SIOUX FALLS -- With two straight wins, the University of Sioux Falls Football Team (4-2, 2-0 NSIC South) will play its final NISC North foe, U-Mary (2-4, 1-1 NSIC North), at Bob Young Field at 1 pm on Saturday, Oct. 16. The Cougars have a 2-0 record in the NSIC South Division and sit in a first place tie with Wayne State. Overall, the Cougars are in a tie for fourth in the NSIC at 4-2. Overall, the Cougars are in a tie for fourth in the NSIC at 4-2. USF and Mary will meet for a 13th time dating back to the days in the NAIA and then transition to NCAA DII.
 

Follow Along --

Fans can tune into the radio broadcast on KWSN with veteran announcer Tom Frederick and analyst Tim Hiatt with sideline reporter Chad Birger. Live video and live stats will be available at USFCougars.com.   

Through six games, USF has a 4-2 mark

After recording a pair of South Division wins, the Cougars enter week 7 at 4-2 after a 35-7 win over SMSU and a 28-26 come-from-behind win in the "Key to the City" game with Augustana at Bob Young Field. With the victory against AU, the Cougars increased their series lead over the Vikings, 7-2, in the "Key to the City" series which began in 2012. In the win, the Cougars were led by redshirt freshman quarterback Adam Mullen who had a career-high 26 completions on 36 attempts for 251 yards and tied his career-high with three TDs. USF rallied to take a lead late when Mullen hit Dominic Pegley with a 26-yard TD pass. Jacqueze Lockett had two TDs (receiving, rushing). The USF defense ended the Vikings' hope when Giovanni Purpura had his second career interception at the USF 30-yard line. In the 35-7 win over SMSU last Saturday (Oct. 9), Landon Freeman had a career-high 136 yards rushing with TDs of 20 and a career-best 69 yards while Carter Lohr set a school mark with 109 yards in interception returns on two picks. USF, which defeated SMSU for a ninth straight time, had four interceptions, including a pick-six of 57 yards by Lee Pitts, and totaled a school-record 166 yards in returns. 

The Cougars, directed by fifth year head coach Jon Anderson (28-13 overall, 28-11 in the NSIC), opened the season with a 24-16 setback to Bemidji State on Sept. 2 at Bob Young Field. In week two, USF rolled past Minot State, 49-10, as Adam Mullen threw for three TDs and 199 yards while Thuro Reisdorfer recorded his second straight 100-yard rushing game of the season and seventh of his career after gaining 124 yards on 16 carries and TDs of two and 44 yards two weeks ago. Then the Cougars returned home and rolled to a 50-14 win over Concordia St. Paul by rushing for 388 yards - 8th best in the DII era. The Cougars had 549 yards of total offense - a season high while hold CSP to -14 yards. Thuro Reisdorfer led USF with 160 yards rushing on 14 carries with three first-half TDs. Then, USF passed for 276 yards and rolled up 442 offensive yards but fell at Northern State, 41-10. It was USF's first-ever loss in the DII era to Northern State.

How Things Stand - Mary leads NSIC in passing & Cougars are 3rd in rushing
On Saturday, the game could be USF's rushing attack against U-Mary's pass-oriented offense.U-Mary leads the league in passing at 352.3 yards per game and ranks fifth in total offense at 449.2 yards per game. U-Mary, which is sixth in the NSIC with 34.3 points per game, is led by senior quarterback Logan Nelson who has thrown for 1,954 yards while completing 148-of-229 passes with 22 touchdowns. He has a league-high 165.4 passing efficiency ranking. 

USF, under the direction of offensive coordinator Jim Chapin, averages 31.3 points per game (8th in the NSIC) but is second in the league in defensive scoring at 20.3 points per game. The Cougars average 403.3 yards per game in total offense, which is seventh in the NSIC.  They also rank fourth in the league by allowing just 344.5 yards per game. Also in the NSIC rankings, USF's defense, directed by coordinator Joe Ford, is third in rushing at 193.0 yards per game but sit fourth in defensive rushing at 103.7 yards allowed. Mary is 12th in total defense, allowing 430.2 yards per game and 12th in the NSIC in allowing 189.2 yards rushing per game. USF has 13 sacks (9th, NSIC) and seven interceptions (5th, NSIC) but have a league-best 175 yards in interception returns.

USF ranks high in several DII categories

In NCAA DII rankings, USF is 30th in rushing defense and 33rd in rushing offense. The Cougars sit 11th in completion percentage at 66.3% and first in blocked punts with three. Junior running back Thuro Reisdorfer, who did not play against SMSU, ranks second in the NSIC in rushing yards per game at 105.4 with his 7.1 rushing yards per carry eighth in DII and second in the NSIC. He has 527 yards on 74 carries with five TDs.  Redshirt freshman quarterback Adam Mullen ranks eighth in the NSIC in passing as he has completed 112-of-172 passes for 1,213 yards with nine TDs and three interceptions. He is completing 65.1 percent of his passes (11th, NCAA DII) and has a 138.1 passing efficiency ranking. USF's receiving corps is led by Dominic Pegley with 34 receptions for 424 yards and four TDs and has two blocked punts, including a TD, which ranks first in DII. Senior defensive back Dorian Fedrick leads USF with 30 tackles and 26 solo stops with 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception. Sophomore linebacker Cody Jantzen has 29 tackles, three tackles for loss. Senior defensive end Joey Wehrkamp has a team-high eight tackles for loss and four sacks with 18 tackles, four pass breakups.

USF has a long legacy of success

Beginning in 1902 and continuing into the 21st century, the USF program has thrived on high expectations through a rich tradition heaped in excellence. The Cougars have 454 wins (454-419-20), 26 consecutive winning seasons and have earned postseason NCAA DII playoff berths in four of the last five seasons. It is a program that has four national NAIA championships and 20 conference crowns including the 2016 team that was unbeaten in NSIC play. USF has had at least six wins in every season in the NSIC and a winning run in DII of nine years, including 5-4 in the transition year from NAIA to DII in 2011.  The Cougars began NSIC play in 2012 and had a 9-2 mark while earning their first DII ranking (as high as No. 17). In 2014 USF opened 10-0 (11-1 overall) and later advanced to the Mineral Water Bowl, which they won 42-10 over Central Oklahoma of the MIAA. The Cougars earned their first NCAA DII playoff berth in 2015 (9-3 season) and won the NSIC with an unbeaten record (11-0, 12-1 overall). In 2016, USF earned a first-ever DII playoff win with a 34-21 win over Azusa Pacific as USF advanced to Sweet 16 in 2016. In 2017, the Cougars had the league's top defense and was ranked in the top five nationally in a 9-3 season which included another playoff berth in Anderson's first season as head coach. In 2018, the Cougars finished 7-4 with a 5-2 mark tied for second in the NSIC South. In 2019, USF was 8-4 with a 4-3 record in the South and a NCAA DII postseason bid.

Quick Look at Attendance - USF-Augustana game on Oct. 2 most fans in DII era

Attendance -- 5,726 against Augustana on Oct 2, 2021 was the largest since 6,142 against Morningside on Oct. 16, 2010.

At the DII level

10-2-21 -- Augustana -- 5,736

10-26-13 -- Augustana, 4,712

10-24-2015 -- Augustana, 4,091

9-22-2012 -- Bemidji State, 3,413

9-29-2012 -- SMSU, 3,378

9-14-2013 -- Northern State, 3,356

9-26-2019 -- Augustana, 3,253

9-8-2012 -- MSU Moorhead, 3,151

10-13-2012 -- Concordia St. Paul, 3,071

USF - Mary Series - USF leads, 9-4

 USF and Mary have met 13 times since 1988 with the Cougars owning a 9-4 series record. Two years ago, USF took a 39-0 victory at Bob Young Field. The Cougars registered its first shutdown in 23 games and held U-Mary to just 260 yards on 73 plays or 3.5 yards per play. Ryan Nieman had a 37-yard interception return for a TD and USF forced two fumbles, recorded five sacks with eight tackles for loss in a dominating defensive effort. On offense, USF rolled up 419 yards on 61 plays with 184 rushing yards and 235 yards through the air. In 2017, USF had a 38-7 win in Bismarck as the Cougars outscored the Marauders, 24-7 in the second half while rolling up 473 yards in total offense.  In the NSIC, USF and Mary have met four times with USF leading, 3-1. USF has outscored the Marauders, 376-230 in the 13 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 rolled to a 56-19 win in the first round of the NAIA playoffs and later won 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.

2019 -- USF 39 Mary 0 

2017 -- USF 38 Mary 7 

2015 -- USF 55 Mary 7 

2013 -- Mary 17 USF 10 

2002 -- USF 13 Mary 10 

2001 -- USF 21 Mary 13 OT

1998 -- USF 29 Mary 25

1996 -- USF 56 Mary 19

1995 -- Mary 42 USF -17

1991 -- Mary 35 USF 21

1990 -- Mary 17 USF 6

1989 -- USF 28 Mary 17

1988 -- USF 37 Mary 13

Team Captains
Head Football Coach Jon Anderson announced the team captains for the 2021 season. The captains, selected by vote of the team, include seniors Ty Smith, Harvey Enalls, Joey Wehrkamp and junior Thuro Reisdorfer, all of Sioux Falls. 

Player Profiles - 
RB -- Thuro Reisdorfer (6-1, 206, R-Jr., Sioux Falls, SD)

Career -- 265 carries, 1,779 yards, 18 TDs, long 98 yards (school record), 6.7 avg per carry, 63.5 ypg; 2,264 all purpose yards, 80.9 pg; 18 receptions, 173 yards, 5 TDs, long of 28; 312 kick return yards - TD of 80 yards

Season -- 74 carries, 527 yards, 5 TDs, long of 51, 7.1 avg. per carry; 105.4 avg. per game; 7 receptions, 54 yards, long of 15

Game -- 22 carries vs Bemidji State, 9-2-21; 171 yards rushing vs Minnesota Duluth, 10-19-19; 4 rushing TDs vs. SMSU, 9-21-19; longest run of 98 yards vs NSU, 10-26-19; longest kick return of 80 yards vs Minn. Crookston, 10-12-19 

WR -- Ty Smith (6-5, 209, Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) 

Season -- 14 receptions - 220 yards - 0 TDs - long of 44 yards

Career - 29 games - 28 starts - 79 receptions - 1,147 yards - four TDs. 

Game -- 110 yards vs. Minn. State on Nov. 11, 2017 and eight receptions against Upper Iowa on Oct. 27, 2018. 
 

WR -- Dominic Pegley (6-1, 215, Sr., Akron, Ohio)

Season  -- 34  receptions -- 424 yards -- 4 TDs - Long of 43 yards - 2 blocked punts - special teams TD on return punt 20 yards

Game -- 8 receptions (Bemidji State, Augustana, 2021); 94 yards (Minot State, 2021; TDs (1 vs Bemidji State, Concordia St. Paul and Augustana).  He has recorded five or more receptions in six of the seven games with at least 50 yards in all seven games.
 

RB -- Landon Freeman (5-11, 178, R-So., Sioux Falls, S.D.)

Season -- 47 att., 281 yards, 6.0 avg. 3 TDs, long 69 yards, 46.83 ypg, 2 career 100-yard games

Game -- 9 carries, 136 yards, 2 TDs (20, 69) vs SMSU, 10-9-21
 

 RB -- Ja'Tai Jenkins (5-10, 195, R-So., Goodyear, Ariz.)

Career -- 16 games -- 126 attempts -- 633 yards -- 5 TDs -- long of 51

Season -- 20 carries - 54 yards -- TD -- long of 29 yards

Game -- 10 carries, 102 rushing yards, TD vs SMSU, 9-21-19
 

TE -- Ben Sokup (6-5, 250, R-Jr., Altoona, Wisc.) 

Season -- 5 receptions -- 46 yards -- long of 25 yards

Career - 12 career receptions - 211 yards -- 2 TDs

Game -- 2 receptions - 65 yards -- Minnesota Crookston, 2019 -- long 44 yds.
 

QB -- Adam Mullen (6-0, 195, R-Fr., Highlands Ranch, Colo.) -- 

Season -- 112 completions -- 172 attempts -- 65.1 completion rate -- 3 int. -- 9 TDs -- 1,213 yards -

Game -- 26 completions (Augustana, 2021); 39 attempts (NSU, 2021); 276 yards (NSU, 2021), 3 TDs (Augustana, Minot State).
 

DL -- David Vargas (6-3, 299, R-Sr., Randolph, NJ)

Season -- 15 tackles, 9 solo stops -- TFL, Sack

Career -- 19 games played -- 28 solos, 26 assists, 55 tackles -- 4 TFLs -- FF -- FR

Game -- 7 tackles vs Augustana (2021)
 

DL -- Joey Wehrkamp (6-2, 250, R-Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.)

Season -- 18 tackles , 12 solos -- 8 TFLs -- 4 sacks -- 4 pass break ups -- FF - FR

Career -- 41 games played -- 41 starts -- 65 solos, 43 assists, 113 tackles -- 27 TFLs-- 12 sacks -- 9 pass breakups -- 3 FF -- 3 FR

Game -- 9 tackles, 6 solo stops vs Bemidji State on 10-6-18; 7 solo stops vs Northern State, 2018
 

DB -- Nate Durfee (6-1, 205, Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.)

Season -- 16 solos 4 assists - 20 tackles -- 3 breakups

Career -- 40 games -- 30 starts - 77 solos, 45 assists, 122 tackles -- 3.5 TFLs -- 11 pass breakups -- 2 interceptions

Game -- 13 tackles vs Colorado School of Mines, 11/23/19 playoffs
 

LB -- Harvey Enalls (6-1, 225, Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.)

Season -- 15 solos, 9 assists, 24 tackles --- 1 TFL, 1 sack 2 pass breakups

Career -- 39 games -- 37 starts -- 92 solos,  158 career tackles -- 13.5 TFLs -- 9.5 sacks - five fumble recoveries

Game -- 13 tackles vs Colorado Mines, 11/23/19 playoffs; Bemidji State, 2018
 

DL -- Amaurii Grosskopf 6-4, 280, R-So., Beloit, Wisc.)

Season -- 7 solos -- 14 tackles -- 2 TFLs -- Sack

Career -- 18 games played -- 29 solos, 53 tackles -- 7 TFLs -- 4 passes broke up

Game -- 8 tackles vs. Minnesota State, 11-9-2019
 

LB -- Cody Jantzen (6-3, 230, R-So., St. Germain, Pines, WI)

Season -- 18 solos, 29 tackles -- 3 TFLs - pass breakup

Career -- 18 games -- 25 solos, 39 tackles -- 3 TFLs

Game -- 9 tackles vs Bemidji State, 9-2-21
 

DB -- Dorian Fedrick (6-2, 177, R-Sr., Rialto, Calif.

Season -- 26 solos, 30 tackles; 5.5 TFLs, 2 sack, int., 3 breakups, FF

Career -- 18G  -- 43 solos, 62 tackles; 6.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 8 passes defended, FF, 2 int.

Game -- 9 tackles vs Augustana, 10-2-21; SMSU, 10-9-21
 

DB -- Carter Lohr (6-0, 175, R-So., Sioux Falls, S.D.)

Season -- 17 tackles, 14 solo, 2 TFLs, sack, 2 int (109 yards in returns), 2 BU

Career -- 22 tackles, 19 solo, 2 TFLs, sack, 2 int-109 yards 

Game -- 6 tackles vs Augustana, 10-2-21
 

DB -- Lee Pitts (5-11, 190, Sr., Agoura Hills, Calif)

Season -- 10 solos, 2 assists, 12 tackles, 3 PD, FF, int., 57-yard TD return of int

Career -- 47 tackles, 3 int., 7 BU, interception return of 57 yards

Game -- 3 tackles vs Bemidji State, 9-2-21; Augustana, 10-2-21; SMSU, 10-9-21