THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University football team (1-9, 1-8 NSIC) will conclude the 2023 season this Saturday with a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference home match-up versus the University of Sioux Falls (3-7, 3-6 NSIC) in Marshall. Game time is slated for 12 p.m. at Mattke Field at The Schwan Regional Event Center.
•SMSU is looking to snap a nine-game losing streak since opening the season with a victory at Minot State and will also search for its first home win of the season in five attempts.
•SMSU will also be looking to snap another streak as USF has won the previous 10 games in the series since moving to Division II in 2012.
•A preview of USF is located on page 4.

BROADCAST INFO
•Saturday's game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with 11th-year SMSU play-by-play voice Ryan Rohlik.
•Live stats, radio broadcast and video can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

SENIOR DAY SET FOR SATURDAY
•Saturday will be 'Senior Day' as the program will honor its nine seniors in a pregame ceremony: Jordan Ellis, Bradley Gould, Cam Irvin, Albert Lemon, Evan Oetter, Marquise Ogletree, Peter Osman, Dustin Pampel and Khalif Spry.

SMSU vs. USF Series Notes
SMSU and USF meet for the 15th time with USF leading 11-3 ... the two teams first met on Sept. 21, 1968, in Marshall ... the first game between the two schools was also the first-ever game in SMSU history with USF earning a 13-6 victory at Legion Field in Marshall ... SMSU defeated USF 36-12 in 1969 in Sioux Falls and then won in both 1978 and 1979 ... USF has won all 10 games since joining the NSIC in 2012, including 35-14 last season in Sioux Falls ... USF has scored 34 or more points in nine of the 10 meetings since joining the NSIC ... SMSU's last win in the series was on Oct. 20, 1979, in Sioux Falls ... USF leads 6-1 in games played in Marshall.
 
The Last Time - SMSU vs. USF
No. 17-ranked Sioux Falls scored 28 first quarter points and never looked back in earning a 35-14 victory over SMSU on Oct. 8, 2022.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.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. Donald Austin had a huge game for the Mustangs with a career-high 217 yards rushing and one touchdown on 31 carries. 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's 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 vs. USF Series Information
Overall:    USF leads 11-3
In Marshall:    USF leads 6-1
In Sioux Falls:    USF leads 5-2
Last SMSU win:    Oct. 20, 1979 (24-6)
Last USF win:    Oct. 8, 2022 (35-14)
Largest win for SMSU:    24 (36-12, 1969)
Largest win for USF:    44 (51-7, 2019)
Longest win streak for SMSU:    3 (1969-79)
Longest win streak for USF:    10 (2012-present)
Current win streak:    USF, 10
Underwood vs. USF:    1-4
Glogowski vs. SMSU:    0-0

OPENING DRIVE TIDBITS
•SMSU tied a season-high scoring 28 points in last week's loss. SMSU also set season-highs in rush attempts (45), rushing yards (221) and total offense (410).  
•SMSU's second scoring drive in last week's loss at UMary consumed a season-high nine minutes and 13 seconds and tied for the most plays in a scoring drive, 16, since week two versus Bemidji State.  
•SMSU has scored first in five games this season and has led at half in three games, but has failed to win any of those games.
•Junior running back Donald Austin, who ranks 47th in Division II and fifth in the NSIC (overall games) with 78 rushing yards per game, has amassed 1,431 yards, ranking 15th in team history, on 297 carries. He has five career 100-yard rushing games.
•For the season, Austin has rushed for a team-high 781 yards and five touchdowns on 181 carries with three 100-yard rushing games. He also has 14 receptions for 133 yards and one touchdown.
•Sophomore quarterback Marcus Martin has completed 162 of 285 pass attempts for 1,984 yards with 10 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He passed for a season-high 277 yards on a season-high 45 attempts two weeks ago at Minnesota State.
•Martin rushed for a career-high 54 yards and scored a touchdown in last week's loss at UMary.
•Senior wide receiver Peter Osman has caught a team-high 40 passes for 511 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Erica Lira has 36 receptions for 401 yards and two touchdowns, while junior wide out Rashaan Palmer has 12 receptions for 257 yards and two touchdowns.
•Sophomore linebacker Josiah Hedensten leads the squad with 80 tackles along with three sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. He ranks fifth in the NSIC (overall games) in tackles per game and 40th in Division II with 8.1 tackles per game.
•Junior linebacker Thomas Mergen ranks second with 57 tackles with seven for loss and two sacks. Sophomore linebacker Gideon Ervasti has recorded 56 tackles, including 7.5 for loss. Sophomore Jalani Jefferson has 50 tackles with two interceptions and a team-high seven pass break-ups.
•Sophomore defensive end Avery Johnson registered three sacks and had four tackles for loss three weeks ago versus MSU Moorhead. He is the first SMSU player to record three sacks in a game since Jason Jacobs during the 1998 season. Johnson leads the team with 10.5 tackles for loss and is also the team leader with five sacks. He left last week's game early due to an injury.  

DEFENSIVE AND SPECIAL TEAM NUGGETS
•Sophomore Jalani Jefferson picked-up a blocked MSU Moorhead PAT three weeks and raced the other way for a two-point defensive score. It's the program's first two-point defensive score since the 2004 season.
•Jefferson returned an interception 17 yards for a touchdown at Valpo. It was SMSU's first pick-six since Hunter Bohannon on Sept. 25, 2021, at Concordia-St. Paul.
•Junior Tate Gaul has blocked two punts this season, including one versus Northern State in week seven. He blocked and recovered a Wayne State punt in week three for a touchdown. It's the program's first blocked punt for a touchdown since 2019.  
•Junior defensive lineman Mark Person recorded SMSU's first safety since the 2014 season with a quarterback sack at Valpo.

SMSU HEAD COACH SCOTT UNDERWOOD
•Scott Underwood is in his second season as SMSU head coach with a record of 5-16. 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 4-1 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).
•A complete bio on Underwood can be found on page 20.

SMSU LAST TIME OUT
•The University of Mary rallied with 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, including scoring the game-winning touchdown with 37 seconds remaining to earn stunning 32-28 victory over SMSU in Bismarck, N.D., last Saturday.  
•SMSU scored a season-high points and racked-up a season-high 410 yards on offense.
•SMSU finished the game rushing for a season-high 221 yards and closed with a season-high 23 first downs.
•The Mustangs were in control for much of the game and had two chances in the final quarter to put the game away, but failed to score inside the UMary 30-yard line.
•The SMSU rushing attack was strong all game with Donald Austin registering his fifth career 100-yard rushing game as he closed with 138 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries, while quarterback Marcus Martin amassed 54 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
•Martin completed 16 of 19 pass attempts for 179 yards and two touchdowns.
•Eric Lira had a three receptions for 39 yards and one touchdown.
•Josiah Hedensten had a team-high nine tackles for the Mustangs, including 1.5 for loss and recovered a fumble.

THE 2023 SMSU ROSTER
•The SMSU roster (as of Nov. 7) features nine seniors, 17 juniors, 28 sophomores, 11 redshirt freshmen and 41 freshmen.

TEAM CAPTAINS FOR 2023
•Four players served as team captains for the 2023 season with seniors Cam Irvin and Peter Osman and junior Donald Austin and Thomas Mergen selected by the Mustang players.

SMSU / USF IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
•The following is where SMSU and USF rank in the latest NCAA Division II statistics.
             (161 teams ranked)     SMSU     USF
             Scoring Offense    150th     67th
             Rushing Offense    140th      38th
             Passing Offense    79th     42nd
             Total Offense    120th     38th
             Scoring Defense    125th     141st
             Rushing Defense    88th     128th
             Pass Defense    147th     138th
             Pass Efficiency Defense    139th     153rd
             Total Defense    129th     143rd
             Net Punting     115th     91st
             Punt Returns     107th     78th
             Kickoff Returns     148th     153rd
             Turnover Margin     155th     131st
             Fewest Penalty Yards/Gm.     26th     76th   
             Time of Possession     37th     13th
             3rd Down Conversions     68th    46th
             3rd Down Conv. Defense    100th     152nd

TURNOVERS MARGIN BY THE NUMBERS
•SMSU is 'minus-14' in turnover margin this season after finishing the 2022 season 'minus-1' in turnover margin.
•SMSU has forced a turnover in four of 10 games this season. The Mustangs forced at least one turnover in each game and two or more in six games a season ago.

GET IN THE 'ZONE'
•SMSU is 14 of 24 inside the 'red zone' this season with 11 touchdowns and three field goals.
•SMSU opponents are 38 of 43 inside the 'red zone' with 26 touchdowns and 12 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    20 of 33 (60.6)    17    3
    2023    14 of 24 (58.3)    11    3

BIG PLAY MUSTANGS
•SMSU has recorded 42 offensive/defensive plays or kick/punt returns of 20 or more yards with 30 coming from the offense (3 run, 27 pass).
•Marcus Martin's 65-yard touchdown pass to Rashaan Palmer at Valparaiso is the longest play from scrimmage this season.
•Donald Austin's 37-yard touchdown run versus Minot State is the longest rush from scrimmage this season.
•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    51    14    14    23    13    0    1    0
    2023    42    7    3    27    11    1    0    0

BOHANNON EARNS NSIC WEEKLY HONOR
•Junior safety Hunter Bohannon was named the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 5 following his performance in SMSU's 28-23 season opening victory at Minot State on Aug. 31.
•Bohannon forced two fumbles, recovering one, recorded three solo tackles and one pass break-up.
•It's the second time Bohannon has earned the award in his career. He also earned the award on Sept. 27, 2021.  

SMSU VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS
•SMSU is 1-30 all-time versus Division II Top 25 teams, including 0-3 this season.
•SMSU's lone victory versus a ranked team came in the 2016 season opener versus No. 19 Minnesota Duluth (42-38) in Marshall.

SMSU WITH FIRST NON-LEAGUE GAME SINCE 2013
•With the departure of Upper Iowa University to the Great Lakes Valley Conference, SMSU had its first regular season non-conference game since the 2011 season on Sept. 29 suffering a 16-15 loss at FCS foe Valparaiso.  
•The game was SMSU's first versus an FCS opponent since losing at Northern Iowa in the final game of the 1999 season. SMSU also played at Illinois State in 1992 and twice at Weber State in 1983 and 1989.
•SMSU's last non-conference game prior to Valpo was the 2013 Mineral Water Bowl versus Pittsburg State, while the last regular season non-conference game occurred in the 2011 season opener at Northern State.

2022 RUSHING ONE OF THE BEST IN TEAM HISTORY
•SMSU finished the 2022 season rushing for 1,901 yards ranking fourth in team single-season history.
•SMSU's 172.8 rushing yards per game also ranked fourth in team single-season history.

2023 NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish ninth overall in the annual 13-team NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
•Senior wide receiver Peter Osman and junior linebacker Thomas Mergen were named 'Players to Watch'.

MUSTANGS AT HOME
•The 2023 season marks the 15th year that Mattke Field at The Schwan Regional Event Center has served as the home for SMSU football.
•SMSU is 31-51 all-time at the stadium, including 0-4 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 10-29 in road games since the 2016 season and finished 1-5 this season.

WORKING OVERTIME
•SMSU is 5-8 all-time in overtime games since the NCAA added overtime in 1998, including 1-0 last 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.

SEASON OPENERS
•SMSU is 23-31 all-time in season openers after beginning the 2023 season with a victory at Minot State on Aug. 31. The win snapped a five-game losing skid in season opening games.

MUSTANG HISTORY
•The 2023 season is the 55th year of college football at SMSU (including the 2020 season that was canceled) dating to 1968.
•SMSU owns an all-time record of 208-358-5, including 146-260-5 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 SIOUX FALLS
•Jim Glowgowski is in his first season as head coach. He came to USF after seven seasons as an assistant coach at Minnesota State. He was also head coach at Simpson College (Iowa) from 2008-15.
•USF has lost four straight games, including 28-20 last Saturday at home to Wayne State.  
•USF ranks 10th in Division II with 234 first downs and is 42nd in passing yards.
•Sophomore quarterback Camden Dean leads the Cougars completing 182 of 278 pass attempts for 2,023 yards with 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has also rushed for 693 yards and six touchdowns on 125 carries.
•Junior running back Dylan Rudningen leads the team with 714 yards rushing and six touchdowns on 136 attempts.
•Junior wide receiver Carter Slykhuis has caught 66 passes for a team-high 743 yards and five touchdowns. •Junior tight end Mark Leonard has added 37 receptions for 435 yards and four touchdowns.
•Sophomore defensive back Eli Schlangen has amassed a team-leading 49 tackles.
•Redshirt freshman linebacker Matt Goehring has 46 tackles with five for loss.