THIS WEEK
•Southwest Minnesota State University (3-7, 1-5 NSIC South) will look to play the spoiler role as it closes the 2019 season this Saturday, Nov. 16, with a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division game at Augustana University (8-2, 5-1 NSIC South) at Kirkeby-Over Stadium in Sioux Falls, S.D., with kickoff slated for 1 p.m.
•SMSU, which is 3-2 in road games this season, has been held to 14 or less points in each of its last three games.
•Augustana, which is looking to secure a spot in the NCAA playoffs, has won five straight games and is ranked No. 5 in this week's Super Region 4 rankings.
•AU has the second ranked defense in the NSIC and 12th in Division II. The Vikings limited Winona State to nine first downs and 188 total yards in last week's 26-25 victory at WSU.
•A preview on AU is located on page 4.

BROADCAST INFO
•Saturday's game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with seventh-year SMSU play-by-play voice Ryan Rohlik.
•Live stats, radio broadcast and video can be found at SMSUmustangs. com.

SMSU vs. AU Series Notes
(all-time results listed on page 9)
Southwest Minnesota State and Augustana meet for the 24th time on Saturday with Augustana holding a 20-3 advantage in a series that started on Sept. 8, 1990 ... Augustana won last season 28-18 in Marshall and has five straight and 20 of the last 21 games since 1995 ... SMSU's win in 2013 snapped Augustana's 15-game winning streak in the series dating back to 1995 ... SMSU won the first two games of the series in 1990 and 1991 ... Augustana is 9-2 all-time in Sioux Falls ... SMSU won in Sioux Falls in 1991 and 2013 ... SMSU has been held to nine or less points in 10 of the 23 games, while Augustana has scored at least 25 points in 20 of the 23 meetings.  

The Last Time - SMSU vs. AU
Augustana converted a pair of big third down plays in the fourth quarter which helped maintain the lead and eventually earn a 28-18 victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Nov. 11, 2018, in Marshall. SMSU quarterback Blake Gimbel became the program's all-time leader in passing yards in the game and finished his career with 10,530 yards. He broke the record of 10,116 set by Jeff Loots from 1990-92. Gimbel also set a pair of school single-game records in the game, including completions (43) and pass attempts (70). He finished the game with 423 yards and two touchdowns, while completing passes to 12 different receivers in the game. Daniel Davis caught a game-high 12 passes for 124 yards and helped an offense
finish with 423 yards of offense and 22 first downs, but was held to minus-4 yards rushing, which included 32 yards on four sacks. Augustana closed with 385 yards of offense and 21 first downs. The Vikings were just 3 of 12 on third down conversions, but two of the conversions occurred in the final quarter, leading to scoring drives. Kyle Saddler finished with 324 yards passing, completing 25 of 42 pass attempts with four touchdowns. Brett Shepley led the Viking receivers with nine catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns.   

SMSU vs. AU Series Information
Overall:    AU leads 20-3
In Marshall:    AU leads 11-1
In Sioux Falls:    AU leads 9-2
Neutral Record:    0-0
Last SMSU win:    Nov. 16, 2013 (34-24)
Last AU win:    Nov. 10, 2018 (28-18)
Largest win for SMSU:    18 (28-10, 1991)
Largest win for AUGIE:    70 (70-0, 2001)
Longest win streak for AU:    2 (1990-91)
Longest win streak for AU:    15 (1995-2011)
Current win streak:    AU, 5
Sauter vs. AU:    1-8
Olszewski vs. SMSU:    5-1

DAVIS MOVES UP IN SMSU RECORD BOOK
•Senior wide receiver Daniel Davis, despite playing in just 21 career games, has moved into the top 12 in a handful of school career records.
•Davis is second in receptions per game (7.9), fifth in all purpose yards per game (121), eighth in receptions (166), ninth in receiving yards (2,279) and 11th in touchdown receptions (19).
•Davis has 12 career 100-yard receiving games ranking tied for fourth in team history.
•Davis' 87 receptions ranks third in team single-season history, his 1,116 receiving yards ranks fifth, while his 10 touchdown receptions ranks 10th.
•Davis joins Alvin Ashley (1991-92) as the only two players in team history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons.

OPENING DRIVE TIDBITS
•SMSU seniors Brad Bahlmann, Nick Guzman, Cory Hollowell and Zach Stratmoen head into their final collegiate games having started more than 20 straight games.
•SMSU allowed just 65 passing yards in last week's loss at Concordia-St. Paul. It's the first time since Oct. 28, 2017, SMSU held an opponent to less than 100 yards.
•SMSU racked up 31 first downs last week. It was the first time SMSU has reached 30 first downs in a game since the final game of the 2017 season.  
•SMSU is "minus-one" in turnover margin this season and have been "plus" in five of the last seven games.
•SMSU has outscored its opponents a combined 151-114 in the second and third quarters this season, but has been outscored 125-38 in the fourth quarter and overtime.
•Senior Daniel Davis ranks second in Division II in receptions per game (8.7) and is fifth in receiving yards (1,166).
•Davis' 15 receptions last week versus Concordia-St. Paul is tied for the second highest single-game total in Division II this season, while his 221 receiving yards last week ranks as the sixth highest.  
•Davis was the first SMSU player to reach 200 yards receiving in a game since Anthony Dean in 2013.
•Davis ranks first in the NSIC in receptions (87) and is also first in receiving yards (1,166).
•Davis also ranks fifth in the NSIC in scoring (non-kickers) at 6.0 points per game and seventh in all purpose yards (113.7)
•Senior safety Peyton Sanders had a big game last week with a season-high six tackles, including a sack and also registered his second career interception.
•Junior linebacker Adihia Bell set a career-high with seven tackles at Concordia-St. Paul last week.
•Senior Boyer Bouman ranks first in the NSIC in passing yards (245.2) and second in total offense (243.6).
•Bouman set a career-high for passing yards (397) in last week's loss at Concordia-St. Paul. Bouman has three 300-yard passing games this season and four in his career.
•Freshman Adien Belt ranks fourth in the NSIC averaging 40.1 yards per punt. His 40.1 yard average is on pace to be the highest in a season since Mike Wenk averaged 44.7 in 2014. Belt's 64-yard punt in week three versus Sioux Falls was the longest by an SMSU punter since 2014.
•Sophomore linebacker Onte Burns (100) ranks first in the NSIC in tackles with 10 per game.
•Junior safety Garrett Chapman (80) and senior safety Davaeon Johnson (77) rank fifth and sixth respectively in the NSIC in total tackles.
•Senior running back Max Simmons ranks fifth in the program history with 2,356 rushing yards. He is 71 yards shy of tying Robert Lipsey (1987-90) for fourth all-time at 2,427.
•Simmons earlier this season became the 12th player in team history to reach 3,000 all purpose yards.
•Simmons has racked up 10 career 100-yard rushing game ranking tied for third in team history. He needs one more to tie Zach Wysong for second all-time.
•Simmons' 58-yard rush at Minot State in week five was the longest play from scrimmage for SMSU this season.
•Senior left tackle Zach Stratmoen has started 32 straight games the past three seasons. It's the longest streak by any current Mustang.  
•SMSU's victory at Minot State on Oct. 5 was the 200th in the program's 52-year history.  
•SMSU finished 0-5 at home this season recording its first winless season at home since 1995 (0-5).

SMSU HEAD COACH CORY SAUTER
•Cory Sauter is in his 10th season as head coach with an overall record of 43-67, including 42-65 in NSIC games.
•Sauter's 43 victories rank second among 10 head coaches in program history.
•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 Sauter can be found on page 24.

SMSU / AU IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
•The following is where SMSU and AU rank in this week's NCAA statistics.
•A full listing of SMSU and individuals in the national statistics can be found on pages 22-23.
    (166 teams ranked)    SMSU    AU    
    Scoring Offense    124th    75th    
    Rushing Offense    143rd     96th    
    Passing Offense    39th    45th
    Total Offense    104th    69th
    Scoring Defense    105th    7th    
    Rushing Defense    147th    19th
    Pass Defense    107th    29th
    Pass Efficiency Defense    132nd    9th
    Total Defense    145th    12th
    Net Punting    28th    98th
    Punt Returns    53rd    106th
    Kickoff Returns    154th    137th
    Turnover Margin    85th    12th
    Fewest Penalty Yards/Gm.    101st    99th   
    Time of Possession    98th    90th
    3rd Down Conversions    91st    94th        
    3rd Down Conv. Defense    130th    5th

MUSTANGS RANK HIGH IN NCAA STATS
•Senior wide receiver Daniel Davis ranks second in Division II in receptions per game, fifth in receiving yards, fifth in receiving yards per game and 16th in receiving touchdowns.
•Senior quarterback Boyer Bouman ranks 14th in completions per game (20.8) and 24th in passing yards per game (245.3)
•Sophomore linebacker Onte Burns is currently 23rd nationally in tackles per game.
•Freshman punters Aiden Belt ranks 41st in punt average.

MUSTANGS DROP TIGHT CONTEST AT CSP
•Concordia-St. Paul used seven sacks and a pair of big turnovers to earn a 24-14 victory over SMSU last Saturday in St. Paul.
•SMSU finished the game with a 31-15 advantage in first downs and recorded 468 total yards compared to just 286 for CSP.
•CSP used a strip sack to set up its first touchdown of the game and then sealed the victory with a 92-yard interception return for a touchdown.
•SMSU's Boyer Bouman completed 33 of 53 pass attempts for a career-high 397 yards and one touchdown and two interceptions.
•Daniel Davis had a huge game for the Mustangs recording a career-high 15 receptions for a career-high 221 yards.
•Max Simmons rushed for a team-high 51 yards on 13 carries and also caught three passes for 38 yards and one touchdown.

DAVIS CONTINUES TO BE "MONEY" PLAYER
•Senior Daniel Davis ranks first in the NSIC with 87 receptions and ranks first with 1,166 receiving yards.
•Sixty of Davis' 87 receptions this season have been "money" plays which is a reception that leads to a first down, including 10 of which that have gone for touchdowns.

FOUR QUARTERBACKS THRUST INTO DUTY
•Due to injuries in the opening two games SMSU has used four quarterbacks this season with three different starters.
•Junior college transfer quarterback Steven Nava was pressed into duty in the second half of the season-opening loss to Minnesota State replacing injured starter Boyer Bouman. Nava completed 15 of 21 pass attempts for 184 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.
•Nava started at Wayne State in week two, but was injured late in the third quarter and has not played again this season.
•Junior college transfer Paul Herrera replaced Nava at Wayne State and started in week three versus Sioux Falls completing 19 of 30 passes for 154 yards with three interceptions.
•Bouman returned to the starting line-up at Upper Iowa in week four and has started the past seven games.

BURNS LEADING THE DEFENSE
•Sophomore linebacker Onte Burns ranks first in the NSIC with 100 tackles.
•Burns also has 5.5 tackles for loss, one interception, four pass break-ups and one fumble recovery.
•He racked up a career-high 16 tackles with one forced fumble and one pass break-up versus Bemidji State in week six.

DEFENSIVE TRANSFERS MAKE IMPACT
•Several transfers on defense have played major roles this season.
•Junior safety Garrett Chapman is second on the team with 80 tackles.
•Senior safety Davaeon Johnson ranks third on the team with 77 tackles with two interceptions.
•Junior linebacker Gage Roberson ranks fourth on the team with 63 tackles with 6.5 for loss.
•Junior linebacker Adihia Bell has a team-leading seven tackles for loss and a team-high three sacks.  
•Junior cornerback Marshawn Reese has 43 tackles and two interceptions.

CREW BOOTS CAREER LONG FIELD GOAL
•Junior kicker Skyler Crew booting a pair of long field goals in a week two loss at Wayne State.
•Crew's first field goal was a career-long 40-yarder in the second quarter.
•He would later set another career-high with a 43-yard field goal late in the third quarter.
•Crew is 4 of 7 on field goals and 24 of 26 on PATs this season.

SPECIAL TEAMS LEADERS
•Redshirt freshman Nathan Hill leads the team with six special teams tackles with all six coming on kickoffs.
•Redshirt freshman Michael Bailey ranks second with five tackles on special teams with four on kickoffs.

NINE TRUE FRESHMEN PLAY THIS SEASON
•Nine true freshmen have made their collegiate debuts for SMSU this season.  
•Running back Duce Reynolds has rushed for 392 yards on 90 carries with four touchdowns. He also has a team-high 16 kickoff returns for 270 yards.
•Defensive lineman Gary Barnes has started seven games and has 13 tackles.
•Punter Adien Belt is averaging 40.1 yards per punt including a 64-yard punt versus Sioux Falls. He currently ranks fourth in the NSIC in punt average.
•Demeiko Hill has played all 10 games on special teams, defense and wide receiver.
•Wide receiver Albert Lemon has played in six games and has six receptions for 107 yards.
•Running back Jack Beardmore has played six games on special teams and offense.  
•Defensive back Julian Luciano has also played in five games on special teams.

THE 2019 SMSU ROSTER
•The 2019 SMSU roster (Nov. 12) features 98 players with 23 seniors, 20 juniors, 13 sophomores, 15 redshirt freshmen 27 freshmen.

TEAM CAPTAINS NAMED FOR 2019
•Four players--two on offense and two on defense--serve as team captains for the 2019 season.
•The offensive team captains selected were senior quarterback Boyer Bouman and senior offensive lineman Nick Guzman.
•The defensive team captains are junior safety Lucas Fisher and sophomore linebacker Onte Burns.
•The team captains were selected by a vote of the Mustang players.

SIMMONS IN THE RECORD BOOK
•Senior running back Max Simmons ranks third in team history in rushing touchdowns (28), fifth in rushing yards (2,356) and tied for fifth in total touchdowns (34).
•Simmons' 18 rushing touchdowns in 2016 rank second in team single-season history and was a school single-season record for a freshman.  
•Simmons has also twice tied the school single-game record for rushing touchdowns (4) which came during the 2016 season at Minnesota Crookston and at Winona State.
•See page 9 for career record rankings.

BOUMAN'S CAREER AT QUARTERBACK
•Fifth-year senior quarterback Boyer Bouman started the season opener versus No. 3 Minnesota State before leaving at halftime with an injury. He missed the Wayne State and Sioux Falls games before returning and starting the past seven weeks.
•Bouman entered this season having played 19 career games including making four starts to close the 2017 in place of an injured Blake Gimbel. He made his first career start versus Minnesota State on Oct. 19, 2017.
•In Bouman's four starts in 2017, he completed 100 of 168 pass attempts for 799 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions.
•In the final game of 2017, Bouman completed 37 of 55 for 316 yards and one touchdown in a road loss to Concordia-St. Paul.
•In 2018, Bouman was 8 of 14 passing for 32 yards and one touchdown.

GET IN THE "ZONE"
•SMSU is 20 for 26 (76.9) inside the "red zone" this season with 17 touchdowns and three field goals.
•SMSU finished last season 28 for 37 (75.7) inside the "red zone" with 23 touchdowns and five field goals.
•SMSU opponents are 31 of 39 (79.5) this season inside "red zone" with 25 touchdowns and six field goals.
•The following is SMSU in the "red zone" since head coach Cory Sauter took over in 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    38 of 45 (84.4)    37    1
    2017    24 of 37 (64.9)    18    6
    2018    28 of 37 (75.7)    23    5
    2019     20 of 26 (76.9)    17    3

BIG PLAY MUSTANGS
•SMSU has recorded 51 offensive/defensive plays or kick/punt returns of 20 or more yards this season with 38 coming from the offense (4 run, 34 pass).
•For a complete look at the "long" plays and SMSU's "money" plays for this season, go to pages 18-19.
•The following are 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    93    21    15    40    33    1    3    1
    2017    68    10    12    28    25    1    1    1
    2018    70    15    8    51    7    2    2    0
    2019    51    12    4    34    10    1    2    0

SMSU VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS
•SMSU is 1-24 versus Division II Top 25 teams since the 2008 season including 0-1 this season.
•SMSU's lone victory versus a Division II Top 25 team came in the 2016 season opener versus No. 19 Minnesota Duluth (42-38) in Marshall.

SMSU HIGH-OCTANE OFFENSE
•Following a shutout loss on Nov. 5, 2011, SMSU has since scored 30 or more points in nearly half of its games.
•Dating back to the final game of the 2011 season through 10 games this season, SMSU has scored 30 or more points in 38 of its last 89 games.
•In that time, SMSU has scored 40 or more points 22 times, 50 or more points 11 times and 60 or more points once.  
•SMSU hasn't been as prolific scoring in the last two-plus seasons, having reached the 30-point plateau just six times in its last 36 games since Oct. 20, 2016, which includes three last season and twice this season.

TURNOVER MARGIN BY THE NUMBERS
•SMSU is "minus-one" in turnover margin this season following last week's loss at Concordia-St. Paul.
•SMSU finished "plus-2" in turnover margin last season after finishing "plus-9" in turnover margin in 2017.
•Since the start of the 2004 season (176 games), SMSU has been a "plus" in turnover margin in just 58 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, five times in 2016, six times in 2017, twice in 2018 and six times this season).
•The Mustangs have been "even" or "minus" in turnover margin in 99 of their last 153 conference games.

DAVIS COMES THROUGH IN FIRST SEASON
•Senior wide receiver Daniel Davis had a big first season in 2018 leading the NSIC in both receptions and receiving yards while ranking third in all purpose yards.
•Davis was named to the Don Hansen All-American third team following last season and was also named second team all-region by Don Hansen.
•He finished the season with six 100-yard receiving games including a season-high 162 yards on 10 catches versus Northern State.
•Davis had a team-high 1,113 receiving yards in 2018 ranking fifth in team single-season history and becoming just the eighth player in team history to reach 1,000 yards in a season and the first since 2013.

NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish 11th overall and seventh in the South Division in the annual 16-team NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
•Senior wide receiver Daniel Davis and senior cornerback Cory Hollowell were named "Players to Watch" in the NSIC this season.

SMSU IN NSIC SOUTH DIVISION PLAY
•Since the NSIC adapted divisional play prior to the 2008 season, SMSU is 24-55 all-time in South Division games, while finishing in the top half of the division three times in 11 seasons.
•SMSU had its highest finish of second place in 2013 and has also placed fourth three times, fifth once, sixth five times and eighth once.  

SMSU VERSUS THE NSIC NORTH
•Since 2012, when the NSIC schedule had each team playing four inter-divisional games, SMSU has a record of 18-14 versus NSIC North Division teams, including 2-2 this season.
•SMSU finished 3-1 versus NSIC North opponents last season, went a perfect 4-0 in 2015, 3-1 in 2016 and 2-2 in 2017.  

MUSTANGS AT HOME
•The 2019 season marked the 12th year that Mattke Field at the Schwan Regional Event Center served as the home for SMSU football.
•SMSU, which is 28-39 all-time at the stadium, finished 0-5 this season.
•SMSU recorded back-to-back home winning seasons in 2015 and 2016 for the first time since having four straight winning seasons from 1989-92.
•The $16 million facility opened in the fall of 2008 with the first college football game played on Aug. 30 versus Minnesota Crookston.  

MUSTANGS RECORD ON THE ROAD
•SMSU is 3-2 in road games this season and 6-15 in road games since the 2016 season.
•SMSU is 20-32 in road games since head coach Cory Sauter took over in 2010.

OPENING GAME NOTES
•SMSU is 22-30 all-time in season openers following this season's loss to No. 3 Minnesota State.
•SMSU has lost its last three season openers.
•SMSU is 3-7 in season openers under head coach Cory Sauter.

2018 ALL-NSIC RETURNERS
•SMSU returns three players from last season's team that garnered All-NSIC South honors in 2018.
•Senior wide receiver Daniel Davis was named first team All-NSIC South, senior cornerback Cory Hollowell was named second team All-NSIC South while senior offensive lineman Zach Stratmoen was named honorable mention All-NSIC South.

WORKING OVERTIME
•SMSU is 4-8 all-time in overtime games, including 0-1 this season, since the NCAA added overtime in 1998.
•SMSU is 1-3 in multi-overtime contests.
•SMSU's last overtime game was a loss at Wayne State (19-13) on Sept. 14, 2019.
•SMSU's last overtime win came on Nov. 2, 2013, (51-44) versus Winona State.
•The program's last multi-overtime game was a 34-31 double overtime loss at Minnesota State on Oct. 13, 2012.

MUSTANG HISTORY
•The 2019 season marks the 52nd year of college football at Southwest Minnesota State dating to 1968.
•SMSU owns an all-time record of 201-332-5, including 139-238-5 in conference play.
•SMSU has recorded 10 winning seasons, two NAIA playoff appearances (1987 and 1991) and one Mineral Water Bowl appearance (2013).
•The program earned its lone conference championship in 1990.

SCOUTING AUGUSTANA
•Jerry Olszewski is in his seventh season as head coach with a record of 46-31. He was head coach at St. Olaf College from 2008-12 and compiled a record of 32-18.
•AU has won five straight games, including the last two in the final minute. In last Saturday's 26-25 victory at Winona State, senior quarterback Zach Masoli completed a 30-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Devon Jones with 41 seconds remaining. Masoli replaced injured starting junior quarterback Kyle Saddler in the third quarter.  
•Saddler has completed 164 of 301 passes for 2,255 yards with 13 touchdown and eight interceptions this season.
•Freshman running back Jarod Epperson has a team-high 680 yards rushing and six touchdowns on 99 carries.
•Junior wide receiver Sean Engel has caught 34 passes for 449 yards.
•Junior wide receiver Nickel Meyers has 30 receptions for 342 yards.
•Sophomore linebacker T.J. Liggett has recorded a team-high 72 tackles with 7.5 for loss.
•Junior defensive lineman Logan Swanson has amassed 14 tackles for loss with 7.5 sacks.