THIS WEEK: The Southwest Minnesota State University (3-4 NSIC, 1-2 NSIC South) football team travels to the state of Iowa this weekend taking on Upper Iowa University (4-3 NSIC, 1-2 NSIC South) on Saturday, Oct. 26, with kickoff slated for 6 p.m. at UIU's Harms-Eischeid Stadium in Fayette. SMSU - which is coming off a home loss to No. 1 Minnesota State last Saturday night - has won the last five meetings versus UIU, including two in a row in Fayette. The Peacocks are coming off a 35-6 road loss to Augustana - a game in which UIU committed six turnovers - despite allowing just 10 first downs and 299 yards of offense. This week's game features one of the top offensive units in the country versus one of the top defensive teams. SMSU is ranked fifth in Division II in total offense (546.3), including 17th in rushing (249.4), while UIU is ranked 14th in total defense (300.1) and 19th in rushing defense (100.4). A preview on Upper Iowa can be found on page 4.
CU GAME MOVED TO METRODOME: Concordia-St. Paul announced on Oct. 21 its game versus SMSU on Nov. 9 would be moved from its home stadium in St. Paul, Minn., to the Metrodome in Minneapolis starting at 2 p.m. CU's home field - Sea Foam Stadium - has a dome that its expected to be inflated that week causing the site change. It's the second time in two years CU has moved its game versus SMSU into the Metrodome. In 2011, CU won 60-53 in the season finale for both teams played on Nov. 12.
THIS WEEK'S GAME QUICK FACTS:
•SMSU has rushed for 1,746 yards this season - the fourth highest single-season total in program history. The 1973 squad holds the record with 1,945. Last season's team has the second highest total with 1,888 yards.
•SMSU earned its second road win of the season on Oct. 12 at Wayne State. It's the first time SMSU has won two road games in a season since 2010. The last time SMSU won three road games in one season came in 2008.
•SMSU's Oct. 12 victory at Wayne State moved
Cory Sauter into a tie for third on the SMSU all-time coaching victories list with Ron Flowers and Curt Strasheim with 14 career victories.
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Tyler Tonderum - who ranks second in Division II in rushing this week - rushed for more than 100 yards in five straight games earlier this season becoming just the second SMSU player in team history (Shad Peckenpaugh,1985) to do so.
•Tonderum has three 200-yard rushing games in his career (all this season) becoming the first player in school history to accomplish the feat.
•Tonderum has tied the SMSU single-season record with 13 rushing touchdowns - joining
Gannon Moore (2009) and Robert Lipsey (1990) atop the list.
•Tonderum - who ranks fourth in Division II in scoring - has 13 rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown this season and has scored at least two touchdowns in five of seven games.
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AJ Page ranks second in the NSIC in tackles and third in both sacks and tackles for loss.
•SMSU has scored 30 or more points in 12 of its last 19 games dating back to the final game of the 2011 season.
