THIS WEEK: Southwest Minnesota State University hits the road for the first time in 2016, facing Northern State University on Saturday, Sept. 10, in Aberdeen, S.D. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Swisher Field. SMSU is looking to start its season 2-0 for the second straight season and fourth time since 2009. SMSU opened its season with a 42-38 come-from-behind victory over No. 19 Minnesota Duluth, while Northern State lost 37-34 in overtime at No. 25 Augustana.

    SMSU TO APPEAR ON ESPN3/WATCHESPN: This week's match-up at Northern State will be broadcast live on ESPN3/WatchESPN. The game is part of the 22-game NCAA Division II Football Showcase, which broadcasts two national games of the week, with one airing on ESPN3/WatchESPN and the other on the American Sports Network. This is the second year of a three-year agreement the NCAA has with ESPN and ASN.

    A VICTORY FOR SMSU ON SATURDAY WOULD...:
    •Be its second straight 2-0 start and fourth since the 2009 season.
    •Be its second straight in Aberdeen and third in the last four games at Swisher Field.
    •Lift SMSU's all-time record to 189-303-5, including 127-209-5 in conference play.

    SMSU EARNS FIRST-EVER WIN OVER TOP 25 TEAM: Southwest Minnesota State earned its first-ever victory over a Division II Top 25 team on Sept. 1, defeating No. 19 Minnesota Duluth, 42-38, in Marshall.  

    MUSTANG AND THE AFCA TOP 25: Southwest Minnesota State received 20 points in this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25 poll, the most points the program has ever received in the weekly poll. SMSU's 20 points ranks 33rd overall. Last season, for the first time since 2008, SMSU received votes in the AFCA poll, receiving two votes in each of the polls on Oct. 12, 19 and 26.

    SMSU RALLIES PAST UMD TO OPEN SEASON: Blake Gimbel connected on a 14-yard touchdown pass to Ty Steffensen with 23 seconds remaining to help Southwest Minnesota State to a dramatic come-from-behind 42-38 victory over No. 19 Minnesota Duluth on Sept. 1. UMD held a 38-28 lead with five minutes left in the game, but SMSU rallied with a pair of touchdowns in the final three minutes and 11 seconds to earn its first-ever win over an NCAA Division II Top 25 team and its first win over UMD since 1999. Gimbel finished the night completing 25 of 42 pass attempts for 397 yards and tied a career-high with five touchdown passes.

    GIMBEL NAMED NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Junior quarterback Blake Gimbel was named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday. It's the third time he has earned the award in his career. Gimbel helped SMSU rally from a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes to earn the program's first-ever win over a Division II Top 25 team. He finished the game completing 25 of 42 pass attempts for 397 yards and tying a career-high with five touchdown passes, including the game-winner with 23 seconds remaining. He was 14 of 20 passing for 232 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions in the second half as SMSU rallied from a 23-14 halftime deficit.

    THE HEAD COACH: Cory Sauter is in his seventh season as head coach at Southwest Minnesota State and has an overall record of 30-38, including 29-36 in conference games. The 30 victories ranks second all-time among 10 head coaches in program history. Gary Buer (1979-92) is the program leader with 70 victories. 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 22.

    RECORD ON THE ROAD: SMSU finished 5-1 in road games last season setting a school record for road wins in a season. Prior to last season, the 1991 and 2013 teams held the record of four wins. SMSU is a combined 29-50 in road games since 2000.

    SMSU HIGH-OCTANE OFFENSE: Since being shutout on Nov. 5, 2011, Southwest Minnesota State has scored 30 or more points in 27 of its last 47 games dating back to the final game of the 2011 season. SMSU has reached 40 points 15 times, 50 points seven times and 60 points once since Nov. 12, 2011.

    EVERETT STEPS IN NICELY: Senior transfer cornerback Michael Everett made a big impression in his first game in a Mustang uniform in the season opener. Everett had an interception that he returned 28 yards, had four pass break-ups, one fumble recovery and finished with three tackles.

    CAREER DAY FOR GERMAIN: Senior linebacker Gene Germain set a career-high with 12 tackles, including five solo stops in SMSU's win over UMD. A junior college transfer, he played in nine games last season, starting the final two games of the season. He finished the 2015 season with 27 tackles and one interception.

    ROOKIE GALAMUE MAKES PLAYS: Redshirt freshman wide receiver Gabriel Galamue had an outstanding start to his collegiate career in the win over UMD catching six passes for 102 yards.

    HUOT CONTINUES TREND: Junior wide receiver Nate Huot, who led the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns in 2015, continued his fine play in the opener, recording five catches for a career-high 160 yards and one touchdown. It was his sixth career 100-yard receiving game.

    2016 TEAM CAPTAINS: Four players, two on offense and two on defense, have been named team captains for the 2016 season. The team captains were selected by a vote of the Mustang players. The offensive team captains selected were senior tackle Grant Greenfield and junior quarterback Blake Gimbel. The defensive team captains named were senior linebacker Tyler Flud and senior cornerback Dallin Finley. It's the second straight season Gimbel and Flud have been selected a team captain.

    GIMBEL SETS RECORDS: Junior quarterback Blake Gimbel finished the 2015 season with a 66.4 completion percentage setting a team single-season record. He also set a school single-game record with 42 completions versus Upper Iowa on Oct. 24. The 66.4 percentage ranked eighth in Division II, while he also ranked fifth nationally in completions per game (24.8). He also ranks among the top 10 in the single-season record book in several categories, including third in completions (273), fourth in pass efficiency (146.3), sixth in passing yards (3,053) and eighth in touchdown passes (26).  

    GIMBEL IN SOPHOMORE RECORDS: Blake Gimbel set three school sophomore class passing records last season, including completions (273), touchdown passes (26) and passing yards (3,053). Jeff Loots held the previous record, completing 215 passes for 2,967 yards and 25 touchdowns in 1990.

    GIMBEL CAREER STARTS GAME-BY-GAME:
    2015    Opponent    Comp.    Att.    Int    TD    Yards    Long    Result
    S3    at Minot State    23    42    0    2    210    26    W, 21-10
    S12    Bemidji State    31    42    1    2    264    22    W,34-30
    S19    at St. Cloud State    16    24    0    1    182    33    W, 21-20
    S26    MSU Moorhead    18    28    0    5    299    44    W, 48-9
    O3    at Augustana    24    37    1    1    332    70    L, 23-48
    O10    at Wayne State    16    26    0    3    247    46    W, 61-3
    O17    Sioux Falls    38    52    0    3    384    24    L, 26-34
    O24    at Upper Iowa    42    56    0    4    454    82    W, 34-19
    O 31    Minnesota State    24    40    3    1    253    39    L, 17-55
    N7    at Concordia-St. Paul    25    35    1    3    243    24    W, 48-24
    N14    Winona State    16    29    1    1    185    33    W, 33-38            
    2016    Opponent    Comp.    Att.    Int    TD    Yards    Long    Result
    S1    Minnesota Duluth    25    42    1    5    397    50    W, 42-38

    HUOT TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS: Junior wide receiver Nate Huot is ranked 10th in school history with 19 touchdown receptions. He needs one touchdown reception to move into a tie for eighth place.
        SMSU career pass reception TDs
    59    Alvin Ashley    1990-93
    35    James Ashley    1986-88
    29    Anthony Dean    2010-13
    28    Wayne Hawkins    1989-91
    25    Ray Denson    2002-05
    23    Blake Wilson    2006-09
    22    Preston Cunningham    1991-95
    20    Juan Mitchell    1982-85
    20    Herschel Jackson    1992-93
    19    Nate Huot    2014-16

    EIGHT VICTORIES THE HIGHEST AT DIVISION II LEVEL: Southwest Minnesota State finished the 2015 season with eight victories setting a school record for wins at the Division II level (since 1995). SMSU finished 8-3 overall and 4-3 in the NSIC South Division, tying for fourth overall in the 16-team NSIC and placed fourth in the NSIC South Division. It's just the third time ever an SMSU team has won eight or more games in a season. The 1991 team finished 9-1, while the 1990 squad was 8-3.

    THREE-YEAR RUN: Southwest Minnesota State has put together one of the best three-year runs in school history entering this season. SMSU started the season with a combined 18 victories since 2013, marking its highest three-year victory total since winning 19 games from 1991-93.

    GREENFIELD NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN: Senior offensive tackle Grant Greenfield was named a second team NCAA Division II preseason All-American by Lindy's magazine, a noted college football preview publication. Greenfield helped the SMSU offense last season lead the NSIC in total offense with 486 yards per game, including ranking fourth in rushing (196.8) and fourth in passing (288.6). Greenfield is one of just five players from the NSIC to earn either first or second team preseason honors by Lindy's.

    CAA ALL-REGION: Senior offensive tackle Grant Greenfield was named to the 2015 Conference Commissioners Association All-Super Region 3 second team. Super Region 3 consists of schools from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), the Great American Conference (GAC) and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC).

    ALL-NSIC RETURNERS: SMSU returns six players who earned All-NSIC South Division honors in 2015. Senior offensive tackle Grant Greenfield and senior linebacker Tyler Flud were named both named first team All-NSIC South, senior safety Caleb Leichtnam was named second team, while junior wide receiver Nate Huot, junior quarterback Blake Gimbel and junior center Austin Hilgert were named honorable mention.

    PAYNE AND BEALE IN THE BACKFIELD: A pair of seniors are expected to carry a bulk of the rushing attempts in 2016 having to replace the NSIC's leading rusher from last season, Davontay Stevens. Ashanti Payne is the team's top returning rusher, after finishing last season with 771 yards and five touchdowns on 153 carries. Divonte Beale ranked third on the squad last year and closed the season rushing for 403 yards and three touchdowns on 61 attempts.

    SMSU IN THE NCAA REGION RANKINGS: For the first time in program history, SMSU was ranked in the NCAA Super Region 3 rankings during the 2015 season. SMSU was ranked No. 8 in the first region poll released on Oct. 26 and after falling out of the Nov. 2 ranking, SMSU moved back into the poll at No. 9 on Nov. 9.

    THE 2015 MUSTANGS AND RECORD BOOK: The 2015 team ranks high in several categories in program single-season record book. SMSU rushed for 2,165 yards on 520 attempts and 23 touchdowns, with all three ranking second in team history. SMSU's 196.8 rushing yards per game also ranks second in school history. SMSU finished with 3,175 yards passing, ranking sixth highest in team history, while the 28 touchdown passes ranks eighth. The SMSU offense closed the season with 5,340 total yards, ranking second all-time.  

    SMSU HIGH IN THE NSIC STATISTICS: Southwest Minnesota State finished ranked among the top 10 in several team NSIC statistical categories in 2015. SMSU ranked first in first downs (312), first in total offense (485.5), second in third-down conversions (51.3), fourth in passing offense (288.6), fourth in rushing (196.8), fourth in net punting (36.3), fifth in kickoff returns (22.6), sixth in scoring (33.3), seventh in total defense (397.6) and eighth in scoring defense (26.4).

    LIMITING TO SINGLE DIGITS: Southwest Minnesota State held two opponents last season to less than 10 points in a game. The Mustangs limited MSU Moorhead to nine points in week four and Wayne State to just three points in week six. The three points allowed versus Wayne State was the fewest since shutting out Waldorf College on Sept. 4, 2004. Last season marked the first time since 2006 that SMSU has held an opponent to single digits twice in one season.

    GET IN THE "ZONE": Southwest Minnesota State has scored on 5 of its 5 (100.0) possessions inside the "red zone" with five touchdowns this season. In 2015, SMSU scored on 39 of its 50 (78.0) possessions inside the "red zone" with 36 touchdowns and three field goals. SMSU opponents are 4 of 5 (80.0) inside "red zone" with three touchdowns and one field goal. The following is SMSU in the red zone since 2010.
    Year    Red-Zone    TD    FG
    2010    22 of 30 (73.3)    22    0
    2011    35 of 41 (85.4)    29    6
    2012    30 of 37 (81.1)    25    5
    2013    49 of 57 (86.0)    40    9
    2014    35 of 43 (81.4)    26    8
    2015    39 of 50 (78.0)    36    3
    2016    5 of 5 (100.0)    5    5

    BIG PLAY MUSTANGS: SMSU has recorded 15 offensive/defensive plays or kick/punt returns of 20 or more yards in 2016, including 11 by the Mustang offense (1 run, 10 pass). For a complete look at the "long" plays and SMSU's "money" plays for this season, go to pages 16-17. The following is SMSU's "long plays" since 2010.
"Long" plays (20 yards or more) since 2010
    Year    No.    TD    Run    Pass    KR    PR    IR    FR
    2010    61    14    10    32    18    0    0    1
    2011    60    8    13    22    23    1    1    0
    2012    66    20    18    28    19    1    0    0
    2013    125    30    28    51    41    1    2    2
    2014    71    12    15    27    21    3    5    0
    2015    78    18    13    39    18    5    3    0
    2016    15    1    1    10    3    0    1    0

    SPECIAL TEAMS LEADERS: Southwest Minnesota State redshirt freshman Adam Elliott led the Mustang special teams with a pair of tackles in the win over Minnesota Duluth with both coming on kickoffs.

    WORKING OVERTIME: SMSU has played in 11 overtime games since the NCAA added the extra session in 1998. SMSU is 4-7 all-time in overtime games, including 1-3 in multi-overtime contests. SMSU's last overtime game was a home loss to Wayne State (48-45) on Oct. 25, 2014, while its last overtime win came on Nov. 2, 2013, (51-44) over Winona State. The program's last multi-overtime game was a 34-31 double overtime loss at Minnesota State on Oct. 13, 2012.

    TURNOVER MARGIN: Southwest Minnesota State is "plus one" in turnover margin this season following one game. Since the start of the 2004 season (134 games), SMSU has been a "plus" in turnover margin in just 40 games (three in 2004, two in 2005, one in 2006, two in 2007, three in 2008, three in 2009, two in 2010, three in 2011, seven in 2012, six in 2013, twice in 2014, five times in 2015 and once in 2016). In SMSU's last 111 conference games, which spans from late in the 2004 season through this season, SMSU is minus-43 in turnover margin. The Mustangs have been "even" or "minus" in turnover margin in 75 of their last 111 conference games.

    THE 2016 ROSTER: The 2016 SMSU roster features 115 players (as of Sept. 5) with 22 seniors, 19 juniors, 18 sophomores, 26 redshirt freshmen and 30 freshmen. The roster includes players from 15 different states and Canada. Minnesota leads the way with 53 players, followed by Iowa (12), Illinois (10), Wisconsin (8), South Dakota (6), California (4), Florida (4), Michigan (3), Oregon (3), Colorado (3), Arizona (3), Nebraska (2), Nevada (1), Georgia (1), Virginia (1) and Ontario (1).

    NSIC PRESEASON POLL: SMSU was picked to finish seventh overall and fourth in the South Division in the annual 16-team Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. SMSU received one first place vote in both the overall and South Division poll. Junior quarterback Blake Gimbel and senior linebacker Tyler Flud were named "Players to Watch" in the NSIC this season.

    MUSTANGS AT HOME: The 2016 season marks the ninth year that Mattke Field at the Schwan Regional Event Center serves as the home for SMSU football. SMSU is 21-25 all-time at the stadium, including finishing 3-2 in 2015, marking the first winning season in team history at the stadium. The $16 million facility opened in the fall of 2008 with the first college football game played on Aug. 30, versus Minnesota Crookston.  

    FOR OPENERS: Southwest Minnesota State is now 22-27 all-time in season openers following this year's 42-38 win versus Minnesota Duluth on Sept. 1. SMSU is 3-4 in season openers under head coach Cory Sauter.

    MUSTANG HISTORY: The 2016 season marks the 49th year of college football at Southwest Minnesota State dating back to 1968. SMSU owns an all-time record of 188-303-5, including 126-209-5 in conference play. SMSU has recorded 10 winning seasons, made two NAIA playoff appearances (1987 and 1991) and one Mineral Water Bowl appearance (2013). The program earned its lone conference championship in 1990.

    ABOUT NORTHERN STATE: Tom Dosch is entering his seventh season as head coach at NSU and has compiled a record of 31-36. He has led the Wolves to back-to-back winning seasons, including an 8-3 mark in 2014. He recorded a 25-17 record as head coach at Jamestown College (2004-07), before becoming an assistant coach at Southern Illinois (2008-09). NSU is coming off a 37-34 overtime loss at No. 25 Augustana last Saturday. NSU led 28-24 with under five minutes left in the game, but Augustana rallied with a touchdown to take a 31-28 lead with 1:54 remaining. The Wolves threatened to regain the lead in the final minute, but had to settle for a game-tying 21-yard field goal with 11 seconds left in regulation. NSU booted a field goal on its possession in overtime, but Augustana countered with a touchdown to win the game.

    UP NEXT: Southwest Minnesota State will return home to face the University of Mary on Saturday, Sept. 17, with kickoff slated for 1 p.m. at Mattke Field at the Schwan Regional Event Center.

    MUSTANGS ON RADIO: All SMSU football games during the 2016 season are broadcast on Marshall Radio, 105.1 FM KARL. Ryan Rohlik is in his fourth season as the play-by-play voice of SMSU football, while Anthony Rohlik will provide analysis.