THIS WEEK: Southwest Minnesota State University (2-5 NSIC, 1-2 NSIC South) returns home this Saturday, Oct. 25, to face Wayne State College (4-3 NSIC, 2-1 NSIC South) with kickoff slated for 6 p.m. at Mattke Field at the Schwan Regional Event Center. It will be "Senior Night" on Saturday, as the SMSU football program will honor its 12 seniors with a ceremony prior to the game.
SENIOR NIGHT: Prior to Saturday's game, the SMSU football program will honor its 12 senior players along with their family members as part of "Senior Night". The senior players include
Nate Carr,
Jordan Cross,
Charlie Kern,
Jacob Levtzow,
Cody McCleve,
Adam Olson,
Leon Perry,
Daryl Thomas,
Tyler Tonderum,
Mike Wenk,
Nathan Werner and
Mike Williams.
A VICTORY FOR SMSU ON SATURDAY WOULD...: •Be its first ever three-game winning streak over WSC.
•Be its second win over a team with a winning record this season.
•Improve SMSU to 3-1 at home this season.
•Lift SMSU's all-time record to 179-297-5, including 117-203-5 in conference play.
TOUGH SCHEDULE THROUGH SEVEN WEEKS: If it seems like Southwest Minnesota State has played an undefeated team each week this season--its because its almost true! SMSU played its third straight undefeated team last week versus Sioux Falls and fourth in the last five weeks. SMSU's seven opponents this season have a combined record of 34-15, with six of the seven having winning records. This week's opponent, WSC, also has a winning record heading into Saturday night's game.
SMSU & GAME STORYLINES: •SMSU ranks 14th in Division II in fewest penalty yards per game (44.3).
•SMSU had more than 35 minutes of time of possession last week at Sioux Falls, its highest total this season.
•SMSU had its second straight 400-yard plus game of total offense last Saturday. It's the first time SMSU has had back-to-back 400-yard games this season.
•Wayne State ranks first in the NSIC in both total offense and passing offense, first in first downs, sixth in scoring offense, seventh in scoring defense and eighth in total defense.
•WSC ranks second in the NSIC in sacks with 26 and ranks first in sacks allowed with two.
•WSC quarterback Zach Osborn leads the NSIC in passing and total offense.
•SMSU ranks 11th in the NSIC in scoring offense, 11th total offense, 12th in total defense and 13th in scoring defense.
•SMSU ranks second in the NSIC and 35th in Division II in third-down conversion percentage (44.9).
•Senior
Adam Olson tied a career-high with 11 receptions last week at Sioux Falls.
•Junior
Andrew McReynolds recorded his team-leading third interception last week at Sioux Falls.
•McReynolds ranks tied for third in the NSIC with three interceptions.
•Senior
Jordan Cross recorded his first career two-touchdown game two weeks ago versus Upper Iowa.
•Redshirt freshman Nate Huot recorded his first career 100-yard receiving game two weeks ago versus Upper Iowa with six receptions for 113 yards and one touchdown.
•Senior
Mike Wenk leads the NSIC in punting with a 45.1 yard average and ranks second in Division II.
•Sophomore
Tyler Flud ranks sixth in the NSIC with 66 tackles, junior
Jared Twedt ranks seventh with 64, while sophomore
Casey Hertz is ninth with 61.
•Senior
Charlie Kern ranks eighth in the NSIC in passing (226.3) and eighth in total offense (253.3).
•Kern ranks first in school history in pass completion percentage (61.1).
•Senior
Tyler Tonderum ranks 19th among all active players in Division II with 2,512 career rushing yards.
•Junior defensive end
AJ Page missed two games earlier this season with an injury.
•Wenk booted three field goals in the win over UMC in week two becoming the first SMSU kicker to make three field goals in a game since 2007.
•SMSU's seven points scored in week three versus UMD was its lowest since losing 38-0 to Minnesota State on Nov. 5, 2011.
•SMSU has scored 30 or more points in 18 of its last 31 games dating back to the final game of the 2011 season.
•SMSU's 56 points in week two versus Minnesota Crookston was its highest point total since scoring 63 versus South Dakota Tech in 2006.
