SIOUX FALLS -- The University of Sioux Falls Football Team (6-3, 3-1 NSIC South), which has won four of its past five games, faces a road challenge this Saturday (Nov. 6) when the Cougars meet Wayne State (6-3, 3-2 NSIC) in Wayne, Neb.  The Cougars, which sit just 1/2 game out of first in the NSIC South, faces a WSC team that is 3-2 in South Division play. Both teams stand 6-3 through nine games. The Cougars and the Wildcats will meet each other for the ninth time with USF holding an 8-0 advantage.

A week ago, USF generated 607 yards in total offense in a 45-35 road win at Minnesota State. USF, which had 317 yards in all-purpose yardage plus a school-record tying five total TDs from Landon Freeman, won for the third time against the Mavericks. USF moved to 3-1 in the NSIC South and just 1/2 game from first place Augustana at 4-1. If the Cougars win their final two games, USF could tie for the South title. Wayne State comes into the matchup at 6-3, 3-2 in the South after falling at Upper Iowa, 42-41 in overtime.

Follow Along - Broadcast Info

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 - Live Stats 

   

Breaking down USF's Season - Cougars have won 4-of-5
A week ago, USF churned up the yardage against Minnesota State, rolling up 607 yards and a season-high 9.4 yards per play during a 45-35 road win. Leading the way was Freeman with his 317 all purpose yards (career-high 213 rushing) and five total TDs. He had four TDs of 40 yards or more which is a school mark. He had 62 yards receiving including a 58-yard pitch and catch with Adam Mullen, who threw for 242 yards. USF rushed for 365 yards on 36 carries for 10.1 per tote. 

Two weeks ago on Oct. 23, Cougars had a 10-7 lead late in the fourth quarter after Adam Mullen and Ty Smith hooked up on a seven-yard TD reception at the 4:52 mark of the fourth quarter. However, Winona State was able to convert a 70-yard pitch and catch from Owen Burke to backup tight end Dakota Matthees to squeeze out a 14-10 lead. USF had a chance for the win, driving inside the WSU 35-yard line with under a minute to play but turned the ball over on downs. USF was led by redshirt freshman Carter Slykhuis who had his first career 100-yard receiving game (102 yards) on a career-best eight catches.  Prior to that game, USF had won three straight games, including a 34-14 home win over U-Mary when USF rolled up 517 yards in total offense.

Four weeks ago, the Cougars had a 35-7 win over SMSU which followed 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 (30-14 overall, 30-12 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 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 yards. 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 holding CSP to -14 yards. 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. 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.

Quick Look at Wayne State 
Wayne State, directed by second-year head coach John McMenamin (6-3), sits 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the NSIC South standings. A week ago, WSC dropped a 42-41 overtime decision to Upper Iowa on the road. This game, which is the season home final for WSC (Egg Bowl), as WSC looks to rebound after the loss. WSC had been ranked seventh in the region prior to the setback to UIU, which included two blocked kicks and four turnovers. However, WSC rallied from a 35-14 deficit to tie and totaled 505 yards in total offense.  Wayne State has a solid rushing attack led by Anthony Watkins who has 110 carries for 624 yards and a league-high 11 TDs. They sit third in the NSIC with 189.3 yards per game on the ground.  WSC is seventh in total offense with 420.2 yards per game as they are directed by redshirt freshman quarterback Nick Bohn, who has completed 103-of172 passes for 1,443 yards and 12 TDs.

Cougars averaging 30.8 ppg and 428.2 yards per game on offense while ranking first in defensive scoring

USF comes into the game averaging 30.8 points per game (7th in the NSIC) but rank first in the league in defensive scoring at 20.6 points per game. The Cougars average 428.2 yards per game for sixth  in the NSIC. USF has 3,854 yards in total offense or 6.2 per play on 617 snaps. Defensively, the Cougars permit 364.8 yards per game, a total which is fourth in the league.  

USF is the league's top rushing offense at 212.2 yards per game as Thuro Reisdorfer leads the way with 111.3 yards per game  and Logan Freeman added 69.3 per game. USF has rushed 346 times for 1,915 yards or 5.5 per rush with 21 TDs. USF's run defense is fifth in the NSIC by allowing 110.0 yards per game.

Individually, USF redshirt quarterback Adam Mullen ranks first in the NSIC in completion percentage at 65.9 hitting on 174-of-264 passes for 1,890 yards and 13 TDs with a 137.8 pass efficiency ranking. As such, he is seventh in passing in the NSIC.  His leading receiver is Dominic Pegley with 47 catches for 586 yards and five TDs (67.5 ypg).

On defense, senior Joey Wehrkamp, who has started 44 straight games, is third in the NSIC sacks with seven and has 15 for his career (9th all-time at USF). With that total, he now has 30.5 TFLs in his career, 10th all-time at USF.  Sophomore linebacker Cody Jantzen leads USF with 47 tackles. Senior linebacker Harvey Enalls recorded his 170th tackle in his career against Minn. State a week ago. 

In a breakdown of NSIC and NCAA stats, the Cougars rank in numerous categories
Team -- Third Down Conversions, 43.4%, 3rd, NSIC, 37th, DII; Third Down Conversions - Defense, 40.1%10th, NSIC, 99th, DII; Blocked kicks, 3, 3rd, NSIC, 30th, DII; Block Punts, 3, 1st, NSIC, 4th, DII; Completion Percentage, 66.5%, 1st, NSIC, 12th, DII; First Downs, 195, 5th, NSIC, 34th, DII; KO Return Defense, 15.8, 2nd, NSIC, 26th, DII; Interceptions, 11, 6th, NSIC, 28th, DII; Red Zone Defense, 73.9 percent, 3rd, NSIC, 56th, DII; Rush Defense, 109.8, 5th, NSIC, 35th, DII; Rush Offense, 212.2, 1st, NSIC, 17th, DII; Sacks Allowed, 0.89 per game, 3rd, NSIC, 13th, DII; Scoring Defense, 20.6, 1st, NSIC, 38th, DII; TFLs, 5.8 per game, 6th, NSIC, 85th, DII; Sacks, 2.56 per game, 4th, NSIC, 45th, DII; Total Offense,  427.7 ypg, 6th, NSIC, 34th, DII. 

Individual -- All Purpose Yards, Thuro Reisdorfer, 123.88, 4th, NSIC, 37th, DII; Dominic Pegley, Blocked Kicks, 2, 1st, NSIC, 4th, DII; Adam Mullen, Completion Percentage, 66.0%, 1st, NSIC, 12th, DII; Completions Per game, 19.44, Adam Mullen, 6th, NSIC, 33rd, DII; Thuro Reisdorfer, Rush Yards Per Carry, 6.74 avg., 1st, NSIC, 13th, DII; Rush TDs, 7, 2nd, NSIC, 31st, DII; Rush Yards, 741, 3rd, NSIC; 48th, DII; Rush Yards Per Game, 111.2, 1st, NSIC, 14th, DII; rushing TDs, Thuro Reisdorfer, Landon Freeman, 8, 2nd, NSIC, 32nd, D2

USF vs. WSC Series - Cougars lead, 8-0
USF is 8-0 all-time against Wayne State College in a series that began in 2012. A year ago, the Cougars took a 41-21 decision on Nov. 16 at  Wayne, Neb. In 2018, USF recorded a 26-7 win at Bob Young Field as Gabriel Watson rushed for 149 yards. On a day when 15 USF seniors were honored in a pre-game ceremony, senior defensive tackle Steven McKee led USF's defense with eight tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss in his final game in USF's purple and white. He and his USF defensive mates held WSC to 149 yards on 44 total plays. The Cougars allowed just 74 yards on 33 carries while registering four sacks, five tackles for loss with both a fumble recovery and an interception. In 2017, USF had a 31-7 win over WSC at Bob Cunningham Field. In that game, USF recorded 376 yards in total offense with 209 yards passing.  On Nov. 12, 2016, USF recorded a 30-7 win at Bob Young Field. In the victory, Max Mickey had 17 carries for 132 yards and two TDs. On Oct. 3, 2015, USF took a 59-10 victory at Bob Cunningham Field. In that 2015 encounter, Luke Papillion completed 20-of-30 passes for 311 yards and three TDs while also recording two TD runs. On Nov. 15, 2014 at Bob Young Field, the Cougars picked up a 63-28 victory on a snowy day. USF, which was ranked No. 17 nationally, was led by Nephi Garcia with 21 carries for 225 yards and three TDs. Luke Papilion also threw for 225 yards and four TDs. On Nov. 16, 2013, USF defeated the Wildcats, 35-10, at Bob Cunningham Field. Solomon St. Pierre had his first career interception return for a TD (70-yards) and Brady Rose had 111 yards rushing and two TDs.  Sioux Falls won the first-ever meeting between the two programs, 24-14, on Nov. 10, 2012 as John Tidwell had a 77-yard punt return for a TD.
 

2019 -- Sioux Falls 41 Wayne State 21, Bob Cunningham Field

2018 - Sioux Falls 26 Wayne State 7, Bob Young Field

2017 -- Sioux Falls 31 Wayne State 7, Bob Cunningham Field

2016 -- Sioux Falls 30 Wayne State 7, Bob Young Field

2015 -- Sioux Falls 59 Wayne State 10, Bob Cunningham Field

2014 -- Sioux Falls 63 Wayne State 28, Bob Young Field

2013 -- Sioux Falls 35 Wayne State 10, Bob Cunningham Field

2012 -- Sioux Falls 24 Wayne State 14, Bob Young Field

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 -- Reisdorfer approaching top 10 all-time in rushing at USF
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. With 2,142 yards, he needss 117 yards to move into the top 10 all-time at USF. Just ahead of Reisdorfer is Erik Cimpl (2005-08) at 2,254 and Nephia Garcia (2013-14) at 2,258.  j  In nine games played, he ranks first in the NSIC in yards per game average at 111.3 which is nine more yards than Ali Mohamed of Minot State at 102.0. In terms of total yards, he ranks second tom Mohamed as the USF junior has 132 carries for 890 yards and eight TDs as he is vying to garner back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons for the first time since Garcia in 2013 (1,068) and 2014 (1,190). He is averaging 6.7 yards per carry which ranks second in the NSIC to his teammate Landon Freeman, who had 624 yards on 70 carries and an 8.9 per carry average.  His eight TDs are tied for second in the NSIC with Freeman. The Sioux Falls Washington prep has totaled five 100-yard plus rushing games this season and now has 10 in his career which ranks ninth 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. He also had 19 carries for 63 yards against Winona State and 21 carries for 149 yards and a TD vs Minnesota State. Reisdorfer, who rushed for 1,150 yards as a sophomore in 2019 and was named second team All-NSIC, has 27 career TDs with 21 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.

Freeman earns NSIC Player of the Week honors
After registering a career-best mark in all-purpose yards with 317 and tying the school record with five total TDs, redshirt sophomore Landon Freeman of the University of Sioux Falls Football Team earned his first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors in a league announcement on Monday (Nov. 1.). In USF's 45-35 road win over Minnesota State, Freeman had a career-best day. With 317 all-purpose yards, he had second-best mark (Gabe Watson, 320 yards, MSU Moorhead, 2018) in USF's DII era while tying a DII program mark with five total TDs (Luke Papillion, Northern State, 2013; Gabe Watson, MSU Moorhead, 2018). Freeman rushed for a career-best 213 yards on just 10 carries with four TDs as he averaged 21.3 yards per rush. He also had 42 return yards and two catches for a career-best 62 yards and a 58-yard TD reception. He had his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season (third in past four games) and his first career game over 200 rushing yards, which is the 19th 200-yard rushing game at USF. His performance helped the Cougars move to 6-3 on the season and 3-1 in the NSIC South, just a half-game out of first place.
 In putting together one of the top individual offensive performances in school history, Freeman supplied TD runs of seven, 40, 69 and 71 yards. He also averaged a program-DII best 22.73 yards per play on his 14 touches for 317 yards. In fact, he scored a TD on less than every three plays he handled the ball. Freeman is also USF's first player with four TD plays of 40 or more yards in a single game.
 

Breaking Down Statistics - Individually
RB -- Thuro Reisdorfer (6-1, 206, R-Jr., Sioux Falls, SD)

Career -- 323 carries, 2,142 yards, 21 rushing TDs, long 98 yards (school record), 6.6avg per carry, 69.1 ypg; 2,656 all purpose yards, 85.7 pg; 23 receptions, 202 yards, 5 TDs, long of 28; 312 kick return yards - TD of 80 yards. Season -- 132 carries, 890 yards, 8 TDs, long of 51, 6.7 avg. per carry; 111.25 avg. per game; 12 receptions, 83 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

Note - Ranks 1st in the NSIC in average per game and second in total yards (890) and avg. per carry (6.7).
 

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

Season -- 32 receptions - 426 yards - 2 TDs - long of 44 yards

Career - 32 games - 31 starts - 97 receptions - 1,353 yards - six 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  -- 47  receptions -- 586 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 four or more receptions in seven of the nine games with at least 50 yards in seven of nine games.
 

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

Season -- 70 att., 619 yards, 8.8 avg. 9 total TDs, long 71 yards, 68.8 ypg, 4 career 100-yard games - 1 over 200 (213)

Game -- 10 carries, 213 yards, 4 TDs (7, 40, 69, 71) vs Minn State, 10-31-21; All Purpose - 317 (2nd in USF's DII era), 5 total TDs (tied USF school record) with 213 rushing, 62 receiving and 42 return

Notes - Ranks 7th in NSIC with 619 yards; 1st in the NSIC in avg. per carry at 8.8
 

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

Career -- 18 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 -- 6 receptions -- 49 yards -- long of 25 yards

Career - 13 career receptions - 214 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 -- 175 completions -- 265 attempts -- 66.0 completion rate -- 6 int. -- 13 TDs -- 1,890 yards -

Game -- 27 completions (Augustana, 2021); 43 attempts (Winona State, 2021); 276 yards (NSU, 2021), 3 TDs (Augustana, Minot State).

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

Season -- 21 tackles, 11 solo stops -- TFL, 2 Sack

Career -- 21 games played -- 31 solos, 29 assists, 60 tackles -- 5 TFLs -- FF -- FR

Game -- 7 tackles vs Augustana (2021)
 

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

Season -- 26 tackles , 18 solos -- 11.5 TFLs -- 7 sacks -- 4 pass break ups -- FF - FR

Career -- 44 games -- 44 starts -- 73 solos, 48 assists, 121 tackles -- 30.5TFLs (10th all-time USF) -- 15 sacks (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

Notes - With seven sacks, he ranks fourth in the NSIC and is third in TFLs at 0.67 per game.
 

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

Season -- 23 solos 10 assists - 33 tackles -- 3 breakups - 2 interceptions

Career -- 43 games -- 33 starts - 84 solos, 51 assists, 135 tackles -- 3.5 TFLs -- 11 pass breakups -- 4 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 -- 25 solos, 13 assists, 38 tackles --- 4 TFL, 1 sack 3 pass breakups

Career -- 42 games -- 40 starts -- 102 solos,  170 career tackles -- 17.5 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 -- 14 solos -- 22 tackles -- 3 TFLs -- 2 Sacs

Career -- 21 games played -- 36 solos, 61 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 -- 31 solos, 47 tackles -- 4 TFLs - 2 pass breakup

Career -- 21 games -- 38 solos, 57 tackles -- 4 TFLs, 2 PD

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

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

Season -- 35 solos, 40 tackles; 5.5 TFLs, 2 sack, int., 3 breakups, FF

Career -- 21 G  -- 52 solos, 72 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 -- 22 tackles, 26 solo, 2 TFLs, sack, 3 int (109 yards in returns), 4 BU

Career -- 31 tackles, 27 solo, 2 TFLs, sack, 4 BU, 3 int-109 yards 

Game -- 6 tackles vs Augustana, 10-2-21; 2 interceptions vs SMSU, 10-9-21
 

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

Season -- 26 solos, 4 assists, 30 tackles, 2 TFLs, 6 PD, FF, int., 57-yard TD return of int

Career -- 65 tackles, 3 int., 10 BU, interception return of 57 yards

Game -- 8 tackles, vs Minn. State, 10-30-21