THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University football team (1-1, 0-0 NSIC South) returns to the road this Saturday, Sept. 17, facing the University of Mary (0-2, 0-0 NSIC North) with kickoff slated for 2 p.m. at the MDU Resources Community Bowl in Bismarck, N.D.
•SMSU is coming off its first victory of the season last Saturday night defeating Concordia-St. Paul, 14-6. The victory snapped a 12-game home losing streak that dated back to the 2018 season. The victory was also the first at SMSU for Mustang head coach, Scott Underwood.   
•UMary, which finished 4-7 a season ago, which included a victory at SMSU, is 0-2 on the season with a home loss to Wayne State and a road loss to Winona State.
•A preview on UMary 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.

SHERWOOD HONORED BY NSIC
•SMSU senior running back Jesse Sherwood was honored Monday as the NSIC Offensive Player of the Week after leading SMSU to a victory over Concordia-St. Paul.
•Sherwood rushed for a career-high 196 yards and one touchdown on a career-high 32 carries. The 196-yard effort tied for the 14th highest single-game total in program history. He also caught a team-high three passes for 29 yards.

OPENING DRIVE TIDBITS
•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 35 games of his career has amassed 168 career solo tackles ranking fourth in team history. He is one shy from tying Joe Stupka (2009-12) for third all-time and just five away from tying Tyler Reed (2005-08) for second.  Nate Rudolph (1996-99) holds the school record with 199 solo tackles. Burns also ranks eighth in team history in total tackles with 285.
•Burns has notched back-to-back double-digit tackle performances to open the season. His 23 tackles is tied for first in the NSIC and ranks 13th in Division II.
•Jesse Sherwood leads the NSIC in rushing at 176 yards per game and ranks third in Division II. He is also sixth in Division II in all-purpose (199.0).
•Sherwood's 32 rushing attempts in last week's victory was the highest total by a Mustang player since Max Simmons' 30 carries versus Upper Iowa on Sept. 22, 2018.
•Sherwood has rushed for more than 150 yards in his last three games dating back to week nine of last season. Sherwood, who missed the final two games of the 2021 season due to injury, rushed for 159 yards on 20 carries at Bemidji State on Oct. 30, 2021, in his final game of the season. Sherwood is the first SMSU player to reach 100-yard rushing or more in three straight games since Simmons in 2016. He is also the first player since Tyler Tonderum in 2014 to have consecutive 150-yard rushing games.
•Redshirt freshman wide receiver Eric Lira scored his first career touchdown last week with a 52-yard run.
•Senior defensive back Alan Giron tied a career-high with seven tackles, which included two for loss and also forced a fumble in last week's victory.
•Redshirt freshman cornerback Jalani Jefferson recorded a season-high six tackles, recovered a fumble and had two pass break-ups in last week's victory.
•Redshirt freshman linebacker Josiah Hedensten racked-up a career-high six tackles versus Concordia-St. Paul.
•The last time SMSU held an opponent to less than 10 points came during its previous home victory over Northern State on Oct. 20, 2018. SMSU also limited CSP to a pair of field goals on Saturday, which marked the first time since the 2015 season at Wayne State, a Mustang opponent was held to zero touchdowns.
•SMSU's home victory last Saturday snapped a 12-game home losing streak that dated back to the 2018 season.
•Justus McComb is the first SMSU redshirt freshman or true freshman to start at quarterback since Tony Rislov started all 11 games in 2005.

SMSU vs. UMARY SERIES NOTES
(All-time results listed on page 9)
Southwest Minnesota State and UMary meet for the 11th time on Saturday with UMary holding a 6-4 advantage in a series that started on Sept. 4, 1999 ... the series is tied 2-2 all-time in games played in Bismarck ... UMary earned a 45-23 victory last season in Marshall, snapping a two-game win streak by SMSU in the series ... SMSU earned a 54-24 victory on Sept. 29, 2018, in the last game played in Bismarck ... UMary won the first three games in the series in 1999, 2006 and 2007.
 
THE LAST TIME - SMSU vs. UMARY
The University of Mary scored 17 unanswered points from the final play of the second quarter and in the opening two-plus minutes of the third quarter to build a 28-point lead and earn a 45-23 victory over SMSU on Sept. 18, 2021. UMary was led by Logan Nelson, who completed 20 of 28 passes for 249 yards and four touchdowns. David Small rushed for a team-high 130 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries. The Marauders closed the game with 26 first downs and amassed 430 yards on offense. SMSU finished the game with 406 yards offensively and recorded 20 first downs. Andrew Haidet rushed for 147 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries and became the first SMSU quarterback to rush for more than 100 yards since Kyle Johnston in 1986. Haidet, who split time at quarterback with Steven Nava during the game, completed 4 of 12 passes for 80 yards and one touchdown. Nava finished the evening completing 9 of 20 passes for one touchdown and 124 yards but was intercepted twice. Albert Lemon caught four passes for the Mustangs. Onte Burns led the SMSU defense with a team-high 14 tackles, including 11 solo stops.
 
SMSU vs. UMARY SERIES INFORMATION
Overall:    UMARY leads 6-4
In Marshall:    UMARY lead 4-2
In Bismarck:    tied 2-2
Last SMSU win:    Sept. 24, 2018 (54-24)
Last UMARY win:    Sept. 18, 2021 (45-23)
Largest win for SMSU:    30 (54-24, 2018)
Largest win for UMARY:    19 (43-24, 2012)
Longest win streak for SMSU:    2 (2010-11)
Longest win streak for UMARY:    3 (1999-2007)
Current win streak:    UMARY, 1
Underwood vs. UMARY:    12-0
Bagnell vs. SMSU:    1-1

SMSU HEAD COACH SCOTT UNDERWOOD
•Scott Underwood is in his first season as SMSU head coach with a record of 1-1. He was named the program's 11th head coach on Jan. 7, 2022.
•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).
•A complete bio on Underwood can be found on page 18.

SMSU LAST TIME OUT
•SMSU earned its first home victory since the 2018 with the Mustang defense forcing three turnovers, while Jesse Sherwood rushed for a career-high 196 yards on a career-high 32 carries, to pace SMSU to a 14-6 victory over Concordia-St. Paul last Saturday night.
•SMSU used a pair of big touchdown runs to secure the victory as Sherwood broke free for a 63-yard score early in the game, while Eric Lira cruised to a 52-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to give the Mustangs an eight-point lead.
•Sherwood also led SMSU with three catches for 29 yards, while Zeke Robinson caught two passes for 42 yards, including a 32-yard reception.
•Justus McComb earned his first career victory as a Mustang quarterback as he finished completing 8 of 17 yards for 106 yards and two interceptions.
•Onte Burns racked up a game-high 11 tackles for pace the Mustangs, while Thomas Mergen added eight stops and forced one fumble. Alan Giron and Austin Moore also forced fumbles to help SMSU win the turnover battle.

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 2022 SMSU roster (as of Sept. 13) features nine seniors, eight juniors, 23 sophomores, 23 redshirt freshmen and 16 freshmen.

SMSU / UMARY IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
•The following is where SMSU and UMary rank in this week's NCAA statistics.
•A full listing of SMSU in the NCAA statistics can be found on pages 16-17.
         (154 teams ranked)     SMSU     UMARY
             Scoring Offense    117th     83rd
             Rushing Offense    29th      109th
             Passing Offense    134th     61st
             Total Offense    81st     97th
             Scoring Defense    44th     108th
             Rushing Defense    142nd     128th
             Pass Defense    88th     36th
             Pass Efficiency Defense    125th     97th
             Total Defense    138th     70th
             Net Punting     69th     128th
             Punt Returns     123rd     123rd
             Kickoff Returns     112th     73rd
             Turnover Margin     93rd     45th
             Fewest Penalty Yards/Gm.     13th     61st   
             Time of Possession     131st     111th
             3rd Down Conversions     67th    70th
             3rd Down Conv. Defense    88th     60th

SMSU VERSUS THE NSIC NORTH
•Since 2012, when the NSIC schedule had each team playing four inter-divisional games, SMSU has a record of 20-19 versus NSIC North Division teams, including 1-1 this season.
•With the departure of St. Cloud State and Minnesota Crookston, SMSU will now play five games versus NSIC North teams again this season.
•SMSU finished 1-4 versus North teams a season ago, finished 2-2 in 2019, went 3-1 in 2018, was a perfect 4-0 in 2015, was 3-1 in 2016 and 2-2 in 2017.  

SMSU IN NSIC SOUTH DIVISION PLAY
•Since the NSIC adapted divisional play prior to the 2008 season, SMSU is 25-61 all-time in South Division games, 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.  

GET IN THE 'ZONE'
•SMSU is 2 of 5 inside the 'red zone' this season with a pair of touchdowns. SMSU finished the 2021 season 20 for 29 in the 'red zone' with 16 touchdowns and four field goals.
•SMSU opponents are 5 of 6 inside the 'red zone' with two touchdowns and three field goals. Opponents closed the 2021 season 41 of 49 in the 'red zone' with 34 touchdowns and seven 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    2 of 5 (40.0)    2    0

BIG PLAY MUSTANGS
•SMSU has recorded nine offensive/defensive plays or kick/punt returns of 20 or more yards in 2022 with eight coming from the offense (3 run, 5 pass).
•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    9    3    3    5    1    0    0    0

TURNOVER MARGIN BY THE NUMBERS
•SMSU is 'minus-1' in turnover margin following the first two games of the season.
•SMSU finished the 2021 season 'minus-15' in turnover margin.
•Since the start of the 2004 season (190 games), SMSU has been a 'plus' in turnover margin in just 63 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, six times in 2019, four times in 2021 and once in 2022).
•The Mustangs have been 'even' or 'minus' in turnover margin in 108 of their last 167 conference games.

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.
•New turf was installed at the stadium in the summer of 2022.
•SMSU is 29-44 all-time at the stadium, including 1-1 this season.
•SMSU had lost 12 straight home games from late in the 2018 season through 2021. SMSU was winless at home in both 2019 and 2021.  
•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 ON THE ROAD
•SMSU is 8-21 in road games since the 2016 season, including 0-1 this season.
•SMSU is 22-38 in road games since 2010.

WORKING OVERTIME
•SMSU is 4-8 all-time in overtime games 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.

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' this season.

SMSU VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS
•SMSU is 1-25 versus Division II Top 25 teams since the 2008 season.
•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 204-343-5, including 142-249-5 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 now 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 UNIVERSITY OF MARY
•Craig Bagnell is in his fifth season as head coach at UMary with a record of 7-28. His third season was canceled due to COVID-19. Bagnell was a four-year standout quarterback for the Marauders from 2010-13.  
•UMary has lost a pair of close games to open the season, losing at home to Wayne State, 33-28, before suffering a 25-17 road loss to Winona State last Saturday.
•Senior quarterback Logan Nelson has completed 33 of 61 passes for 421 yards and one touchdown.
•Senior All-American wide receiver Danny Kittner has caught a team-leading 14 passes for 189 yards and one touchdown.
•Sophomore tight end Luke Bodine has recorded nine receptions for 74 yards.
•Senior running back Dave Small is the team's top rusher with 116 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries.
•The UMary defense has been led by senior linebacker, Devin Beck, who has a team-leading 14 tackles, while senior linebacker Devyn Charles also has 14 tackles and a team-high 2.5 for loss.