THIS WEEK: Southwest Minnesota State University (3-7 NSIC, 2-4 NSIC South) closes out the 2014 season this Saturday, Nov. 15, hosting Augusana College (5-5 NSIC, 2-4 NSIC South) at Mattke Field at the Schwan Regional Event Center with kickoff slated for 1 p.m. It will be the final game for 12 Mustang seniors as SMSU looks to close the season with back-to-back victories.
FINAL GAME: Saturday's game is the final in Mustang uniforms for 12 seniors players, including
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...: •Give SMSU its first two-game win streak of the season.
•Be its second straight win over Augustana.
•Secure a fifth place finish in the NSIC South Division and could possibly move into at tie for third place with losses by Concordia and Wayne State.
•Lift SMSU's all-time record to 180-299-5, including 118-205-5 in conference play.
SMSU & GAME STORYLINES: •SMSU ranks third in the NSIC and 35th in Division II in third-down conversion percentage (43.8).
•SMSU ranks fourth in the NSIC and 17th in Division II in fewest penalty yards per game (45.5).
•SMSU ranks last in the NSIC in turnover margin and 151st in Division II.
•SMSU has held time of possession margin in three of the last four games.
•SMSU rushed for a season-high 277 yards on a season-high 60 attempts last week at Winona State.
•The SMSU defense recorded a season-high four sacks last week versus Winona State.
•SMSU ranks ninth in the NSIC in total offense, ninth in scoring offense, 12th in total defense and 14th in scoring defense.
•Augustana ranks third in the NSIC in passing offense and sixth in scoring offense. The Augustana defense ranks fourth in the NSIC in scoring defense and seventh in total defense.
•Augustana ranks second in the NSIC and 22nd in Division II in third-down conversions (46.7).
•Senior
Tyler Tonderum ranks 18th among all active players in Division II with 3,014 career rushing yards.
•Tonderum's 43 carries and 196 yards rushing last week at Winona State are team season-highs.
•Tonderum ranks seventh in the NSIC in rushing yards (85.3) and sixth in all purpose yards (121.9).
•Tonderum has rushed for more than 100 yards in the last three games.
•Tonderum's 66-yard touchdown run versus Concordia-St. Paul is the longest rush this season for SMSU.
•Redshirt freshman
Nate Huot set a career-high with 10 receptions versus Wayne State three weeks ago and also recorded his second career 100-yard plus receiving game.
•Huot's 71-yard touchdown reception last week is the longest play from scrimmage for SMSU this season.
•Huot ranks 10th in the NSIC in scoring (5.6).
•Junior
Andrew McReynolds ranks tied for fourth in the NSIC with four interceptions.
•Senior
Mike Wenk leads the NSIC in punting with a 45.0-yard average and ranks third in Division II.
•Wenk booted a career-long 79-yard punt two weeks ago versus Concordia-St. Paul.
•Wenk made 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.
•Redshirt freshman
Blake Gimbel has served as the team's placekicker the last two weeks, replacing an injured
Mike Wenk, and made two 21-yard field goals in last week's victory at Winona State.
•Junior
Jared Twedt ranks eighth in the NSIC with 90 tackles, while sophomore
Casey Hertz is ninth with 88.
•Twedt recorded a career-high 17 tackles versus Concordia-St. Paul two weeks ago.
•Senior
Charlie Kern ranks ninth in the NSIC in passing (207.3) and ninth in total offense (237.9).
•Kern ranks first in school history in pass completion percentage (61.7).
•Kern had his first 300-yard passing game of the season and also tied a career-high with five touchdown passes in the loss to Wayne State.
•Senior
Jacob Levtzow has missed the last three games with an injury and is doubtful for Saturday's game.
•SMSU has scored 30 or more points in 20 of its last 34 games dating back to the final game of the 2011 season.
