SIOUX FALLS -- With the league's second-ranked offense and third-ranked defense, the  University of Sioux Falls Football Team (2-1, 2-1 NSIC) will travel to face Northern State (2-1, 2-1 NSIC) in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North-South Division match-up at 6:05 pm on Saturday at Dacotah Bank Stadium.

Follow USF 
Fans can also tune into the radio broadcast on KWSN with veteran announcer Tom Frederick and analyst Tim Hiatt with sideline reporter Chad Birger. Live video and stats will be available at USFCougars.com. Click here to listen - live stats - live video. Midco Sports will carry the broadcast with David Brown on the call with Brian Shawn handling analyst duties. For updates, go to USF_Athletics on Twitter.

Game Overview 
The Cougars, directed by fifth year head coach Jon Anderson (26-12 overall, 26-10 in the NSIC), and Wolves come into the game off two straight wins. The Cougars 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. In that game, USF total a season-high 549 yards in total offense with 388 rushing yards, which is the eighth best total of the DII era. The Cougars had a pair of rushers break 100 yards in the game. The NSIC rushing leader, Thuro Reisdorder had 160 yards on 14 carries and three TDs while sophomore Landon Freeman had a career-best 105 yards as he cracked 100 yards for the first time in his career. USF held CSP to -14 yards rushing and 174 yards in total offense. The special teams shined as well with two more blocked punts and the unit now has three on the season.

This will be USF's fourth of five scheduled North Division games this season. USF, which will host U-Mary on Oct. 16 in the final cross division contest, is 2-1 this year against the North.   NSU opened the season with a 40-34 loss to then No. 2 Minmesota State in Mankato, Minn., before taking a 30-13 win over SMSU in the home opener at Dacotah Bank Stadium on Sept. 11. A week agao, they rallied in the second half past Upper Iowa, 40-22, in another road test for the Wolves.
.
Cougars thrive on high expectations

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 453 wins (453-418-20), 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, in 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 but earned an NCAA DII postseason bid for the second time in three years with Coach Anderson at the helm.

Series Breakdown - Cougars have won four straight but NSU holds 10-6 series advantage
USF has won four straight in the series but NSU leads the series overall with a 10-6 mark. The Cougars have won all four matchups at the DII level but NSU held a 10-2 advantage in games played from 1922 to 1959. The Wolves won the first-ever match-up, 20-0 in 1922. Due to the lost year a year ago due to CoVID 19, the schedules were adjusted and USF will again travel to NSU for its second straight game in the series in Aberdeen.

With a school record and career-best 98-yard touchdown run by running back Thuro Reisdorfer, the Cougars opened up a 7-0 lead with 10 minutes to play in the first quarter and built the margin to 21-3 before cruising to a 35-13 win on the road at Northern State in 2019. One of the ingredients of success for USF was a defense that locked down NSU, which finished with just 229 total yards.   Of that total, USF limited NSU to 31 rushing yards on 29 carries for a paltry 1.06 yards per carry. NSU gained 182 yards through the air on 39 passes and 22 completions but USF forced four turnovers included three interceptions. Against NSU, the Cougars offense had 444 yards in total offense on 64 plays for 6.9 yards per play. Of that total, USF had 262 rushing yards on 37 carries for 7.1 per tote. And, USF had 182 yards passing as quarterback Caden Walters completed 12-of-27 passes with two TDs but no interceptions. He averaged 15.2 yards per completion. Reisdorfer was the key component on the ground as he surpassed 100 yards for a second straight week and the third time this season. He had 11 carries for 133 yards and two touchdowns.

The Cougars, which were ranked No. 9 in DII, captured a 37-7 in 2017 at Bob Young Field as running back Max Mickey had 24 carries for 217 yards rushing with two TDs. He had a personal best 87-yard TD run in the second quarter as USF won before 2,415 in attendance. USF finished with 415 yards in total offense. On defense the Cougars recorded eight sacks. In 2015 on Gypsy days, No. 7 USF defeated NSU 28-10 before 8,133 in attendance. USF took a 21-3 at halftime. Mickey ran for 113 yards wit a TD while Luke Papilion rank for 77 and threw for 157 with two TDs. Garrett Shutt had two TD receptions and five catches for 84 yards. In 2013 at Bob Young Field, Papilion rushed for 240 yards on 19 carries and scored five TDs while Nephia Garcia had 159 yards rushing and a TD as the Cougars accumulated 411 rushing yards and 522 in total offense in a 45-37 win over NSU.  USF and NSU began playing each other in 1922 but had not met before 2013 since 1959, which was a 32-0 NSU win.

Game-By-Game Results - DII Era
Oct. 26, 2019 -  Sioux Falls 35 Northern State 13, Aberdeen, S.D.    
Sept. 9, 2017 -  Sioux Falls 37 Northern State 7, Bob Young Field
Sept. 26, 2015 -- Sioux Falls 28 Northern State 10, Aberdeen, S.D.
Sept. 14, 2013 -- Sioux Falls 45 Northern State 37, Bob Young Field
Prior to NSIC --
1922 -- Northern Normal 20 Sioux Falls 0
1923 -- Northern Normal 12 Sioux Falls 0
1924 -- Northern State 27 Sioux Falls 6
1928 -- Sioux Falls 7 Northern State  0
1931 -- Northern State 20 Sioux Falls 0
1934 -- Sioux Falls 13 Northern State 0
1936 -- Northern State 19 Sioux Falls 0
1940 -- Northern State 12 Sioux Falls 7
1951 -- Northern State 52 Sioux Falls 0
1955 -- Northern State 56 Sioux Falls 0
1958 -- Northern State 52 Sioux Falls 
1959 -- Northern State 32 Sioux Falls 0

USF has outscored last two opponents, 99-24
With redshirt freshman quarterback Adam Mullen tossing three TD passes and junior running back Thuro Reisdorfer rushing for two scores, plus a stout defensive performance, the University of Sioux Falls Football Team (1-1) earned a 49-10 road win at Minot State on Sept. 11.  The Cougars rolled up 462 yards in total offense on 62 plays or 7.45 yards per play. The USF ground attack generated 252 yards on 37 carries while USF had 210 yards through the air. For the second straight week, Reisdorfer surpassed 100 yards rushing as he had 16 carries for 124 yards and two TDs (2, 44). In the passing game, Mullen had a second straight solid outing by completing 19-of-23 passes for a career-best 192 yards and a career-high three TDs.. Jaqueze Lockett added nine carries for 72 yards and Landon Freeman had seven carries for 23 yards. The receiving corps was led by senior wide receiver Dominic Pegley, who had five catches for 94 yards (career-high at USF) while redshirt freshman Trevon Brown had four catches for 41 yards and his first receiving score – 16-yard TD reception. Also, Tavian Tumbleson (18-yards), Sean Zsori (10 yards) and Carter Slykhuis (13 yards) all caught their first TD passes at USF. On defense, Cameron Alfaro had seven tackles in his first game in a USF uniform while Harvey Enalls added five stops . With a strip sack and four tackles, Joey Wehrkamp now has 10 career sacks and 22 TFLs. Bryce Jackson had his first career interception and Dorian Fedrick also had a pick for USF, which had a plus-three turnover margin with a blocked punt leading to an 18-yard TD return by Dom Pegley.

Cougars rank fifth in DII and lead NSIC in rushing 
Through three games, the Cougars rank second in the NSIC and 27th nationally in scoring at 38.3 points per game. USF leads the NSIC in rushing offense and ranks fifth in NCAA DII in rushing with 269.0 yards per game on 807 yards in 134 carries for 6.02 per rush.

Leading the way is junior running back Thuro Reisdorfer, who has moved into 18th place all-time at USF in rushing with 1,686 yards. He ranks sixth in DII with 434 yards and ranks third in rush per carry in DII at 8.35 while sitting seventh in rushing average per game at 144.7 yards. He is also 10th in DII with five rushing TDs.

Also for USF, redshirt freshman quarter Adam Mullen is eighth in DII with a 68.9 percent competition percentage and USF ranks fifth as a team at 70.4 percent. Also for USF, the quarterback is 37th in passing efficiency at 148.88. Mullen leads an offense that is second in the NSIC and 21st in DII in total offense at 454.7 yards per game.

The Cougars also rank 11th in DII with 72 first downs. Defensively, the Cougars sit 40th in total defense at 304.2 yards allowed per game. In rushing defense, they also rank among the national leaders as they have allowed just 61.3 yards per game or 1.98 yards per carry. Opponents have scored just one rushing TD this year on that stout defense. On special teams, USF is third nationally in blocked kicks with three and Dominic Pegley is tied for first with a pair of blocked kicks. Special teams have produced a TD (Pegley, 18-yard return vs Minot State) and a safety (vs. Concordia St. Paul).

Inside Look at NSU
Directed by first-year Head Coach Mike Schmidt, Northern State is third in the NSIC North with a 2-1 record. At 34.67 points per game, the NSU offense is fourth in the NSIC. The Wolves also ranked fourth in passing at 310.0 yards per game and fourth in passing defense. They are 10th in rushing defense at 180,7 yards allowed per game. QB Hunter Trautman leads the way by completing 65-of-113 passes for 930 yards and 11 TDs. He is averaging 310.0 yards passing with an efficiency of 157.01. He has three receivers in double digits with Dewaylon Ingram his top target with 19 receptions for 282 yards and three TDs. Dakota Larson has 15 catches for 160 yards and five scores. Nate Robinson leads the defense with 22 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. 

USF Team Captains - Enalls, Smith, Wehrkamp and Reisdorfer
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. The four standouts helped lead USF to the program's fourth NCAA DII playoff appearance in five seasons in 2019 when the Cougars recorded an 8-4 overall mark. USF registered its 26th straight winning season, which is the fourth-longest across all divisions in the NCAA.

Player Notes --

NSIC rushing leader Thuro Reisdorfer continues to move up the charts - ranks 6th in DII in rushing and third in yards per carry
Thuro Reisdorfer, the reigning offensive player of the week in the NSIC, has continued to progress up the USF season and career charts as a junior running back for USF. He has a league-best 434 rushing yards this year which is sixth in DII and his 8.3 yards per carry ranks third. The NSIC leader in rushing, the Sioux Falls Washington prep has totaled three straight 100-yard plus rushing game and now has eight 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 and 14 carries for 160 yards and three TDs against Concordia St. Paul. 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 1,686, which places leaves him just 69 yards away from 17th and 314 yards from 2,000 and No. 14. He has 24 career TDs with 19 by rushing.

Ty Smith approaching 1,000 yards in receiving
Ty Smith,, who is enrolled in the Master of Business Administration program at USF, is a senior wide receiver. He has accumulated 68 catches for 949 yards and four TDs. Smith, who has 25 games played with 23 starts, has had at least two catches in a game 16 times and recorded 80 yards or more in receiving yards four times. He has a pair of 100-yard receiving games with a high of 110 yards on five receptions and a TD against Minnesota State in 2018. He had his career-high with eight catches (94 yards) against Upper Iowa in 2018. Smith is a three-time Academic All-NSIC honoree and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from USF in May 2020. In 2021, Smith has recorded three catches for 22 yards. 

Harvey Enalls now has 147 career stops
Enalls, a two-time All-NSIC honoree, has accumulated 147 career tackles, including 89 solo stops, at USF. Named second-team All-NSIC in 2019, he has 13.5 career tackles for loss and 9.5 career sacks with five fumble recoveries. During his career, Enalls, who was honorable mention All-NSIC in 2018, has had at least two tackles in a game 27 times with four or more tackles in a game 20 times. A force in the middle of USF's defense, he has had double-digit tackles with a career-high 13, including four solo stops, against Colorado School of Mines in the 2019 DII playoffs. A psychology and criminal justice major, Enalls has played in 35 games with 33 starts during his career. This season, he has 13 tackles, 11 solo stops, sack, TFL and two pass breakups.

Joey Wehrkamp has 25 career tackles for loss 
Wehrkamp, a two-time Academic All-NSIC honoree, has been a staple in the USF defensive front for three-plus seasons. He has registered 38 starts with 102 career tackles of which 62 are solo stops. The senior defensive end has recorded 25.0 tackles for loss with 11 sacks. He has registered five career pass breakups, three passes defended and forced three fumbles. Wehrkamp has a sack in three straight games. Nine times, he has had four or more tackles in a game from his defensive end position. He is enrolled in the Master of Business Administration program.