By: Madie Brink
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The University of Sioux Falls returns to Bob Young Field this weekend as the Cougars host Minot State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action. Saturday's contest will also serve as USF's annual Junior Cougar Club and Military Appreciation Game, recognizing young Cougar fans and honoring those who have served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Sioux Falls enters the matchup at 4-3 overall and 4-2 in NSIC play following a 28-14 victory over Southwest Minnesota State, while Minot State comes to Sioux Falls at 2-5 overall and 2-4 in conference action after defeating Jamestown 28-20. The Cougars are averaging 26.1 points per game, while the Beavers have featured one of the conference's most productive rushing attacks, averaging 345.9 yards on the ground and 31.6 points per contest. Saturday presents an intriguing matchup between Minot State's ground game and a USF defense allowing just 122.7 rushing yards per game.
Inside the Series
OVERALL: 14th Meeting - Sioux Falls leads 11-2
CURRENT STREAK: Sioux Falls, Won 1
LAST MEETING: Oct. 25, 2025 - USF 24, MiSU 17 (Minot, N.D.)
Series History
Sioux Falls and Minot State will meet for the 14th time in a series dating back to Nov. 12, 1994, with the Cougars holding an 11-2 all-time advantage. USF has dominated the matchup in recent years, winning nine of the last 10 meetings and holding an 8-1 record against the Beavers in conference play. The Cougars are 6-1 at home and 5-1 on the road in the series, while averaging 35.3 points per contest against Minot State.
USF put together a 10-game winning streak from 2009 through 2023, highlighted by a 56-14 victory in 2018 and consecutive shutouts in 2022 and 2023. The Cougars defeated the Beavers 34-0 in 2022 before earning a 7-0 victory at Bob Young Field in 2023. Minot State snapped the streak with a 26-22 victory in 2024, marking its first win over USF since the inaugural meeting in 1994. Sioux Falls has been particularly successful at home, winning six consecutive meetings against the Beavers at Bob Young Field.
The programs last met on Oct. 25, 2025, when Sioux Falls earned a 24-17 road victory in Minot. After trailing 17-10 at halftime, the Cougars scored 14 unanswered points in the third quarter and held the Beavers scoreless throughout the second half to secure the comeback victory. The seven-point decision marked USF's narrowest victory in series history and gave the Cougars their 11th all-time win against Minot State.
The Cougar File
Sioux Falls enters the weekend at 4-3 overall and 4-2 in NSIC play after returning to the win column with a 28-14 victory over Southwest Minnesota State. The Cougars opened conference play with three consecutive victories over Jamestown, MSU Moorhead and UMary before dropping contests against No. 3 Minnesota State and Augustana. Through seven games, USF has scored 183 points while allowing 165, averaging 26.1 points per contest. The Cougar offense is producing 342.7 yards per game, including 226.4 through the air and 116.3 on the ground.
The Cougars have scored 25 touchdowns, including 15 through the air and nine on the ground. USF has also been effective inside the red zone, converting 21-of-25 opportunities, with 18 resulting in touchdowns. The Cougars are converting 40.0 percent of their third-down opportunities and have successfully converted nine of 15 fourth-down attempts. USF has also outscored its opponents 109-61 in the first half this season. Offensively, USF ranks fourth in the NSIC and 39th nationally in red-zone offense, converting 21-of-25 opportunities into points, including 18 touchdowns.
Tate Schafer has contributed 574 passing yards and four touchdowns, as USF quarterbacks have combined for 1,585 passing yards and 15 touchdowns through seven games.
Bubba Tann III has emerged as USF's leading rusher with 318 yards and four touchdowns on 70 carries, averaging 4.5 yards per attempt. Tann has also added 10 receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns, giving him a team-high six total touchdowns and 429 all-purpose yards.
Daevion Simonsen follows with 127 rushing yards and a touchdown, while
Bennett Brueck has provided another dimension with his 256 rushing yards and three scores.
The Cougar receiving corps continues to be led by
Adonis Hutchinson, who has recorded 39 receptions for 619 yards and three touchdowns. Hutchinson is averaging 103.2 receiving yards per game and 15.9 yards per reception while ranking among the top receivers in NCAA Division II, sitting third in the NSIC and 12th nationally in receiving yards per game at 103.2. Hutchinson also ranks fourth in the conference and 16th nationally in receptions per game, averaging 6.5 catches per contest. His 619 receiving yards rank fourth in the NSIC and 19th nationally, while his 39 receptions and three touchdowns lead the Cougar receiving corps.
Hank Brown Jr. has added 20 receptions for 157 yards and a team-high four receiving touchdowns, while
Todd Benedict has 163 yards on 10 catches.
Dahlton Wood has contributed 139 yards and a touchdown, while
Mark-hel Joinville has added 112 receiving yards.
Defensively, Sioux Falls is allowing 332.0 yards and 23.6 points per game, including just 122.7 rushing yards per contest. The Cougars have recorded 37 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and nine interceptions, while forcing 13 turnovers through seven games. USF ranks second in the NSIC in interceptions, fumbles recovered and turnovers gained, with its nine interceptions ranking 20th nationally in NCAA Division II. The Cougars also rank third in the NSIC and 38th nationally in rushing defense, second in the conference and 26th nationally in passing efficiency defense, and third in the NSIC and 37th nationally in turnover margin.
Owen McCloud leads the Cougar defense with 42 tackles, followed by
Garret Hoffman with 41 and
Andy Henson and
Beau Giblin with 35 apiece. Hoffman and Giblin lead USF with two interceptions each, while Henson has added 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Up front,
Denim Blackstad leads the team with 6.5 tackles for loss, followed by
James Woodward with five and Henson with 4.5.
Cam Enright has also contributed an interception, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles, while the Cougar defense has totaled 29 pass breakups.
Special teams have been another strength for Sioux Falls, with the Cougars ranking first in both the NSIC and NCAA Division II in punt returns, averaging 25.0 yards per return.
Cade Morse has averaged 26.0 yards on two returns, including a 44-yarder, while
Isaac Rudningen has recorded a 23-yard punt return touchdown.
Mark-hel Joinville leads the kickoff return unit with 280 yards on 12 attempts, while
Scott Dickson is averaging 37.7 yards per punt with five punts of 50-plus yards.
Scouting the Opponent
Minot State enters Saturday's matchup with a 2-5 overall record and a 2-4 mark in NSIC play following a 28-20 victory over Jamestown. The Beavers boast one of the nation's top rushing attacks, ranking first in the NSIC and second in NCAA Division II with 345.9 rushing yards per game. Minot State also ranks first in the conference and second nationally in sacks allowed, while sitting second in the NSIC and 11th nationally in time of possession. The Beavers lead the conference and rank fourth nationally in all-purpose yards.
Brandon Hines Jr. headlines the Minot State offense with 981 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 140.1 yards per game and 8.6 yards per carry. Hines ranks second in the NSIC and third nationally in yards per carry, while leading the conference and ranking eighth nationally in rushing touchdowns. He also ranks second in the NSIC and fifth nationally in rushing yards per game, first in the conference and 11th nationally in scoring, and first in the NSIC and 10th nationally in total touchdowns. Quarterback Jett Lundeen has added 451 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, while Sam Buckhanan and Jaden Fox have contributed 358 and 341 rushing yards, respectively.
Defensively, Minot State is allowing 363.6 yards and 28.1 points per game while recording 35 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and six interceptions. Austin Young leads the Beavers with 45 tackles and five tackles for loss, followed by Jabez Tuaoa with 39 tackles and a team-high 3.5 sacks. Calvin Moore and Diego Betancourt have each recorded two interceptions, while Julian Kameristy has added three sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss.
Minot State Head Coach Ian Shields
Ian Shields enters his fourth season as head coach of Minot State in 2026 after being named the 22nd head coach in program history in January 2023. With more than two decades of coaching experience, Shields has built a reputation for developing nationally ranked rushing offenses, helping lead programs to four national rushing titles throughout his career. Under his leadership, the Beavers recorded their best season of the NCAA era in 2024, finishing 5-6 while setting multiple program rushing records. In 2025, Minot State ranked sixth nationally with 286.8 rushing yards per game and set a school record with 3,157 rushing yards.
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