THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University football team (4-3, 1-2 NSIC South) will look to snap a two-game losing streak this Saturday, Oct. 22, with a road match-up versus Wayne State College (5-2, 1-2 NSIC South) with kickoff slated for 12 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in Wayne, Neb.  
•SMSU has lost the last five meetings versus WSC and will look to even its road record this season at 2-2.
•The game features two of top rushing offenses in the country as SMSU enters the game third in the NSIC and 18th in Division II in rushing offense (220.3), while WSC is fourth in the league and 27th nationally (198.0).
•SMSU is also second in the country in fewest penalty yards per game (33.0).   
•WSC, which is 3-0 at home this season, is coming off a last-minute loss at Augustana on Saturday.  
•A preview of WSC is located on page 4.

BROADCAST INFO
•Saturday's game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with 10th-year SMSU play-by-play voice Ryan Rohlik.
•Live stats, radio broadcast and video can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

OPENING DRIVE TIDBITS
•Redshirt freshman quarterback Justus McComb, who started the first six games of the season, missed last week's game due to an injury. True freshman Marcus Martin made his first career appearance and start, finishing the game completing 11 of 28 passes for 139 yards and one touchdown. Martin was the first true freshman to start for SMSU since Rob Fagnan on Nov. 11, 2000.
•Prior to Martin, McComb was the first SMSU redshirt freshman or true freshman to start at quarterback since Tony Rislov started all 11 games in 2005.
•Junior wide receiver Peter Osman caught a career-high five passes for 62 yards and a touchdown in last week's loss to Winona State.
•Senior running back Jesse Sherwood, who ranks second in the NSIC with 782 rushing yards, returned to action last week after missing two games with an injury, and rushed for a game-high 78 yards on 20 carries.
•Sophomore running back Donald Austin ranks sixth in the NSIC with 514 yards rushing.
•Sophomore linebacker Thomas Mergen racked up a career-high 10 tackles in last week's loss, while redshirt freshman cornerback Jalani Jefferson also recorded a career-high with eight tackles with one pass break-up.
•Junior cornerback Marquise Ogletree notched his first career interception in last week's game.
•Senior linebacker Onte Burns, a two-time All-NSIC South honoree, has led the NSIC in tackles the past two seasons (2019 and 2021). Burns, who has started all 40 games of his career, has amassed 189 career solo tackles ranking second in team history. Burns is just 10 solo stops shy of Nate Rudolph (1996-99), who holds the school record with 199 solo tackles.
•Burns also ranks fourth in team history in total tackles with 325. The school record is held by Paul Litwicki (1974-75, 78), who amassed 485 tackles. Since 1979, Mike Roggenbuck (1982-85) has recorded the most tackles with 358, followed by Rudolph at 356 and Burns with 325.
•Burns ranks fourth in the NSIC and 34th in Division II with 63 tackles (9.0).
•The SMSU defense has forced at least one turnover in each game this season. SMSU's eight interceptions on defense ranks tied for second in the conference.
•SMSU ranks eighth in the NSIC in both total offense (356.3) and total defense (373.0).
•SMSU's four-game winning streak earlier this season was its longest since starting the 2015 season 4-0. The last time SMSU opened a season 4-1 occurred during the 2016 season.
•SMSU has held two opponents (Concordia-St. Paul and Upper Iowa) to less than seven points. The last time SMSU limited two opponents to single-digit points in a single-season came in 2018. The last time SMSU held three opponents to less than 10 points in a season occurred in 2004.

SMSU vs. WSC Series Notes
Southwest Minnesota State and Wayne State meet for the 33rd time on Saturday with WSC leading 24-8 in a series that started on Nov. 1, 1969 ... WSC has won the last five meetings overall and six of the last seven including 38-16 last season in Marshall ... WSC has won 14 of the last 19 meetings since 2002 ... WSC is 11-4 all-time in games played in Wayne, including winning the past two games in 2019 and 2017 ... WSC had a seven-game winning streak in the series from 2005-11 ... SMSU scored 39 or more points in five straight games from 2012-16, including 61 at Wayne in 2015, but has been held to 16 or less points in the last four games.   
 
The Last Time - SMSU vs. WSC
Wayne State scored 24 straight points to close the first half to build a 28-point halftime lead and used a strong defensive performance in earning a 38-16 victory over SMSU on Oct. 23, 2021. The WSC defensed limited SMSU to a season-low 11 first downs and held the Mustang offense to 257 yards, matching a season-low. WSC's Anthony Watkins rushed for 56 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries, while quarterback Nick Bohn added 47 yards and one touchdown on 15 attempts. Bohn also completed 11 of 21 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted twice. Bohn's top target was Taurean Grady, who caught a game-high five passes for 123 yards and one touchdown. WSC finished the game with 390 yards and 19 first downs but was held to just 86 yards in the second half. The SMSU offense was led by running back Jesse Sherwood, who amassed 83 yards rushing and one touchdown on 18 carries. Andrew Haidet, one of three SMSU quarterbacks to play in the game, completed 6 of 17 passes for 106 yards and one interception. Keilan Smith caught a career-high four passes for a career-high 88 yards. The SMSU defense was led by Gage Roberson, who racked up a career-high 13 tackles, including two for loss and also recorded his first career interception.
 
SMSU vs. WSC Series Information
Overall:    WSC leads 24-8
In Marshall:    WSC leads 13-4
In Wayne:    WSC leads 11-4
Last SMSU win:    Oct. 10, 2015 (61-3)
Last WSC win:    Oct. 23, 2021 (38-16)
Largest win for SMSU:    58 (61-3, 2015)
Largest win for WSC:    49 (49-0, 1969)
Longest win streak for SMSU:    2 (1990-91, 2012-13)
Longest win streak for WSC:    7 (2005-11)
Current win streak:    WSC, 5
Underwood vs. WSC:    4-2
Masters vs. SMSU:    0-0

SMSU HEAD COACH SCOTT UNDERWOOD
•Scott Underwood is in his first season as SMSU head coach with a record of 4-3. He was named the program's 11th head coach on Jan. 7, 2022.
•Underwood was the first SMSU head coach in team history (11 head coaches) to begin his SMSU coaching career with a 3-1 record.
•Underwood compiled an overall record of 86-61 in 12 seasons as head coach at St. Cloud State (2008-19).
•SCSU recorded 10 winning seasons with three NCAA playoff appearances during his tenure. SCSU won seven or more games seven times, including a school record 12 victories in 2013.
•SCSU made NCAA playoff appearances in 2010, 2011 and 2013 and won a share of both the NSIC North Division and NSIC overall championship in 2011.
•He was also an assistant coach at SCSU (2001-07), North Dakota (1997-2000), Sioux Falls (1993-96) and Augustana (1988-92).

SMSU LAST TIME OUT
•Winona State used a punt return for a touchdown, a blocked punt for a touchdown and also recorded a safety on a punt to help score 43 unanswered point in a 43-7 victory over SMSU last Saturday in Marshall.
•WSU's Aarion Lacy returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown midway through the second quarter to snap a 7-7 game and turn the momentum on the Warriors' side.
•SMSU's Peter Osman caught a team-high five passes for 62 yards and a touchdown to pace the Mustangs.  
•SMSU true freshman quarterback Marcus Martin closed the game completing 11 of 28 pass attempts for 139 yards and one touchdown.
•Jesse Sherwood, who missed the previous two games with an injury, rushed for a game-high 78 yards on 20 attempts. Donald Austin added 43 yards on 13 carries.

SMSU / WSC IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
•The following is where SMSU and WSC rank in this week's NCAA statistics.
•A full listing of SMSU in the NCAA statistics can be found on pages 18-19.
         (163 teams ranked)     SMSU     WSC
             Scoring Offense    109th     38th
             Rushing Offense    18th      27th
             Passing Offense    148th     58th
             Total Offense    90th     30th
             Scoring Defense    77th     75th
             Rushing Defense    120th     77th
             Pass Defense    48th     81st
             Pass Efficiency Defense    86th     50th
             Total Defense    95th     77th
             Net Punting     150th     114th
             Punt Returns     141st     133rd
             Kickoff Returns     50th     87th
             Turnover Margin     50th     64th
             Fewest Penalty Yards/Gm.     2nd     84th   
             Time of Possession     36th     43rd
             3rd Down Conversions     61st    62nd
             3rd Down Conv. Defense    41st     77th

TURNOVER MARGIN BY THE NUMBERS
•SMSU is 'plus-2' in turnover margin following the first seven games of the season.
•SMSU has forced a turnover in each game this season and two or more in four games.
•SMSU finished the 2021 season 'minus-15' in turnover margin.

BURNS EARNS NSIC WEEKLY HONOR
•SMSU senior linebacker Onte Burns was honored on Sept. 26 as the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week after leading SMSU to a 27-20 overtime win over Minot State.
•Burns recorded a game-high 11 tackles, with four solo, along with two sacks and a pass break-up in the win.
•It's the first time Burns has earned the award in his career. He is also the first Mustang to receive the NSIC weekly defensive award since the 2017 season.

SHERWOOD TWICE HONORED BY NSIC
•SMSU senior running back Jesse Sherwood has twice been named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Week this season. He earned the first honor on Sept. 12 after rushing for 196 yards and one touchdown in a win versus Concordia-St. Paul.
•He earned the award again on Sept. 19 after rushing for a career-high 205 yards and three touchdowns on a career-high 36 carries in a win at UMary. The 205-yard game is the 13th highest single-game total in program history.
•Sherwood is the first SMSU player since Blake Gimbel in 2015 to earn the NSIC weekly award twice in a season.

TEAM CAPTAINS NAMED FOR 2022
•Four players will serve as team captains for the 2022 season with seniors Onte Burns, Alan Giron, Dylan Lauer, and Jesse Sherwood selected by the Mustang players. It's the third straight season Burns has been named a captain.

THE 2022 SMSU ROSTER
•The SMSU roster (as of Oct. 18) features seven seniors, 10 juniors, 22 sophomores, 24 redshirt freshmen and 16 freshmen.

GET IN THE 'ZONE'
•SMSU is 15 of 24 inside the 'red zone' this season with 13 touchdowns and two field goals.
•SMSU opponents are 16 of 20 inside the 'red zone' with 10 touchdowns and six field goals.
•The following is SMSU in the 'red zone' since the 2010 season.
    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     22 of 29 (75.9)    19    3
    2021    20 of 29 (69.0)    16    4
    2022    15 of 24 (62.5)    13    2

BIG PLAY MUSTANGS
•SMSU has recorded 33 offensive/defensive plays or kick/punt returns of 20 or more yards in 2022 with 23 coming from the offense (11 run, 12 pass).
•Jesse Sherwood has the longest play from scrimmage this season with a 63-yard touchdown run versus Concordia-St. Paul.
•The longest pass play is a 32-yard connection from Justus McComb to Zeke Robinson versus CSP and a 32-yard pass from McComb to Peter Osman versus Upper Iowa.
•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    56    12    4    37    12    1    2    0
    2021    42    6    8    18    10    1    2    3
    2022    33    10    11    12    9    0    1    0

SMSU IN NSIC SOUTH DIVISION PLAY
•Since the NSIC adapted divisional play prior to the 2008 season, SMSU is 26-63 all-time in South Division games, including 1-2 this season, while finishing in the top half of the division three times in 13 seasons.
•SMSU had its highest finish of second place in 2013 and has placed fourth three times, fifth once, sixth six times, seventh once 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 22-19 versus NSIC North Division teams, including 3-1 this season. SMSU has one more game (Bemidji State) versus an NSIC North team this season.
•With the departure of St. Cloud State and Minnesota Crookston, SMSU now plays five games versus NSIC North teams the past two seasons.
•SMSU finished 1-4 versus North teams a season ago, finished 2-2 in 2019, went 3-1 in 2018, was 2-2 in 2017, 3-1 in 2016 and was a perfect 4-0 in 2015.

MUSTANGS AT HOME
•The 2022 season marks the 14th year that Mattke Field at The Schwan Regional Event Center has served as the home for SMSU football.
•SMSU is 31-45 all-time at the stadium, including 3-1 this season.
•New turf was installed at the stadium in the summer of 2022.
•SMSU lost 12 straight home games from late in the 2018 season through 2021. SMSU was winless at home in both 2019 and 2021 (2020 season was canceled).  
•The $16 million facility opened in the fall of 2008 with the first college football game played on Aug. 30 versus Minnesota Crookston.  

MUSTANGS ON THE ROAD
•After recording its last winning road record in a season in 2015 (5-1), SMSU is 9-22 in road games since the 2016 season, including 1-2 this season.

WORKING OVERTIME
•SMSU is 5-8 all-time in overtime games since the NCAA added overtime in 1998, including 1-0 this season after defeating Minot State, 27-20, on Sept. 24.
•SMSU is 1-3 in multi-overtime contests.
•SMSU's previous overtime home win came on Nov. 2, 2015, versus Winona State.
•The program's last multi-overtime game was a 34-31 double overtime loss at Minnesota State on Oct. 13, 2012.

2022 NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish 13th overall and seventh in the South Division in the annual 14-team NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
•Senior running back Jesse Sherwood and senior linebacker Onte Burns were named 'Players to Watch'.

SMSU VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS
•SMSU is 1-26 versus Division II Top 25 teams since the 2008 season following a loss to No. 17 Sioux Falls on Oct. 8.
•SMSU's lone victory versus a ranked team came in the 2016 season opener versus No. 19 Minnesota Duluth (42-38) in Marshall.

MUSTANG HISTORY
•The 2022 season is the 54th year of college football at SMSU dating to 1968.
•SMSU owns an all-time record of 207-345-5, including 145-251-5 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.

FOR OPENERS
•SMSU is 22-31 all-time in season openers after losing to Minnesota Duluth in the 2022 season-opener. SMSU has lost its last five season lid-lifters.
•SMSU's last season-opening victory came on Sept. 1, 2016, versus No. 19 Minnesota Duluth (42-38) in Marshall.
•SMSU has lost its last four home openers with the last victory coming on Sept. 1, 2016, versus Minnesota Duluth.  SMSU opens the 2022 home season on Saturday, Sept. 10, versus Concordia-St. Paul.

SCOUTING WAYNE STATE
•Logan Masters is in his first season after being named head coach on Feb. 11, 2022. He was an assistant coach at WSC (2010-16, 20-21) and was also an assistant coach at Chadron State (2017-19).   
•WSC is coming off tough 31-27 road loss to No. 24 Augustana last Saturday with the Vikings scoring the game-winning touchdown with nine seconds remaining in regulation.
•Sophomore quarterback Nick Bohn completed 23 of 36 passes for 230 yards and one interception in the loss and for the season has completed 95 of 155 passes for 1,453 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. He has also rushed for 458 yards for five touchdowns.
•Senior running back Anthony Watkins rushed for a game-high 77 yards last week and leads the Wildcats in rushing at 516 yards with six touchdowns on 96 carries.  
•Sophomore wide receiver Jadon Johnson has caught 25 passes for 496 yards and four touchdowns on the season. He caught 12 passes for 128 yards last Saturday.
•Sophomore linebacker Alex Kowalczyk has racked up a team-high 65 tackles with 4.5 for loss.
•Senior linebacker Jaylan Scott has recorded 34 tackles with 8.5 for loss and four sacks.