SIOUX FALLS -- With three straight wins, the University of Sioux Falls Football Team (5-2, 2-0 NSIC South) will return to South Division play with a match-up against Winona State (4-3, 1-1 NSIC) at Bob Young Field at 1 pm on Saturday, Oct. 23 . The Cougars lead the NSIC South Division with a 2-0 record. Overall, USF is in a tie for third in the NSIC at 5-2. USF and Winona State will meet for a ninth time with both teams winning four times.
Follow Along - Broadcast and Stat Links -
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 on the NSIC Network and
live stats will be available at USFCougars.com.
Review of the Season - Cougars sit 5-2 through 7 weeks
After recording a pair of South Division wins and its third win (five played) against the NSIC North, the Cougars enter week eight at 5-2 after a 34-14 win over U-Mary in which USF had 517 yards in total offense. Two weeks ago, the Cougars had a 35-7 win over SMSU and three weeks ago 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 on 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 (29-13 overall, 29-11 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 with124 yards on 16 carries and TDs of two and 44 yard. Then the Cougars returned home and rolled to a 50-14 win over Concordia St. Paul by rushing for 388 yards - 8th best in USF's 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. In the win over U-Mary,
Thuro Reisdorfer surpassed 100 yards for the fourth time this season and ninth in his career by going for 145 yards on 19 carries with a pair of TDs. With his performance, he now is 15th in career rushing yards with 1,924. With Freeman surpassing 100 yards for the third time this year with 112 on 10 carries and a TD, USF had two backs over 100 yards in a game for the second time this season. USF totaled 517 yards in total offense.
Dominic Pegley had a season-best 98 yards receiving and a 57-yard TD catch.
The Match-up -- USF vs. Winona State - South Division
Winona State, directed by veteran coach Tom Sawyers, sits 4-3 overall and 1-1 in the NSIC South standings. Last week the Warriors took a 26-14 home win over SMSU. They lost at NSU on Oct. 9, 52-49, also at home in a shootout.
On Saturday, USF faces a Winona State team which averages 380.1 yards per game (9th in the NSIC) and 34.4 points per game (3rd, NSIC). Led by senior quarterback Owen Burke, WSU is sixth in the NSIC in passing at 259.6 yards per game. Defensively, WSU is 13th in the NSIC in defending the pass as they have allowed 290.6 yards per outing. The Warriors are ninth in the league in rushing at 120.6 yards per game. Defensively the Warriors give up 103.6 yards rushing for fifth in the NSIC and have the sixth-ranked defense in the league at 395.1 yards allowed per game.
USF comes into the game averaging 31.7 points per game (6th in the NSIC) but rank fourth in the league in defensive scoring at 19.4 points per game. The Cougars average 419.6 yards per game in total offense, which is sixth in the NSIC. Defensively, the Cougars permit 348.0 yards per game, a total which is fourth in the league. USF continues to be one of the league's best in running the ball. USF is second in the league with 209.9 rushing yards per game and lead the NSIC in per carry average at 5.2. The Cougars are stingy defensively against the run by allowing just 97.3 yards per game and 3.1 yards per rush. Individually, USF redshirt quarterback
Adam Mullen leads the NSIC in completion percentage at 66.3, hitting on 128-of-193 passes for 1,419 yards and 11 TDs with a 143.8 pass efficiency ranking, he is sixth in the NSIC. His leading receiver is
Dominic Pegley with 39 catches for 522 yards and five TDs (74.6 ypg).
Thuro Reisdorfer leads the NSIC with 112.00 yards per game with 93 carries for 672 yards and seven TDs. He also leads with a 7.2 average per carry. On defense, senior
Joey Wehrkamp is second in the NSIC sacks with six and has 14 for his career (tied for 9th all-time at USF). He ranks fifth in the NSIC with 11 tackles for loss or 1.57 per game. With that total, he now has 30 in his career, 10th all-time at USF.
In a breakdown of NSIC and NCAA stats, the Cougars rank in numerous categories.
Team -- Third Down Conversions, 44.1%, 3rd, NSIC, 39th, DII; Blocked kicks, 3, 2nd, NSIC, 22nd, DII; Block Punts, 3, 1st, NSIC, 3rd, DII; Completion Percentage, 67.2%, 1st, NSIC, 9th, DII; First Downs, 157, 4th, NSIC, 19th, DII; KO Return Defense, 15.71, 2nd, NSIC, 19th, DII; Interceptions, 8, 5th, NSIC, 34th, DII; Rush Defense, 97.0, 4th, NSIC, 20th, DII; Rush Offense, 209.1, 2nd, NSIC, 23rd, DII; Sacks Allowed, 1.0 per game, 3rd, NSIC, 18th, DII; Scoring Defense, 19.4, 2nd, NSIC, 34th, DII; TFLs, 4.71 per game, 2nd, NSIC, 33rd, DII; Total Offense, 418.9 ypg, 7th, NSIC, 40th, DII.
Individual --
Dominic Pegley, Blocked Kicks, 2, 1st, NSIC, 3rd, DII;
Adam Mullen, Completion Percentage, 66.5%, 1st, NSIC, 12th, DII; Completions Per game,
Adam Mullen, 6th, NSIC, 39th, DII, 18.43;
Thuro Reisdorfer, Rush Yards Per Carry, 7.23 avg., 1st, NSIC, 7th, DII; Rush TDs, 7, 1st, NSIC, 19th, DII; Rush Yards, 672, 3rd, NSIC; 22nd, DII; Rush Yards Per Game, 112.0, 1st, NSIC, 15th, DII.
Attendance Note --
The 5,726 fans attending the USF-Augustana "Key to the City" game on Oct 2, 2021 was the largest since 6,142 against Morningside on Oct. 16, 2010.
Top attendance marks, 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
Series Breakdown - USF and WSU tied at 4-4
USF and Winona State will meet for the ninth time with each school holding four wins in the series. In the most recent match up, the Cougars took a 34-12 decision, as they held WSU to 228 yards in total offense and generated 435 yards in offense on Sept. 14, 2019.
Thuro Reisdorfer rushed for 82 yards and had two TDs. Three years ago, WSU lost a 16-15 decision when a field goal was offline late in the game. This will be the seventh time the two teams will play in October and the first time on Oct. 23.
Sept. 14, 2019 -- USF 34 Winona State 12, @ Bob Young Field
Sept. 9, 2018 -- No. 15 Winona State 16 No. 14 USF 15, @ Winona, Minn.
Oct. 7, 2017 -- No. 22 Winona State 31 No. 6 USF 13, @ Bob Young Field
Oct. 15, 2016 -- No. 6 Sioux Falls 41 Winona State 30, @ Winona, Minn.
Oct. 10, 2015 -- No. 4 Sioux Falls 51 Winona State 30, @ Bob Young Field
Oct. 25, 2014 -- No. 14 Sioux Falls 41 Winona State 28, @ Winona, Minn.
Oct. 12, 2013 -- Winona State 45 Sioux Falls 40, @ Bob Yong Field
Player Profiles -
Reisdorfer moving up USF career rushing charts --
Thuro Reisdorfer, a 2019 All-NSIC selection, has continued to progress up the USF season and career charts as a junior running back for USF. He ranks first in the NSIC in yards per game average at 112 with his 93 carries for 672 yards third in the league (Ali Mohamed, Minot State, 769; Jarod Epperson, 767, 7 games), although he played one fewer game than those ahead of him. He is averaging 7.2 yards per carry which leads the NSIC and ranks seventh in DII. With seven rushing TDs he is 19th in DII and first in the NSIC. His seven TDs are tied with Anthony Watkins of Wayne State at the top of the NSIC. The Sioux Falls Washington prep has totaled four 100-yard plus rushing games this season and now has nine in his career which ranks 10th all-time at USF. This season, Reisdorfer has 22 carries for 150 yards against Bemidji State; 16 carries for 124 yards and two TDs against Minot State;14 carries for 160 yards and three TDs against Concordia St. Paul; 17 carries for 75 yards against Northern State and 19 carries for 145 yards and two TDs against U-Mary. Reisdorfer, who rushed for 1,150 yards as a sophomore in 2019 and was named second team All-NSIC, has pushed his career total to 1,924, which places leaves him just 50 yards from passing Gabe Watson (1,973 in 2018-19). He is just 76 yards from cracking 2K for a career, a mark reach by 13 other USF running backs. Reisdorfer has 26 career TDs with 20 by rushing. He has a school record 98-yard TD run vs Northern State (10-26-19) and a 80-yard kickoff return vs Minn. Crookston (10-12-19) as he has scored by rush, reception, and kickoff return.
Career -- 284 carries, 1,924 yards, 20 rushing TDs, long 98 yards (school record), 6.7 avg per carry, 66.3 ypg; 2,414 all purpose yards, 83.2 pg; 19 receptions, 178 yards, 5 TDs, long of 28; 312 kick return yards - TD of 80 yards
Season -- 93 carries, 672 yards, 7 TDs, long of 51, 7.2 avg. per carry; 112.0 avg. per game; 8 receptions, 59 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 -- 20 receptions - 285 yards - 1 TD - long of 44 yards
Career - 30 games - 29 starts - 85 receptions - 1,212 yards - five TDs.
Game -- 110 yards vs. Minn. State on Nov. 11, 2017 and eight receptions against Upper Iowa on Oct. 27, 2018.
Season -- 39 receptions -- 522 yards -- 5 TDs - Long of 57 yards - 2 blocked punts - special teams TD on return punt 20 yards
Game -- 8 receptions (Bemidji State, Augustana, 2021); 98 yards (U-Mary, 10-16-2021; TDs . He has recorded five or more receptions in six of the seven games with at least 50 yards in all seven games.
Season -- 57 att., 393 yards, 6.9 avg. 4 TDs, long 69 yards, 56.1 ypg, 3 career 100-yard games
Game -- 9 carries, 136 yards, 2 TDs (20, 69) vs SMSU, 10-9-21
Career -- 17 games -- 131 attempts -- 651 yards -- 5 TDs -- long of 51
Season -- 25 carries - 71 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 -- 129 completions -- 194 attempts -- 66.5 completion rate -- 3 int. -- 11 TDs -- 1,419 yards -
Game -- 26 completions (Augustana, 2021); 39 attempts (NSU, 2021); 276 yards (NSU, 2021), 3 TDs (Augustana, Minot State).
Season -- 17 tackles, 9 solo stops -- TFL, Sack
Career -- 20 games played -- 29 solos, 27 assists, 56 tackles -- 4 TFLs -- FF -- FR
Game -- 7 tackles vs Augustana (2021)
Season -- 22 tackles , 13 solos -- 11 TFLs -- 6 sacks -- 4 pass break ups -- FF - FR
Career -- 42 games -- 42 starts -- 69 solos, 46 assists, 115 tackles -- 30 TFLs (10th all-time USF) -- 14 sacks (tied for 9th all-time at USF) -- 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
Season -- 18 solos 4 assists - 22 tackles -- 3 breakups
Career -- 41 games -- 31 starts - 79 solos, 47 assists, 126 tackles -- 3.5 TFLs -- 11 pass breakups -- 2 interceptions
Game -- 13 tackles vs Colorado School of Mines, 11/23/19 playoffs
Season -- 18 solos, 9 assists, 27 tackles --- 1 TFL, 1 sack 2 pass breakups
Career -- 40 games -- 38 starts -- 95 solos, 161 career tackles -- 13.5 TFLs -- 9.5 sacks - five fumble recoveries
Game -- 13 tackles vs Colorado Mines, 11/23/19 playoffs; Bemidji State, 2018
Season -- 9 solos -- 16 tackles -- 3 TFLs -- Sack
Career -- 19 games played -- 31 solos, 55 tackles -- 8 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 -- 20 solos, 31 tackles -- 3 TFLs - pass breakup
Career -- 19 games -- 27 solos, 41 tackles -- 3 TFLs
Game -- 9 tackles vs Bemidji State, 9-2-21
Season -- 30 solos, 34 tackles; 5.5 TFLs, 2 sack, int., 3 breakups, FF
Career -- 19 G -- 47 solos, 66 tackles; 6.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 8 passes defended, FF, 2 int.
Game -- 9 tackles vs Augustana, 10-2-21; SMSU, 10-9-21
Season -- 21 tackles, 14 solo, 2 TFLs, sack, 3 int (109 yards in returns), 2 BU
Career -- 26 tackles, 23 solo, 2 TFLs, sack, 3 int-109 yards
Game -- 6 tackles vs Augustana, 10-2-21
DB --
Lee Pitts (5-11, 190, Sr., Agoura Hills, Calif)
Season -- 15 solos, 2 assists, 17 tackles, 5 PD, FF, int., 57-yard TD return of int
Career -- 52 tackles, 3 int., 9 BU, interception return of 57 yards
Game -- 5 tackles, 2 BU, vs U-Mary, 10-16-21
