SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The No. 17-ranked University of Sioux Falls scored 28 first quarter points and never looked back in earning a 35-14 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference football on Saturday afternoon at Bob Young Field.
 
USF, the lone remaining undefeated team in the conference, improves to 6-0 overall, 2-0 NSIC South. SMSU, which had won four straight games, drops to 4-2 overall, 1-1 NSIC South.
 
SMSU starting quarterback Justus McComb suffered an injury in the first quarter and did not return. John Romero came on in relief and completed 11 of 16 passes for 96 yards and one interception.
 
SMSU entered the game with the 10^th ranked rushing offense in Division II and was strong once again finishing with 207 yards. The Mustangs had nearly 280 yards rushing among several ball carriers, but a pair of poor snaps led to nearly minus-70 yards off the team total. The USF defense began the game with the 14^th ranked rushing defense in the country, allowing just 78 yards per game.
 
Donald Austin had a huge game for the Mustangs with a career-high 217 yards rushing and one touchdown on 31 carries. The 217 yards is the 10^th highest single-game total in the team's history. Blake Allen added 47 yards rushing on nine carries for the Mustangs.

Nathan Stearns caught a team-high four passes for 26 yards for the Mustangs.
 
USF closed the game with 292 yards rushing with Landon Freeman finishing with 136 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. Teammate Thuro Reisdorfer added 126 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries.
 
USF quarterback Adam Mullen completed 8 of 13 passes for 120 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
 
SMSU finished the game with 315 yards of offense and 21 first downs, while USF racked up 412 yards with 14 first downs.
 
USF scored on its first five possessions of the game with a dominating rushing attack. The Cougars had rushing touchdowns of 22, 28, 23 and 47 yards in the opening quarter in building a 28-0 advantage.
 
SMSU would cut into the deficit with a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive early in the second quarter capped off by a Romero 3-yard touchdown run.
 
USF answered right back on its first play of the ensuing drive as Freeman broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run at the 10:16 mark of the second quarter in building a 35-7 halftime advantage.
 
The Mustangs scored the lone points in the second half taking the kickoff and moving 75 yards on nine plays with Austin closing the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run. It was the first career touchdown for Austin.
 
Josiah Hedensten had eight tackles, including his first career sack to pace the Mustang defense. Onte Burns, Thomas Mergen and Jordan Ellis each had five tackles with Ellis collecting an interception.
 
SMSU returns home next Saturday, Oct. 15, facing Winona State for the annual "Battle for the Sledge", presented by Game One & Adidas, with kickoff slated for 1 p.m.