THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University football team (2-1, 0-0 NSIC South) returns home this Saturday, Sept. 24, facing Minot State University (0-3, 0-0 NSIC North) with kickoff slated for 5 p.m. at The Schwan Regional Event Center.
•SMSU has won its past two games and will be looking for its first three-game winning streak since the 2018 season.   
•SMSU is above .500 during the season for the first time since the 2017 team also started 2-1.  
•Minot State, which finished 2-9 a season ago, had lost all three games this season, including last week at home to Wayne State, 49-10.

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 FOR SECOND STRAIGHT WEEK
•SMSU senior running back Jesse Sherwood was honored on Monday for the second straight week as the NSIC Offensive Player of the Week after leading SMSU to a victory at UMary.
•Sherwood finished the game rushing for a career-high 205 yards and three touchdowns on a career-high 36 carries. 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.

OPENING DRIVE TIDBITS
•Jesse Sherwood leads the NSIC in rushing at 185.7 yards per game which ranks second in Division II. He is also fifth in Division II in all-purpose yards (203.6) and is tied for the national lead with six rushing touchdowns.
•Sherwood has rushed for more than 150 yards in his last four games dating back to last season. Sherwood is the first SMSU player to reach 100-yard rushing or more in four straight games since Max Simmons in 2016.  
•Sherwood's three rushing touchdowns in the win over UMary was the first time a Mustang has scored three rushing touchdowns since Ashanti Payne in 2017 versus Minot State.
•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 36 games of his career, has amassed 175 career solo tackles ranking second in team history. Nate Rudolph (1996-99) holds the school record with 199 solo tackles. Burns also ranks seventh in team history in total tackles with 297.
•Burns has notched double-digit tackles in all three games this season ranking second in the NSIC and seventh in Division II with 35 tackles (11.7).
•The SMSU defense has forced three turnovers in each of the last two games.
•SMSU rushed for 301 yards in last week's win at UMary. It was the first time SMSU rushed for more than 300 yards in a game since Nov. 11, 2017, versus Concordia-St. Paul.
•Senior wide receiver Adrian Tolbert scored his first career touchdown last week with a 21-yard reception.
•Sophomore kicker Carter Dicker booted a career-long 42-yard field goal in last week's victory.
•Senior defensive back Alan Giron recorded his first career interception and had five tackles last week.
•Redshirt freshman cornerback Jalani Jefferson closed last week's game with his first career interception.
•Justus McComb is the first SMSU redshirt freshman or true freshman to start at quarterback since Tony Rislov started all 11 games in 2005. He threw his first career touchdown pass last week versus UMary.
•SMSU limited Concordia-St. Paul to six points in a week two victory. It was the first time SMSU held an opponent to less than 10 points in a game since Oct. 20, 2018, versus Northern State. SMSU also limited CSP to a pair of field goals which marked the first time since the 2015 season at Wayne State, that SMSU held an opponent to zero touchdowns.

SMSU vs. MSU Series Notes
Southwest Minnesota State and Minot State meet for the ninth time on Saturday with SMSU holding 7-1 advantage in a series that started on Sept. 15, 1990 ... SMSU is 3-1 all-time in games played in Marshall, earning victories in 1990, 2013 and 2017 ... MSU earned its lone victory in the series in Marshall during the 1996 season ... SMSU has won the last five games in the series, including all four with both schools members of the NSIC ... SMSU won the last meeting, 21-17, in Minot, N.D., on Oct. 5, 2019 ... SMSU won the first two games of the series in 1990 and 1991 scoring a combined 124 points.
 
The Last Time - SMSU vs. MSU
Boyer Bouman connected on a 34-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Davis with 25 seconds left in the game to lift SMSU to a thrilling 21-17 victory over Minot State on Oct. 5, 2019, in Minot. SMSU started the game-winning drive at its own 13-yard line and included a fourth-and-long conversion early in the drive. The game-winning drive covered 87 yards on 11 plays. The key play was a fourth-down conversion pass from Bouman to Luke Narveson for 17 yards on fourth-and-16 from the SMSU 22-yard line. SMSU dominated statistically with more than 433 yards of offense and 22 first downs, while MSU was limited to 250 yards and 12 first downs. The SMSU defense held MSU to just one first down and 37 total yards on 14 plays in the opening half. Max Simmons led a balanced SMSU rushing attack with 142 yards on 20 carries.  Bouman closed the game completing 14 of 23 pass attempts for 130 yards. Dakota Jaeschke and Narveson each caught four passes for the Mustangs, while Davis added three receptions for 61 yards.
 
SMSU vs. MSU Series Information
Overall:    SMSU leads 7-1
In Marshall:    SMSU leads 3-1
In Minot:    SMSU leads 4-0
Last SMSU win:    Oct. 5, 2019 (21-17)
Last MSU win:    Sept. 7, 1996 (36-12)
Largest win for SMSU:    57 (63-6, 1990)
Largest win for MSU:    24 (36-12, 1996)
Longest win streak for SMSU:    4 (1997-2015)
Longest win streak for MSU:    1 (1996)
Current win streak:    SMSU, 5
Underwood vs. MSU:    7-1
Aldrich vs. SMSU:    3-2 (3-0 at Augustana, 0-2 at MSU)

SMSU HEAD COACH SCOTT UNDERWOOD
•Scott Underwood is in his first season as SMSU head coach with a record of 2-1. 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 19.

SMSU LAST TIME OUT
•Jesse Sherwood rushed for a career-high 205 yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries to help pace SMSU to a thrilling 31-28 victory over the University of Mary last Saturday in Bismarck, N.D.
•The Mustangs closed the game rushing for 301 yards and racked up 476 yards of total offense. It's the first time since the 2017 season the Mustangs have rushed for more than 300 yards in a game. Sherwood's performance was his third straight game to start the season rushing for more than 150 yards, while the 222 yards is the 13th highest single-game total in team history.
•SMSU's Justus McComb completed 16 of 30 pass attempts for 174 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 51 yards.
•Adrian Tolbert caught a team-high four passes for 53 yards and his first career touchdown to help the Mustang offense.
•Onte Burns, who amassed 12 stops, including one for loss, led the Mustang defense.
•Alan Giron added five tackles and earned the team's first interception of the season to help set up a scoring drive in the third quarter.

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. 20) features nine seniors, eight juniors, 23 sophomores, 23 redshirt freshmen and 16 freshmen.

SMSU / MSU IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
•The following is where SMSU and MSU rank in this week's NCAA statistics.
•A full listing of SMSU in the NCAA statistics can be found on pages 17-18.
         (162 teams ranked)     SMSU     MSU
             Scoring Offense    106th     158th
             Rushing Offense    14th      160th
             Passing Offense    130th     126th
             Total Offense    58th     162nd
             Scoring Defense    63rd     135th
             Rushing Defense    116th     158th
             Pass Defense    119th     98th
             Pass Efficiency Defense    128th     119th
             Total Defense    130th     154th
             Net Punting     127th     50th
             Punt Returns     139th     27th
             Kickoff Returns     141st     93rd
             Turnover Margin     68th     39th
             Fewest Penalty Yards/Gm.     15th     6th   
             Time of Possession     80th     145th
             3rd Down Conversions     37th    137th
             3rd Down Conv. Defense    49th     156th

SMSU VERSUS THE NSIC NORTH
•Since 2012, when the NSIC schedule had each team playing four inter-divisional games, SMSU has a record of 21-19 versus NSIC North Division teams, including 2-1 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.

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 5 of 9 inside the 'red zone' this season with five touchdowns. SMSU finished the 2021 season 20 for 29 in the 'red zone' with 16 touchdowns and four field goals.
•SMSU opponents are 9 of 11 inside the 'red zone' with six 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    5 of 9 (55.6)    5    0

BIG PLAY MUSTANGS
•SMSU has recorded 14 offensive/defensive plays or kick/punt returns of 20 or more yards in 2022 with 12 coming from the offense (5 run, 7 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    14    5    5    7    2    0    0    0

TURNOVER MARGIN BY THE NUMBERS
•SMSU is 'even' in turnover margin following the first three games of the season.
•SMSU finished the 2021 season 'minus-15' in turnover margin.
•Since the start of the 2004 season (191 games), SMSU has been a 'plus' in turnover margin in just 64 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 twice in 2022).
•The Mustangs have been 'even' or 'minus' in turnover margin in 108 of their last 168 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.
•SMSU is 29-44 all-time at the stadium, including 1-0 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 a 5-1 road record in 2015, SMSU is 9-21 in road games since the 2016 season, including 1-1 this season.

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 205-343-5, including 143-249-5 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 MINOT STATE
•Mike Aldrich, who served as an assistant coach at SMSU for two seasons (2105-16), is in his sixth season as head coach at MSU with a record of 9-37. His fourth season was canceled due to COVID-19.   
•Aldrich was head coach at Augustana (2010-12) for three seasons compiling a record of 22-13.
•MSU is coming off a 49-10 home loss to Wayne State last Saturday. The Beavers were limited to six first downs and 184 yards of offense in the game.
•Sophomore quarterback Dawson Macleary has completed 39 of 73 passes for 418 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.
•Senior wide receiver Peyton Lamoureux has caught a 10 passes for 160 yards, while sophomore wide receiver Nathan Young also has 10 receptions for 100 yards.
•Sophomore wide receiver Erik Palmquist has five receptions for 73 yards and has the team's two touchdowns on the season.
•Junior running back Ali Mohamed is the team's top rusher with 118 yards on 44 carries.
•The MSU defense has been led by sophomore linebacker, Isaiah Bigby, who has a team-leading 21 tackles and one interception.