Game Notes (PDF)

Setting the Stage: Southwest Minnesota State University will open its 42nd year of football on Saturday, Aug. 29, taking on the University of Minnesota, Crookston at Widseth Field in Crookston, Minn., with kickoff slated for 1 p.m.  It will be the second straight season the two teams have opened the season against each other.  In 2008, SMSU jumped out to an early 17-0 lead and never looked back in earning a 54-14 victory in Marshall.  SMSU was picked to finish seventh in the NSIC this season, while UMC was projected to finish 14th.

The Coaches: Southwest Minnesota State's Eric Eidsness is in his sixth season as the head coach at SMSU with a 21-34 record, including 15-26 in conference games.  Eidsness' 21 victories ranks second in school history.  Before being named head coach at SMSU, Eidsness was offensive coordinator at South Dakota State University for five seasons (1999-2003).  He also served as assistant head coach during his last season in 2003.  Prior to SDSU, Eidsness was offensive coordinator at Ferris State (Mich.) (1998), and was an offensive assistant at both South Dakota State (1996-97) and Morningside (Iowa) (1994-95). Eidsness is 5-0 versus UMC and 2-0 on the road.
    Shannon Stassen begins his eighth season as the UMC head coach with an overall record of 10-65.  He is 1-6 versus SMSU.

Some Mustang History: This is the 42nd season of college football at Southwest Minnesota State, dating back to 1968.  SMSU owns an all-time record of 153-259-5, including 93-167-5 in conference play.  SMSU has recorded eight winning seasons and has appeared in two NAIA playoffs (1987 and 1991), while earning its lone conference championship in 1990.

Mustangs One of the Nation's Most Improved: SMSU had a four-game improvement from 2007 to 2008, going from two victories in 2007 to six victories in 2008.  The four-game improvement ranks as the sixth best in all of NCAA Division II last season.  Minnesota Duluth ranked first with an 8.5 game improvement on its way to the national championship.

A Win for SMSU Would...: be its sixth straight over UMC?... give SMSU its seventh season opening victory in the last eight years ... would be its third straight road win dating back to last season and its longest road winning streak since the 1991 season ... give head coach Eric Eidsness a 6-0 record versus UMC?... lift its all-time record to 154-259-5.

Season Opening Games: Southwest Minnesota State is 17-24 all-time in season openers but has won six of its last seven season lid-lifters.  SMSU's only loss in a season opener in the last seven seasons was in 2007 to Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Conference and Season Opener:?Saturday's game will be the fourth time in school history SMSU?will begin a season with a conference game.  SMSU began the 1978 and 1979 season's with conference games versus Winona State and began last season with an NSIC?game versus Minnesota, Crookston.

Early Risers: For the seventh consecutive year, SMSU will start the regular season with a game in the month of August.  Here is a look at the previous August games:
    Aug. 30, 2003    Peru State (Neb.)    W 37-21
    Aug. 28, 2004    at Peru State (Neb.)    W 38-0
    Aug. 27, 2005    Jamestown (N.D.)    W 16-10
    Aug. 31, 2006    South Dakota Tech    W 63-6
    Aug. 30, 2007    Wisconsin-Eau Claire    L 13-42
    Aug. 30, 2008    Minnesota, Crookston    W 54-14

2009 Team Captains: SMSU head coach Eric Eidsness announced this week that four players have been named team captains for the 2009 season as selected by the players.  The offensive team captains selected were senior offensive lineman Bill Noethlich from Doland, S.D., and senior wide receiver Blake Wilson from Frankfort, S.D.  The defensive team captains named were senior linebacker Levi Bullerman from Adrian, Minn., and senior defensive tackle Matt Carmody from Pipestone, Minn.

A New Signal Caller:?Quarterback Josh Shudlick finished his four-year career in 2008 with a record breaking season, completing 62 percent of his passes for 3,149 yards and 30 touchdowns.  He set an NSIC?record single-season record with 3,082 yards passing in 10 games.  With Shudlick gone, for the first time in three seasons, SMSU will be searching for a new starting quarterback.  Junior college transfer Ryan Ratekin, who led Butte College (Calif.)?to an undefeated season in 2008, is expected to start the season opener on Saturday.  Back-up redshirt freshman Tyler Peschong is also expected to see action this season after passing for an Iowa state record 7,259 in his career at Marshalltown High School.

Bigger With Each Start:?Senior left tackle Bill Noethlich  has started every game the last two seasons and has started 29 consecutive games since the middle of the 2006 season.  Noethlich helped anchor an offensive line that produced just the program's fourth 1,000-yard rusher in school history last season and also helped SMSU quarterbacks pass for 3,189 yard a season ago.
    Senior left guard Tony Weiler also returns with plenty of experience after playing in every game the last two years including making 18 starts.

Anchoring the Defense:?Senior linebacker Levi Bullerman and senior defensive tackle Matt Carmody will help anchor a Mustang defense as two of the elder statesmen on the team.  Bullerman  has played in all 33 games in his career and has made 22 consecutive starters recording 103 career tackles, while Carmody has also played in all 33 games and has started 22 consecutive games racking up 91 tackles.

Leading Statistical Returners: Southwest Minnesota State, which finished 6-5 overall, 6-4 NSIC?last season, returns its leading rusher and top three receivers from last season's team.  Senior running back Zach Wysong led the team a season ago with 1,018 yards rushing and nine touchdowns on 234 attempts.  Wysong became just the fourth SMSU player to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season.  He also caught a team-high 64 passes for 470 yards and one touchdown. 
    Senior wide receiver Blake Wilson ranked second on the team in 2008 with 61 receptions for a team-high 720 yards and nine touchdowns.  Wilson tied for the team lead in touchdowns with nine along with senior wide receiver Derek Townsend who finished with 37 receptions for 530 yards and nine scores.  Junior Bret Ballantine and sophomore Wade McDonough each finished with 25 receptions and combined to record nine touchdowns.
    Sophomore linebacker Derek Klinkner is the squad's leading returning tackler after recording 68 last season while also leading the team with 9.5 tackles for loss.  Senior defensive  end Aaron Diggs also returns after leading the team team with 4.5 sacks last season.  Senior cornerback Lional Lammare had a team-high three interceptions a season ago and also led the Mustang defense with eight pass break-ups.

All-Conference Returners: Southwest Minnesota State returns four players in 2009 who earned NSIC?South Division All-Conference honors following last season.  Senior running back Zach Wysong was named second team All-NSIC, while senior cornerback Lionel Lamarre, senior left tackle Bill Noethlich and senior wide receiver Blake Wilson were all named honorable mention All-NSIC.

Wysong Moving Up List:?Senior running back Zach Wysong begins the season third on the school's all-time rushing list.  He has rushed for 2,270 yards in his career and is just 141 yards from second place and 283 yards from breaking the 35-year old career rushing yards record.  Wysong also ranks fourth in career rushing touchdown with 20 and is one shy of tying for second place.  Wysong's 70.9 rushing yards per game average ranks first all-time.
SMSU career rushing yards
    2,552    Rich Froemling    1971-74
    2,410    Robert Lipsey    1987-90
    2,270    Zach Wysong    2006-08

SMSU career rushing touchdowns
    29    Robert Lipsey    1987-90
     21    Ken Sather        1999-02
     21    Rich Froemling    1971-74
      20    Zach Wysong    2006-08

Wysong and 100 Yards:?Senior Zach Wysong has nine career 100-yard rushing games and needs one more to tie Robert Lipsey's record of 10 set from 1987-90.  A complete list of 100-yard rushers, 100-yard receivers and 300-yard passers can be found on page 3.

On the Road Again: SMSU finished 3-2 in road games last season, its first winning road season since 2004 and just the fourth in school history.  SMSU is 10-14 in road games during head coach Eric Eidsness' tenure. 

Coaching Staff Additions:?The SMSU coaching staff remains nearly intact from last season except there are a few new responsibilities for several coaches.  Seven of SMSU's nine assistant coaches return from last season with only Casey Carlo new to the staff this season.  Carlo, who will coach the defensive line, served as the defensive coordinator at Upper Iowa last season.  Cory Sauter is in his second season as quarterbacks coach and will begin his first season as offensive coordinator.  Andy Carr is in his second season as offensive line coach and run-game coordinator and is also in his first season as assistant head coach.  Kenny Cushing, who coaches wide receiver a season ago, will now coach the team's running backs.

High Scoring Offense in 2008:?Southwest Minnesota State finished the 2008 season averaging 29.4 per game and scored 30 or more points in five games becoming the first SMSU team to do so in one season since 1991.  SMSU's 29.4 points per game average ranks as the fifth highest in school history and the highest since the 1992 team finished the season averaging 33.8 points. 

That's Another Mustang First Down!:?The SMSU offense racked up 236 first downs in 2008 ranking as the second highest in school history.  The 1987 teams holds the record with 283.

Close Calls the Past Three Years: Southwest Minnesota State's 12-21 overall record since the start of 2006 may not look flashy, however, a look inside the numbers reveals that the Mustangs have suffered a handful of “what if” games during the past three years.  In the last 33 games, 20 have been decided by a total of 107 points, an average of 5.3 per game.  During that time span, 12 of SMSU's 21 losses have been by a total of 61 points (5.0 per game).

The Cardiac Kids: SMSU made it exciting to be a fan during the 2008 season in earning four of its six victories.  The Mustangs held a 44-point halftime lead over Minnesota, Crookston in the season opener and were never threatened and in the season finale versus MSU?Moorhead never railed after taking a second quarter lead, but in its next four wins, SMSU was either tied or trailing in the fourth quarter before mounting comebacks to win. 
     SMSU was tied with 21 seconds left in the fourth quarter versus Upper Iowa but scored the game-winning touchdown with 10 seconds left.  Two weeks later SMSU trailed Winona State 28-27 with 6:07 left in the game but scored the go-ahead touchdown with 3:31 remaining.  In the win over Concordia, SMSU trailed 28-17 early in the fourth quarter before scoring 21 straight points to get the victory and in week 10 SMSU?fell behind 32-31 to Northern State with 7:15 to play before scoring the game-winner with 1:38 left on the clock.

Mustangs in the NCAA Statistics: The SMSU offense finished the 2008 season ranked 14th in the country in passing offense averaging 289.9 yards per game with senior quarterback Josh Shudlick ranked 16th in total offense (276.3) and 52nd in passing efficiency (131.9).  Junior running back Zach Wysong ranked 22nd in all purpose yards (136.0), 33rd in rushing (92.3) and 36th in receptions per game (5.8).  Wysong finished the regular season ranked first in the country in receptions per game among running backs.  Junior wide out Blake Wilson ranked tied for 42nd in receptions per game (5.5), tied for 61st in punt returns (7.8) and tied for 76th in receiving yards (65.4).  The final 2008 NCAA?statistics will not be complete until the playoffs are ended in mid-December.
     For a complete look at SMSU and Mustang individuals in the final 2008 NCAA?statistics see chart on page 3.

400-Yard Games for SMSU?Offense: The Mustang offense reached the 400-yard mark in total offense four times last season and eight times since the 2007 season.  Since head coach Eric Eidsness took over in 2004, SMSU has recorded 15 games of 400 yards or more of total offense.

Get in the “Zone”: Southwest Minnesota State scored on 38 of 51 trips inside the “red zone”?last season with 33 touchdowns.  The 74.5 percent scoring rate was the highest during the Eric Eidsness era at SMSU.  The following is a look at SMSU's “red zone” statistics under head coach Eric Eidsness.
    Year    Red-Zone    TD    FG
    2004    30 of 47 (63.8)    25    5
    2005    21 of 29 (72.4)    14    7
    2006    27 of 38 (71.1)    20    7
    2007    28 of 42 (66.7)    20    8
    2008    38 of 51 (74.5)    33    5
    2009    -    -    -

Special Team Tackles:?The following is a look at the top returning tacklers for SMSU on special teams during the 2008 season: Curt Gosser (9), Alex Mayorov (7), Jordan Wager (7), Derek Townsend (5), Levi Bullerman (5), Derek Klinkner (3), Shaye Thomas (3), Aaron Diggs (3), Shane LaDage (2), Dan Brannen (2), John Kersbergen (2), Levi Reiff (1), Zach Kasper (1), Lionel Lamarre (1).

Holding onto the Ball:?Winning the turnover margin each week is a major key to winning games at any level.  SMSU finished the 2008 season a “plus” in turnover margin just three times during the season. (see chart on page 3) 
    Turnover margin has been a major issue for SMSU in recent years.  Since the start of the 2004 season (55 games), SMSU has been a “plus” in turnover margin in just 11 games (three in 2004, two in 2005, one in 2006, two in 2007 and three in 2008). 
    In SMSU's last 36 conference games, which spans from late in the 2004 season through 2008, SMSU is minus-32 in turnover margin.  The Mustangs have been “even” or “minus” in turnover margin in 28 of its last 36 conference games.  

NSIC?Coaches Poll:?Southwest Minnesota State was picked to finish fifth in the NSIC South Division and seventh overall in the NSIC?Preseason Coaches Poll.  SMSU received 86 points in the overall poll and 16 points in the division poll.
Overall Coaches' Poll
    1.     Minnesota Duluth (9)      165
    2.     Minnesota State (5)     159
    3.     Augustana     135
    4.     St. Cloud State     129
            Wayne State     129
    6.     Winona State     114
    7.     Southwest Minnesota State     86
    8.     University of Mary     79
    9.     Bemidji State     77
    10.     Concordia-St. Paul     71
    11.     Northern State     43
    12.     MSU Moorhead     37
    13.     Upper Iowa     36
    14.     Minnesota, Crookston     14

South Division Coaches' Poll
    1.     Minnesota State (5)    35
    2.     Augustana (2)    28
    3.     Wayne State    27
    4.     Winona State    23
    5.     Southwest Minnesota State    16
    6.     Concordia-St. Paul    12
    7.     Upper Iowa    6

Working Overtime: SMSU has played in seven overtime games in school history since the NCAA?added the extra session in 1998.  SMSU is 2-5 all-time in overtime games including 1-2 in multi-overtime games.  SMSU last's overtime contest was Nov. 3, 2007 to Winona State.

Up Next:?Southwest Minnesota State will open the 2009 home season on Saturday, Sept. 5 hosting Black Hills State starting at 6 p.m.  It will be the second straight season the two teams have met in Marshall, with BHSU?earning a last-minute 21-14 victory a season ago.