

#MYLES PROVIDING BENCH SPARK - SIXTH IN NSIC-- Junior Colton Myles reached 100 yards rushing for the second straight game with 19 carries for 131 yards in the win over Minot State on Sept. 29. Through seven games, he has totaled career-highs with 77 carries for 531 yards and three TDs. Myles, who has three runs of 30 yards or more (31, 58, 59), had five carries for 65 yards against Bemidji State and 30 yards against SCSU. He has had two runs of 50 yards or more, including 58 against Southwest Minnesota State and 59 against Bemidji State.  In addition, Myles has been a special teams standout with three blocked kicks. Against Bemidji State, he had two blocked punts in the second quarter with USF producing touchdowns on drives following the plays.

#DEFENSE AND TURNOVERS -- USF's defense has long held a tradition of creating turnovers, playing shutdown defense and scoring TDs. In the DII era, USF has scored 39 TDs on defense and special teams with 27 on defense. Junior cornerback Parker Gregston scored USF's 39th special teams/defensive in the past seven years with his 75-yard interception return for a TD in the second quarter of the USF win over Augustana on Sept. 22. It was Gregston's second pick of the game and his first two of his career. So far, USF has a turnover differential of plus-eight (15-to-8) , which provides USF with a .71 average per game and a No. 31 ranking in NCAA DII. USF ranks 33rd nationally by creating 15 turnovers.  

#COO TRACKS
~ Five-time All-American Dennis Gardeck, who helped lead the 2017 Cougars to the playoffs, has earned a spot on the Arizona Cardinals NFL roster. Gardeck was All-NSIC, Harlon Hill and Cliff Harris finalist and NSIC Newcomer of the Year after accumulating 75 tackles, 14 tackles and 21 tackles for loss.
~Senior offensive tackle Trey Pipkins has been named to the Senior Bowl Watch List and two preseason All-American Teams - D2Football.com and The Podyum.
~Captains for the 2018 season will include Pipkins, senior wide receiver Michael Maxwell, junior safety Tucker Stout and senior All-NSIC defensive end Logan Dykstra.
~USF has both an offensive and defensive lineman named Nick Zimmerman. On offense, one of the Nicks hailed from Rosendale, Wisc., and is a 6-3, 296 starting center. A business administration major, he has been a starter for the past two seasons at dons No. 63. On defense, the other Nick is a 6-0, 282-pound starting defensive tackle from Oceanside, Calif. Zimmerman, who has a sack, six tackles and a TFL in three and seven appearances, is in his first season at USF.