By: Madie Brink
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The University of Sioux Falls Football team (6-4, 5-4 NSIC) closes the 2025 regular season on the road this Saturday, traveling to face Concordia-St. Paul (2-8, 2-7 NSIC) at Seafoam Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. as the Cougars look to rebound from last week's setback against Wayne State and finish above .500 for the second consecutive year under head coach
Jim Glogowski and 30th time in the past 31 seasons. USF remains among the league's most efficient offenses and stingiest defenses, ranking near the top of the NSIC in multiple statistical categories entering the final weekend of play.
INSIDE THE SERIES
SERIES HISTORY: Saturday marks the 18th all-time meeting between Sioux Falls and Concordia-St. Paul, with the Cougars holding a dominant 16–1 series advantage dating back to 1972. Since joining the NSIC, USF has won 11 of the last 12 matcheups against the Golden Bears and is 5–1 in St. Paul. The Cougars have outscored CSP 614–243 including a 49-0 win in 2015 — their largest margin win.
THE LAST TIME: The last meeting between Sioux Falls and Concordia-St. Paul came on October 12, 2024, with the Cougars earning a 35–21 win at Bob Young Field to secure their 100th NCAA Division II victory. After a slow first half,
Dylan Rudningen sparked the offense with an 11-yard rushing touchdown before
Camden Dean added another score on the ground followed by a 25-yard touchdown pass to Rudningen to take a 28-14 lead.
USF's offense piled up over 400 yards of total offense, while
Christian Nash added a 19-yard rushing touchdown and
Nick Hernandez went a perfect 5-for-5 on PATs. Defensively,
Cade Morse led the Cougars with seven solo tackles, and
Andy Henson returned an interception 10 yards to help seal the victory. The win extended USF's series advantage over CSP to 16–1 all-time.
THE COUGAR FILE
PREGAME TIDBITS: The University of Sioux Falls enters its regular-season finale at 6–4 overall and 5–4 in the NSIC, looking to close out another strong year under third-year head coach
Jim Glogowski. The Cougars have been one of the league's most complete and statistically balanced teams throughout the 2025 campaign, ranking third in the NSIC in total offense (438.3 YPG), third in passing offense (264.1 YPG), third in passing efficiency (154.8), second in first downs (241), and second in time of possession (34:01) — maintaining the ball for more than four minutes longer per game than their opponents. Defensively, USF sits third in total defense (348.8 YPG) and fifth in rushing defense (161.6 YPG), making the Cougars one of just two NSIC teams ranked in the top three on both sides of the ball for total offense and defense.
Offensively, USF has been powered by a deep and versatile unit led by
Tate Schafer, who has 1,242 passing yards and 11 touchdowns with a 61% completion rate. Schafer has excelled in extended action, posting a 162.6 passer rating with 11 touchdown passes and three interceptions over his last six games while adding 60 rushing yards and three scores on the ground. In the backfield,
Bubba Tann III ranks among the NSIC's top rushers with 842 yards and seven touchdowns, supported by
Christian Nash (242 yards, 3 TDs) and
Jordan Smith (187 yards, 2 TDs). Together, the trio has helped USF average nearly 175 rushing yards per game, maintaining offensive balance and control of tempo.
Through the air, the Cougars boast one of the most productive receiving corps in the conference.
Hank Brown Jr. sits second in the NSIC in receptions (81) and second in receiving yards (935) while also sitting third in all-purpose yards (1,122). Brown Jr. adds two receiving scores and one rushing for the Cougars.
Adonis Hutchinson adds 551 yards and five touchdowns, while
Isaiah Emanuel has tallied 490 yards and five scores of his own. The offense has produced 27 passing plays of 20 yards or more, with Brown Jr., Hutchinson, and Emanuel combining for 13 total touchdowns.
Defensively, Sioux Falls has excelled at both limiting the run and generating pressure. The front seven has combined for 37 tackles for loss and 14 sacks, anchored by
London Kolb (8.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks),
Mouhamed Diawara (5.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks), and
Dawson Raabe (4.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks). Linebacker
Garret Hoffman leads the unit with 45 tackles and two interceptions, while
Cain McWilliams and
Owen McCloud have anchored a disciplined secondary that has held opponents to a 57% completion rate.
Special teams have been a consistent strength, highlighted by
Adonis Hutchinson's 100-yard kickoff return touchdown earlier this season and the reliability of
JT Frieders, who has connected on 34-of-37 PATs. The Cougars rank among the NSIC's least-penalized teams and are top-two in third-down conversions (50%).
With one of the league's most balanced rosters, Sioux Falls continues to embody the physical, disciplined identity that has defined its program for more than a century — combining efficient offense, aggressive defense, and dependable special teams as they look to finish the 2025 season on a winning note.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
PREGAME TIDBITS: Concordia-St. Paul (2–8, 2–7 NSIC) enters its season finale coming off a 19–14 road win at Southwest Minnesota State. The Golden Bears average 283 yards of total offense per game, leaning on more of a passin approach that produces 167.2 yards per contest. Recievers Timothy Davis (360 yards, 2 TD) and Troy Ellison (339 yards, 2 TD) serving as quarterback Lincoln Graf's top targets while running back Daniel Hornacek leads the ground game with 607 yards. Joel Lacy has added 226 yards and a team-high five touchdowns. Graf has provided stability through the air, completing 63 percent of his passes for 671 yards and five touchdowns.
Defensively, the Golden Bears allow 402.0 yards and 35.3 points per game but have shown flashes of playmaking ability, forcing six interceptions and six fumbles. Linebacker Mike King leads CSP with 67 tackles and 5.0 tackles for loss, while Isaiah Wray has contributed 62 stops and 1.5 sacks. In special teams, Kenny Steffen has connected on 3-of-5 field goals and 5-of-7 PATs, while punter Caden Carsen averages 39.5 yards per punt.
CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL HEAD COACH SHANNON CURRIER: Veteran coach Shannon Currier is in his 14th season overall and second stint as head coach at Concordia-St. Paul, where he has served since returning to the program in 2016. The eighth head coach in Golden Bear history, Currier previously led CSP from 2000–03, guiding the program to its first-ever NSIC Championship in 2003 and earning NSIC Coach of the Year and Midwest Region Coach of the Year honorable mention honors that same season. Now in his 19th year as a collegiate head coach, Currier has compiled 74 career victories and remains Concordia's all-time wins leader. His teams have produced multiple All-NSIC performers and the program's second-ever NFL Draft pick, as defensive end Chris Garrett was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in 2021 after leading NCAA Division II in sacks.
Currier played quarterback at Hamline University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in physical education before completing a master's at Bemidji State. Known for his offensive background and strong player development, Currier helped CSP post four consecutive winning seasons during his first tenure, including a 9-2 record in 2002 and a playoff appearance in the Mineral Water Bowl. Between his two stints with the Golden Bears, he led Truman State for five seasons and later worked in sports media before returning to Concordia to rebuild the program. Under his leadership, CSP continues to emphasize academic success, community involvement, and steady progress in one of Division II's toughest conferences.
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