By: Madie Brink
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The University of Sioux Falls Football team (4–3, 3–3 NSIC) returns to action this Saturday following a bye week, traveling north to take on Minot State (2–5, 2–4 NSIC) at Herb Parker Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in Minot, North Dakota, where the Cougars look to carry momentum from their 35–14 victory over Southwest Minnesota State. USF sits in the middle of a tight NSIC standings race, seeking its fifth win of the year and a push toward the top half of the conference.
INSIDE THE SERIES
SERIES HISTORY: Sioux Falls and Minot State meet for the 12th time, with the Cougars holding a commanding 10-2 series lead dating back to 1994. USF has outscored the Beavers 435-172 while averaging over 36 points a contest.
THE LAST TIME: When these two teams met last fall, Minot State stunned Sioux Falls with a 26–22 victory in Minot — the Beavers' first-ever win over the Cougars in the NCAA Division II era. USF held a 16-14 halftime lead behind the arm of quarterback
Camden Dean, who threw for 170 yards and three touchdowns. The Beavers leaned on their ground game, rushing for more than 270 yards while controlling the clock and limiting USF's late-game possessions.
Despite the loss, the Cougars controlled the air game while wideout
Carter Slykhuis recorded six receptions for 59 yards and two scores. Defensively,
Andy Henson paved the way with 13 tackles and 1.5 TFL while
Cain McWilliams and
Garret Hoffman added 10 tackles each. The defeat snapped a 10-game winning streak for USF in the series and set the stage for this weekend's rematch in Minot.
THE COUGAR FILE
PREGAME TIDBITS: Through seven weeks of the 2025 campaign, the University of Sioux Falls Football team sits at 4–3 overall and 3–3 in NSIC play, entering Saturday's contest coming off a productive bye week. The Cougars rebounded from a narrow rivalry loss to then No. 8 Augustana with a dominant 35–14 win over Southwest Minnesota State, using a balanced offensive attack and a stifling defensive effort to climb back above .500 on the year. Head coach
Jim Glogowski's squad has been one of the NSIC's most complete teams statistically this season while leading the NSIC in total offense (463.7 yards per game) and sitting amongst the top-4 in total defense (341.1 yards per game).
Offensively, Sioux Falls has established itself as one of the most balanced and efficient units in the conference, averaging 199.0 rushing yards and 264.7 passing yards per game. Senior quarterback
Camden Dean paced the attack, totaling 1,313 passing yards, 309 rushing yards, and 13 total touchdowns through six games. Dean had completed 65.9 percent of his passes with 9 touchdowns through the air and ranks among the NSIC's top five in both total offense and passing efficiency. Now leading the Cougars under center,
Tate Schafer, has stepped in effectively when called upon, throwing for 454 yards and four touchdowns while adding 77 rushing yards and two scores.
The ground game has been a consistent strength for the Cougars, featuring a deep and versatile running back room.
Bubba Tann III leads the charge with 524 rushing yards and five touchdowns, averaging nearly 75 yards per contest, while
Christian Nash (240 yards, two touchdowns) and
Jordan Smith (169 yards, one touchdown) have added explosive elements to the rotation.
On the perimeter, USF boasts one of the NSIC's most productive receiving corps, led by
Hank Brown Jr., who ranks among the league leaders with 56 receptions for 660 yards.
Isaiah Emanuel has been a reliable scoring option with four touchdowns and 338 receiving yards, while
Adonis Hutchinson and
Christian Janis have combined for 544 yards and six touchdowns, giving USF multiple threats in the passing game.
Defensively, the Cougars continue to play with toughness and physicality, anchored by a front seven that has combined for 10 sacks and 28 tackles for loss. Linebacker
Garret Hoffman leads the team with 31 tackles and two interceptions, while
Isaac Rudningen (23 tackles, INT),
Jordan Medrano (20 tackles),
Mauloa Wells (20 tackles, INT) and
London Kolb (6.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks) provide veteran stability. On the line,
Mouhamed Diawara (5.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks), and
Dawson Raabe (4.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks) have consistently disrupted opposing backfields.
Collectively, the Cougars have demonstrated resilience and growth through the midpoint of the season. After opening the year with three straight wins, USF weathered a tough midseason stretch against nationally ranked competition and now finds itself poised for a strong second-half push. With balance on offense, physicality on defense, and a focus on execution, Sioux Falls enters the final month of NSIC play determined to finish strong and remain in the mix among the conference's upper-tier programs.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
PREGAME TIDBITS: Minot State enters Saturday's matchup at 2–5 overall and 2–4 in NSIC play following a win over Jamestown (35–28). The Beavers have leaned heavily on one of the top rushing attacks in the conference, averaging 290.1 yards per game on the ground to lead in the NSIC. The one-two punch of Evan Lovett (631 yards, eight touchdowns) and Devan Daniels (703 yards, two touchdowns) has powered the offense, while quarterback Carson Chrisman adds dual-threat production with 436 rushing yards and 353 passing yards. Overall, Minot averages 24.1 points and 340.6 yards per game, with nearly 90 percent of that output coming on the ground.
Defensively, the Beavers have allowed 30.3 points and 404.7 yards per game but have proven opportunistic, forcing 12 turnovers through seven contests. Safety Nalu Cordeiro leads the Beavers with three interceptions and a defensive touchdown, while linebacker Brayan Augustin (39 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and defensive lineman Julian Kameristy (26 tackles, 3.0 TFL) anchor the front seven. On special teams, kicker Brandon McCary has been a bright spot, converting 9-of-11 field-goal attempts and all 16 extra points.
MINOT STATE HEAD COACH IAN SHIELDS: Now in his third season with the Beavers, Ian Shields was named the 22nd head coach in school history in January 2023 and brings more than two decades of coaching experience to the Beaver sidelines. A proven program builder and offensive innovator, Shields has developed a national reputation for his success with option-style rushing attacks, having led teams to four national rushing championships and Top-10 national rushing finishes in 20 of his 29 coaching seasons. His culture-driven approach emphasizes player development, academic success, and community engagement — pillars that have transformed Minot State's football identity.
In just two seasons at the helm, Shields has elevated the Beaver program to new heights. During the 2024 campaign, Minot State set single-season program records for rushing yards (2,886), rushing touchdowns (30), and rushing yards per game (244.9), while achieving the school's best NCAA Division II finish at 5–6. Under his leadership, the Beavers also captured their first Homecoming win since 1992 and recorded four single-game school records, including seven rushing touchdowns in a victory over Winona State. His impact extends beyond the field as well — spearheading the Beavers' involvement in the "Get in the Game" national bone marrow donor initiative, which registered over 250 potential donors in its first year. A former head coach at Jacksonville (FCS), Lenoir-Rhyne (DII), and Eastern Oregon (NAIA) and a longtime offensive coordinator at Army and Cal Poly, Shields has combined on-field innovation with genuine mentorship to reshape Minot State football and its culture of excellence.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
