THIS WEEK: The Southwest Minnesota State University (2-3 NSIC, 0-1 NSIC South) football team hits the road this Saturday night, Oct. 12, with an NSIC South Division match-up versus Wayne State College (2-3 NSIC, 1-0 NSIC South) with kickoff set for 6 p.m. at WSC's Cunningham Field. SMSU will be looking to snap a two-game losing streak - with both losses coming in the final minute of regulation. WSC is coming off a 10-7 road victory over Augustana last Saturday afternoon. SMSU enters the game ranking ninth in the country in rushing offense, while
Tyler Tonderum leads the nation in rushing averaging 211.2 yards per game. The WSC defense ranks 78th in the country in rush defense and 33rd in passing efficiency defense. A preview on Wayne State can be found on page 4.
THIS WEEK'S GAME QUICK FACTS:
•SMSU set a school and NSIC single-game record with 828 yards of offense in last week's loss to USF.
•SMSU also set an NCAA II record for total offense by a losing team. The previous record was 749 by Fort Lewis (Colo.) versus Colorado Mesa in 2002.
•A victory for SMSU would move
Cory Sauter into a tie for third on the SMSU all-time coaching victories list with Ron Flowers and Curt Strasheim.
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Tyler Tonderum has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the last four games becoming the first SMSU player to reach the feat since Josh Schleusner rushed for more than 100 yards in four straight games in 1999.
•Tonderum has three 200-yard rushing games in his career (all this season) becoming the first player in school history to reach the feat.
•Tonderum - who ranks second on the country in scoring - has 12 rushing touchdowns and has scored at least two touchdowns in every game.
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AJ Page ranks first in the NSIC in tackles, sacks and tackles for loss.
•SMSU has scored 30 or more points in 11 of its last 17 games dating back to the final game of the 2011 season.
A VICTORY FOR SMSU WOULD...:
•Be its second straight over Wayne State, which would be the first time that SMSU has won two in a row over WSC since 1997 and 1999.
•Give SMSU a 3-3 record - its best record after six games since 2010.
•Be SMSU's second road win of the season - its highest total since the 2010 team won two road games.
•Give
Cory Sauter a 6-12 record in away games.
•Lift SMSU's all-time record to 172-290-5, including 110-197-5 in conference play.
THE HEAD COACH: Southwest Minnesota State head coach
Cory Sauter is in his fourth season in 2013 and has an overall record of 13-25, including 12-24 in conference games. Sauter was named head coach on March 29, 2010, after serving two seasons as an assistant coach at SMSU. In 2009, Sauter served as the team's offensive coordinator, while in 2008 he served as quarterbacks coach. A complete bio on coach Sauter can be found on page 21.
SAUTER MOVING UP THE LIST: Cory Sauter enters the week with 13 victories ranking fourth on the SMSU all-time coaching list. He is one victory behind both Ron Flowers and Curt Strasheim for third all-time with 14 victories.
SMSU IN THE NCAA STATS: The Southwest Minnesota State offense begins week five ranked 10th in the country in rushing (281.5), 19th in total offense (501.5), 45th in scoring offense (34.8) and 91st in passing offense (220.0). The SMSU defense ranks 72nd in total defense (376.5), 97th in passing efficiency defense (133.5), 109th in scoring defense (32.8) and 102nd in rushing defense (174.5). For a complete look at where SMSU and Mustang individuals rank in this week's stats go to pages 19-20.
SMSU IN THE NSIC STATS: The SMSU offense ranks high in several team categories in the NSIC statistics heading into week six. SMSU is first in total offense (501.5), third in rushing (288.4), third in scoring (37.4) and third in passing (278.4) ... The SMSU defense ranks seventh in pass defense (200.2), 13th in rush defense (224.2) and 14th in scoring (37.2) ... Junior running back
Tyler Tonderum leads the NSIC in rushing (211.2), scoring (15.0), all purpose yards (252.4) and scoring (14.4) ... Junior quarterback
Charlie Kern is second in total offense (319.4) and second in passing (278.4) ... Senior wide out
Anthony Dean is first in receiving yards (108.0), fourth in scoring (9.6) and eighth in receptions (5.2) ... Junior
AJ Page ranks first in tackles (55), sacks (5.0) and tackles for loss (10) ... Junior punter
Mike Wenk is second in punt average (42.9).
DEAN SETS NSIC RECORD AND NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Senior
Anthony Dean caught a career-high 11 passes, set an NSIC single-game record with 308 yards receiving and scored a school-record tying four receiving touchdowns in SMSU's loss to Sioux Falls last week. For his efforts he was named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Week. Dean is the second SMSU player to record more than 300 yards receiving in one game. Alvin Ashley holds the record with 320 yards in a non-conference game versus Minot State in 1991. He is the ninth player in program history with four touchdown receptions in a single-game and the first since Ray Denson on Sept. 27, 2003. Dean broke the previous NSIC record of 289 yards receiving set by Billy Beckwith of Minnesota-Morris versus Winona State in 1999.
