THIS SATURDAY
•The Southwest Minnesota State University football program (0-1, 0-1 NSIC, 0-0 NSIC South) continues Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play this Saturday, Sept. 13, with a road contest at the University of Jamestown (0-1, 0-1 NSIC, 0-0 NSIC North) in Jamestown, N.D. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at Charlotte and Gordon Hansen Stadium. 
•Jamestown is in its first season in the NSIC and is a provisional member of NCAA Division II during the 2025-26 academic year. This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams and first since 2007. 
•SMSU is searching for its first win since defeating Sioux Falls on Nov. 11 in the last game of the 2023 season.
•Jamestown, which opened the season last Saturday with a 37-7 road loss to Augustana, is coming off a 3-7 season in 2024, including a 3-5 record in its final season in the North Star Athletic Association. 
•A preview of Jamestown is located on page 4. 

BROADCAST INFO
•Saturday's game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with 13th-year SMSU play-by-play voice Ryan Rohlik. 
•Live stats, radio broadcast and video can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

SMSU vs. UJ Series Notes
Southwest Minnesota State and Jamestown meet for the fourth time with Jamestown leading 2-1 ... SMSU won the first-ever meeting, 16-10, in Marshall on Aug. 27, 2005 ... Jamestown won in Marshall during the 2006 season, 20-17 in overtime ... the Jimmies won the only game played in Jamestown, 17-9, on Sept. 8, 2007.          

The Last Time - SMSU vs. UJ
Jamestown, the No. 16 ranked team in NAIA, took advantage of two costly SMSU turnovers in the second half and went on to earn a 17-9 non-conference victory in Jamestown, N.D., on a rainy day on Sept. 8, 2007 ... in some of the worst field conditions to play in, neither team was able to move the ball as a steady rain hit the region all day long causing the field to turn into mud bowl. Jamestown took a 7-2 halftime lead scoring the only touchdown of the first half on a 43-yard touchdown pass. SMSU scored on a safety midway through the second quarter on a bad snap that sailed over the punter. SMSU's Blake Wilson found the endzone on a 78-yard punt return in the second quarter, but it was called back on a block in the back. JC recovered a fumble deep in SMSU's end in the third quarter and scored on a 23-yard touchdown pass to push the lead to 14-2. The Mustangs answered back on their next drive as Josh Shudlick tossed a 6-yard touchdown pass to Wysong and the extra point cut the Jimmie lead to 14-9. The Jimmies recovered another fumble deep in Mustang territory in the fourth quarter and added a field goal to build a 17-9 lead. SMSU was stopped inside the 20-yard line and was intercepted on its last two drives of the game. Zach Wysong led the SMSU offense with 85 yards on 21 carries, while Josh Shudlick completed 11 of 29 passes for 116 yards and one touchdown. Tyler Reed paced the SMSU defense with eight tackles and two pass break-ups.

SMSU vs. UJ Series Information
Overall:     UJ leads 2-1
In Marshall:    tied 1-1
In Jamestown:    UJ leads 1-0
Neutral:     -
Last SMSU win:    Aug. 27, 2005 (16-10)
Last UJ win:     Sept. 8, 2007 (17-9)
Largest win for SMSU:    6 (16-10, 2005)
Largest win for UJ:    8 (17-9, 2007)
Longest win streak for SMSU:    1 (2005)
Longest win streak for UJ:    2 (2006-07)
Current win streak:    UJ, 2
Underwood vs. UJ:    0-0
Mistro vs. SMSU:     0-0

SMSU HEAD COACH SCOTT UNDERWOOD
•Scott Underwood is in his fourth season as head coach with a record of 6-28. 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. SMSU's four victories in 2022 was its highest victory total since 2018. 
•Underwood compiled a record of 86-51 in 12 seasons as head coach at St. Cloud State (2008-19) and is now 92-79 overall in his 16th season as a head coach. 
•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 OPENING DRIVE TIDBITS
•SMSU started a new quarterback in week one for the seventh straight season last week. Blake Gimbel was the last Mustang to start back-to-back season openers in 2017 and 2018.
•Steven Nava started week one in 2019, with Andrew Haidet in 2021, followed by Justus McComb in 2022, Marcus Martin in 2023 and Wyatt Oak in 2024. 
•SMSU started four different players at quarterback last season. It's the first time since 1997 (and maybe in team history) SMSU had more than three start at quarterback. Most recently, SMSU had three different starting quarterbacks in 2022, 2019 and 2017. 
•Josiah Hedensten ranks 11th in team history with 150 solo tackles and is 16th all-time with 261 total tackles. 
•Ryan Kronbach caught four passes for 32 yards in his first collegiate game on Saturday. 
•Logan Booth recorded a career-high five tackles versus MSU Moorhead.
•Parker Knutson had two interceptions in Saturday's game. He is the first SMSU player since Onte Burns on Oct. 1, 2022, to have two interceptions in one game. Knutson now has seven career interceptions ranking tied for 13th in team history. 
•Mason Carver made his first career field goal, a 32-yard attempts, last week versus MSUM. He is now 1 for 2 in his career.
•SMSU had 10 players make their first career starts last Saturday.

RECAPPING MSU MOORHEAD
•SMSU opened the season last Saturday night suffering a 51-3 home loss to MSU Moorhead.
•The MSUM defense intercepted SMSU quarterback, Macloud Crowton, twice in the first half, including one inside the MSUM 10-yard line, to gain momentum. 
•The Dragons also used a high snap over the Mustang punter late in the half, recovering the fumble at the SMSU 16-yard line, to help build a 34-3 halftime advantage.
•Crowton, playing in his first game at SMSU, completed 17 of 38 passes for 177 yards. Drew Kluender played in the fourth quarter and completed 3 of 8 pass attempts for 28 yards.
•Colin Maher caught a team-high five passes for 66 yards to pace the Mustangs, while Ryan Kronbach caught four passes for 32 yards. 
•Sam Campbell, Jr., had three receptions for 47 yards, before leaving with an injury late in the first half.
•Parker Knutson had two interceptions and finished with two pass break-ups. 
•Josiah Hedensten closed with a game-high nine tackles, while Gideon Ervasti added eight tackles including 1.5 sacks. 
•SMSU finished with 14 first downs and 203 yards of offense.

SMSU / UJ IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
•The following is where SMSU ranks in the latest NCAA Division statistics. Jamestown is NCAA provisional member in 2025-26 and not listed in NCAA stats. 
•A full listing of SMSU in the NCAA statistics can be found on pages 16-17. 
             (155 teams ranked)     SMSU     UJ
             Scoring Offense    154th 
             Rushing Offense    152nd      -
             Passing Offense    71st     - 
             Total Offense    143rd     - 
             Scoring Defense    152nd     -
             Rushing Defense    62nd     - 
             Pass Defense    154th     - 
             Pass Efficiency Defense    144th     - 
             Total Defense    154th     - 
             Net Punting     51st     - 
             Punt Returns     109th     - 
             Kickoff Returns     94th     -
             Turnover Margin     128th     - 
             Fewest Penalty Yards/Gm.     17th     -   
             Time of Possession     129th     - 
             3rd Down Conversions     94th    -
             3rd Down Conv. Defense    117th     -

THE 2025 SMSU ROSTER
•The SMSU roster (as of Sept. 8) features 18 seniors, 16 juniors, 20 sophomores, 26 redshirt freshmen and 32 freshmen. 

ALL-NSIC HONOREES RETURN IN 2025
•SMSU had a pair of players earn All-NSIC honors in 2024 and both return this fall. 
•Sophomore safety Parker Knutson was named All-NSIC first team in 2024. Knutson started all 11 games and finished the season with a team-high five interceptions, a team-leading 13 pass break-ups and recovered one fumble. He ranked fifth on the squad with 39 tackles including 2.5 for loss. 
•Knutson's five interceptions is the most by a Mustang player since the 2010 season and ties for the fifth highest in program single-season history.
•In the final NSIC statistics (10 league games only), Knutson led the NSIC in passes defended (15) and tied for first in interceptions (5). 
•Senior linebacker Josiah Hedensten earned All-NSIC second team honors for the second straight season. He started all 11 games and led the team in tackles for the second straight season with 83, while ranking first in tackles for loss (10) and finishing second in sacks (3).
•In the final NSIC statistics, Hedensten ranked fifth in total tackles (76) and tied for sixth in tackles for loss (9.5).

TEAM CAPTAINS FOR 2025
•The SMSU football leadership council and team members will select four game captains each week for the 2025 season.

TURNOVER MARGIN BY THE NUMBERS
•SMSU is 'minus-2' in turnover margin following week one. 
•SMSU finished 'minus-16' in turnover margin last season and was not 'plus' in turnover margin in any game during the 2024 season. 

LOOKING FOR TIME IN THE 'ZONE'
•SMSU is 1 of 2 (50.0) in the red zone this season with one field goal. SMSU had one red zone trip stopped with an interception. 
•SMSU finished 7 of 14 (50.0) in the red zone last season with five touchdowns and two field goals. SMSU failed to score seven times in the red zone registering two interceptions, three fumbles, a missed field goal and a turnover on downs. 
•SMSU opponents are 4 of 5 in the red zone this season with three touchdowns and one field goal. The SMSU defense stopped one red zone drive with an interception. 
•SMSU opponents finished last season 40 of 48 in the red zone with 29 touchdowns and 11 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    17 of 30 (56.6)    14    3
    2024    7 of 14 (50.0)    5    2

LONG PLAYS FOR THE MUSTANGS
•SMSU has recorded six offensive/defensive plays or kick/punt returns of 20 or more yards this season with two coming from the offense (0 run, 2 pass).
•Macloud Crowton's 38-yard touchdown pass to Colin Maher versus MSU Moorhead is the longest pass play of the season.
•Drew Kluender's 13-yard run versus MSU Moorhead is the longest rush from scrimmage. 
•Tryg Auten's 30-yard return versus MSU Moorhead is the team's longest kick return 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    50    9    8    29    11    1    1    0
    2024    48    6    7    15    18    1    6    1
    2025    6    0    0    2    4    0    0    0

MUSTANGS AT HOME
•The 2025 season marks the 17th year that Mattke Field at The Schwan Regional Event Center has served as the home for SMSU football. 
•SMSU is 32-58 all-time at the stadium, including 0-1 this season. SMSU finished 0-6 last season at home. 
•New turf was installed at the stadium in the summer of 2022. 
•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
•Since the 2016 season, SMSU is 10-34 in road games, including 0-5 last season.
•SMSU's last season with a winning road record occurred in 2015 (5-1). 

2025 NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish 13th overall and seventh in the NSIC South Division in the annual 14-team NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll. 
•Senior offensive tackle Tyler Nebelung and sophomore safety Parker Knutson were tabbed a 'Player to Watch' in the NSIC for the Mustangs.

SMSU VERSUS RANKED OPPONENTS
•SMSU is 1-31 all-time versus Division II Top 25 teams, including 0-1 last season after losing at Bemidji State. 
•SMSU's lone victory versus a ranked team came in the 2016 season opener versus No. 19 Minnesota Duluth (42-38) in Marshall.

WORKING OVERTIME
•SMSU is 5-8 all-time in overtime games since the NCAA added overtime in 1998.
•SMSU's last overtime game occurred on Sept. 24, 2022, with a 27-20 home victory over Minot State.
•SMSU is 1-3 in multi-overtime contests. 
•The program's last multi-overtime game was a 34-31 double overtime loss at Minnesota State on Oct. 13, 2012.

SEASON & HOME OPENER INFORMATION
•SMSU is 22-35 all-time in season openers after losing at home to MSU Moorhead this season. 
•SMSU is now 1-7 in its last eight home openers with the lone victory coming over Concordia-St. Paul in 2022. 

MUSTANG HISTORY
•The 2025 season is the 58th year of college football at SMSU and 57th season of competition (2020 was canceled) dating to 1968.
•SMSU owns an all-time record of 209-370-5, including 147-271-5 in conference play. 
•SMSU has recorded 10 winning seasons with two NAIA playoff appearances (1987 and 1991) and one Mineral Water Bowl appearance (2013). 
•The program earned its lone conference championship in 1990.

SCOUTING JAMESTOWN
•Brian Mistro is in his seventh season as head coach with a record of 15-48. He was an assistant coach at Concordia (Moorhead) for seven seasons and also spent two seasons at Northern State.  
•Jamestown opened the season suffering a 37-7 loss at Augustana last Saturday. Augustana held a 37:32-22:28 time of possession advantage in the contest.
•Junior quarterback Nicholas Martinez completed 9 of 23 pass attempts for 56 yards, while back-up sophomore Cole Hentges completed 5 of 9 passes for 39 yards and a 15-yard touchdown pass to Nate Burke. 
•Senior running back Zach Hammett rushed for a team-high 66 yards on 14 attempts, while Hentges ran for 34 yards on six attempts. 
•Senior wide receiver Erastus Antsino caught five passes for 22 yards. 
•Sophomore defensive back Jackson Walters racked up nine tackles.