SIOUX FALLS -- The University of Sioux Falls Football Team (6-3, 4-1 NSIC South), which leads the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and ranks fourth nationally in rushing (297.3 yards per game), will face a major test against No. 1 Minnesota State (9-0, 5-0 NSIC South) at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato, Minn., at noon on Saturday (Nov. 3).

In this matchup, MSU will look to remain unbeaten and continue a conference winning streak of 22 consecutive games. Last week, MSU defeated Wayne State, 55-2, by rolling up 485 yards in total offense. USF had 616 yards in total offense, including 333 yards rushing, in a 34-7 win over Upper Iowa. If USF, which has won two straight games, holds any postseason hopes, a win over the No. 1 team in the country is a must.  Aside from ranking No. 1 in both the AFCA and D2Football.com media poll, the Mavericks moved to No. 1 in the region in the second of the regional rankings released Monday, Oct. 29 by the NCAA. Tarleton State (8-0) was second and unbeaten Minnesota Duluth (9-0) third in the Super Region Four rankings. The rest of the region's top -10 included Colorado School of Mines (9-0, 4th); Colorado St. Pueblo (8-1, 5th), Texas A&M Commerce (7-2, 6th), MSU Texas (6-2, 7th), Central Washington (7-1, 8th), Azusa Pacific (6-2, 9th) and Chadron State (6-2, 10th).

#BREAKING DOWN THE USF-MSU MATCHUP -- The USF-MSU matchup will pit two of the nation's top offenses against one another. The Cougars rank fourth in NCAA DII in rushing (297.3 yards per game) and ninth in total offense (492.3 yards per game). MSU is 12th in the nation in total offense (483.2 yards per game) and sit 17th nationally in rushing at 246.0 yards per game.  Both teams feature strong defenses against the run. The Cougars rank 31st nationally by allowing 115.6 yards per game rushing and 3.45 yards per carry. MSU is sixth in rushing defense in DII by allowing only 77.1 yards per game and 2.49 yards per carry. The Mavericks also feature the No. 18 ranked total defense at 288.2 yards per game.  The contest will feature the league's two most efficient quarterbacks with Ryan Schlichte (91-149-1,455 yards, 14 TDs, two interceptions), who is sixth in NCAA DII in pass efficiency at 171.4 and Caden Walters of USF (114-173-1,673, 12 TDs, six interceptions), who is 12th nationally with a 163.1 pass efficiency ranking.

USF and MSU also both feature a stable of outstanding running backs. USF has the top running back in NCAA DII in Gabriel Watson, who leads the NCAA DII in six categories. He is the NSIC and DII leader in total rushing yards (1,702), yards per game (189.1), rushing touchdowns (23), total touchdowns (23), scoring per game (15.3) and total points scored (138). Watson has recorded 100 yards rushing or more in a school-record nine straight games. He has been named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Week three times and the D2Football.com National Offensive Player of the Week. Aside from Watson, USF also leans on junior running back Colton Myles, who ranks sixth in the NSIC with 645 yards on 100 carries with five TDs. While Watson averages 8.1 yards per carry, which ranks third in DII, Myles has averaged 6.5 yards per carry for third in the league. MSU's Nate Gunn is third in the league with 107.6 rushing yards per game. However, MSU's junior running back has the second-most yards in the NSIC with 968 on 199 carries with 15 touchdowns.  MSU will also look to sophomore Justin Taormina to handle some carries. He has 359 yards on 64 carries with two TDs. The Mavericks are directed by ninth-year head coach Todd Hoffner.  He is 88-20 (.814) with five DII playoff appearances (2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2017).

#OFFENSE MAKING IMPACT - SETTING GAME PER PLAY MARKS -- In 2018, USF has averaged 7.4 yards per play, which is the best mark since the program moved to NCAA DII. In 2016, USF averaged 7.0 yards per play in winning the NSIC title for the first time in school history. Also of note, USF has averaged 9.0 yards per play three times, which had not been accomplished previously at the DII level. USF had tied the school total offense mark of 9.1 yards per play (SCSU, 2016) in the 51-13 "Key to the City" win over Augustana on Sept. 22 and registered 9.0 yards per play in the 56-14 home win over Minot State on Sept. 29. However against MSUM, the Cougars were even better, rolling up 583 yards in total offense on 57 plays for a school record 10.2 yards per play.

COO TRACKS -- USF is 60-15 (.800) all-time in the NSIC. USF is 67-22 (.753) all-time in NCAA DII with a 36-11 mark (.766) against South opponents and 24-4 (.857) vs. the North. The Cougars are 30-8 (.789) in road NSIC games and 30-7 (.811) in home NSIC games. In North Division road games, the Cougars stand 11-3 and are 12-1 at home against NSIC North teams. USF has a 19-6 (.760) mark against South opponents at home and is 17-5 (.773) on the road. USF clinched their 25th straight winning season with a win over Upper Iowa on Oct. 27, 2018. 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.

Since moving to DII in 2011, the Cougars have scored 3,151 points in 89 games or 35.40 points per game. USF has scored in 160 straight games which is a streak that dates to a 55-0 loss to Carroll College in 2005.  

For the first time since 2015, USF has scored at least 50 points in a game three times. In 2015, USF accomplished the feat four times.

USF has recorded the 17th-best game rushing total in NCAA DII with the 444 yards against Minot State on Sept. 29 at Bob Young Field. In that game, Gabriel Watson rushed for 205 yards by halftime as USF tied a school mark of 444 rushing yards set in 2016.

Captains for the 2018 season include Pipkins, senior wide receiver Michael Maxwell, junior safety Tucker Stout and senior All-NSIC defensive end Logan Dykstra.

Five-time All-American Dennis Gareca, who helped lead the 2017 Cougars to the playoffs, has earned a spot on the Arizona Cardinals NFL roster. Gareca was All-NSIC, a Harlon Hill and Cliff Harris finalist and NSIC Newcomer of the Year after accumulating 75 tackles, 14 tackles and 21 tackles for loss.

#MSU HOLDS 6-2 SERIES LEAD -- MSU leads USF in the all-time series, 6-2. A year ago at Bob Young Field, MSU rallied from a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes to take a 27-23 victory over USF. Two years ago (2016), USF handed MSU, a 24-14 setback en route to win the NSIC Championship. In 2015, the Mavericks recorded a 44-3 victory at USF during a season when both team made the playoffs. In 2014, USF led, 14-10, in the fourth quarter in a battle of unbeaten teams before MSU had a 17-0 surge to win, 27-14 at Blakeslee Field. The Mavericks won 52-17 in 2013 and recorded a 27-13 victory in 2012.  The first meeting was a 27-0 victory by then Mankato State before the Cougars returned the favor with a 7-0 win in 1937.  

#HOW USF'S NUMBERS STACK UP - 2017 to 2018 -- The USF offense has made substantial progress over the past year. A year ago, the Cougars scored 313 points in the season but have 325 this year with two games to play. In terms of average, USF is supplying 36.1 points per game and averaged 26.1 a year ago. In rushing yards, the Cougars have gone past last year's total of 2,283 in a big way. Led by Watson and Myles and an experienced offensive front, the Cougars have 2,676 rushing yards or 393 more than last year. What is impressive is that USF is not only averaging more than 100 yards a game rushing (297.3-to-190.2), they have done so with a higher average (6.5-to-4.8) with fewer carries overall (411-to-555 in 2017). USF will likely pass last year's total offense total of 4,573 against MSU. USF, which is averaging 492.3 yards per game, has a 4,431 yards this year .

#BEATS GOES ON WITH WATSON -- Gabriel Watson, who broke the University of Sioux Falls Football's game rushing record with 320 yards and scored five touchdowns in a 55-21 win over Minnesota State Moorhead on Oct. 20,  provided another outstanding performance in a 34-7 victory at home against Upper Iowa on Oct. 27. For a ninth consecutive game, Watson surpassed 100 yards rushing. He totaled 185 yards on 29 carries with two TDs as the Cougars rolled up 333 rushing yards as a team. In the game, he had an 81-yard run for the second time this year and now has six runs of 50 yards or more this year. After breaking the school rushing mark (320 yards) against MSUM, Watson was named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Week for the third time and was named the D2Football.com DII National Player of the Week.  He now needs 63 yards to become the single rushing leader at USF. Ahead of Watson is David Ruter (1996) with 1,726 yards for second all-time and all-time season leader Max Mickey (2016) with 1,764 yards. Watson also needs one touchdown rushing to move into second all-time by himself. He is tied with Mike Dvoracek (2005), with 23. The all-time leader is Ruter, who had 29 TDs in 1998 when he was an NAIA All-American.

Two weeks ago in a road contest against MSUM, Watson set or tied four USF records as the Cougars ended a rare two-game losing streak with a 55-21 road win over Minnesota State Moorhead. Watson also set a school mark of 269 rushing yards by halftime and finished with a program-best game record of 320 yards on 19 carries with five touchdowns, which tied the school DII mark held by Luke Papilion (240 yards rushing, five TDs, vs. Northern State, 2013). Watson played just two series in the second half and had six carries for 51 yards in the third quarter. He broke the school rushing mark with his final carry of the game, which was a 12-yard burst late in the third quarter. USF Hall of Fame running back David Ruter had set the rushing game mark with 315 yards on 33 carries and four touchdowns against U-Mary in a first-round playoff win (Nov. 23) in 1996 when the Cougars won their first-ever NAIA national title.

A junior from Piedmont, Calif., Watson scored on runs of 79, 31, 2, 74 and 13 yards in USF's victory. He also had runs of 33, 18, 17 and 13 yards during the game. With his performance against the Dragons, Wagon raised his per carry average a full yard from 7.4 to 8.4 per carry.

Watson now leads NCAA DII in six rushing or scoring statistical categories. Behind a veteran offensive front, which includes preseason All-American Trey Pipkins, Watson leads DII with 1,702 yards on 210 carries and a DII-best 23 rushing touchdowns. Watson has accumulated six runs of 50 yards plus (81, 81, 79, 74, 67, 54), and 17 carries of 30 yards or more in 2018. In addition, he has had 19 runs of 20 yards or more with 48 carries of 10 yards or more. He leads DII with 189.1 rushing yards per game.

Watson is 278 yards away from the NSIC mark for rushing yards in a season, which is held by Tyler Tonderum of SMSU with 1,979 in 2013. Watson has recorded the fourth best rushing total in NCAA DII this season with his 320 yards against MSUM. In that same game, the junior had five TDs, which is the second most in NCAA DII. He also had a four-TD performance in a win over Augustana, which places Watson tied for fourth for a game nationally.

Watson's 100-yard rushing games - 2018
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
MSU Moorhead -- 19 carries, 320 yards, 5 TDs
Upper Iowa -- 29 carries, 185 yards, 2 TDs

#MAXWELL LEADS USF RECEIVING CORPS -- A senior wide receiver, Michael Maxwell is enjoying a breakout season in 2018. He has accumulated a team-high 33 catches for 610 yards with four TDs. Maxwell has two straight games over 100 yards receiving. He registered five catches for 112 yards and a TD against MSUM and followed up with a career-best performance against Upper Iowa. He had seven catches for 128 yards with a TD against the Peacocks on Oct. 27. This season, Walters has had five games with at least 75 yards receiving and four of 90 yards or more.  Junior tight end Clint Sigg has also had a solid year for USF. He has 22 catches for 302 yards with three touchdowns. Sigg also caught the game-winning touchdown against Concordia St. Paul in the season opener at Bob Young Field. Sophomore Ty Smith set a personal-best with eight receptions for 94 yards against Upper Iowa. He now has 20 catches for 255 yards this season.

#ALL-AMERICAN TREY PIPKINS LEADS HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE OL GROUP -- 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. This season, Pipkins has been the leader on one of the league's top offensive line units. Pipkins is one of the best linemen in NCAA DII and the NSIC. He has graded out at 91.2 percent with 71 knockdowns. Pipkins, who has 217 knockdowns in his career, has allowed just one sack this year and two in his career. Junior offensive guard Nolan Kern leads the team with 94 knockdowns while grading at 85 percent. Senior offensive tackle Adam Sheffield has an 88.3 percent grade this season and 54.5 knockdowns. As a unit, the Cougars have an 86.2 percent grade with 373 knockdowns.

#DEFENSE AND TURNOVERS -- USF's defense has a tradition of creating turnovers, playing shutdown defense and scoring TDs. In the DII era, USF has scored 40 TDs on defense/special teams with 27 alone 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. With Nate Johnson's 85-yard kickoff return against MSUM on Oct. 20, USF added its 40th TD at the DII level. So far in 2018, USF has a turnover differential of plus-eight (16-to-11), which provides USF with a .44 average per game and a No. 44 ranking in NCAA DII.  With 11 interceptions in 2018, USF has accumulated four more than 2017 (7).  

In national stats in defense, USF ranks 12th in red zone defense at 65.6 percent and 29th in interceptions (11).  The Cougars have totaled 16 sacks and 39 tackles for losses of 152 yards.  

#DEFENSIVE LEADERS -- Junior linebacker Brody Grantham leads USF with 60 tackles, including 30 solo stops. He has seven tackles for loss (second on the team) and 2.5 sacks with an interception. Harvey (Michael) Enalls, a sophomore linebacker, has totaled 51 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, forced fumble and recovered a fumble. Sophomore defensive end Joey Wehrkamp has 34 tackles with a team-high eight tackles for loss. He also has totaled three sacks and a fumble recovery. USF's individual sack leader is senior defensive tackle Steven McKee, who has 4.5 sacks and 9.5 in his career. Junior Parker Gregston leads USF with three interceptions and has a defensive TD.