What Happened & What's Ahead: The sixth-ranked Minnesota State football team (9-0, 9-0 NSIC), returns to historic Blakeslee Stadium Saturday as it entertains the 17th-ranked University of Sioux Falls (8-1, 8-1 NSIC) at 1 p.m. Last weekend, the Mavericks earned a thrilling 42-35 victory at Wayne State.
A Little History Lesson: The 2012 season marked the school's 86th season playing football. The Mavericks are 391-375-28 (.510) in 794 games since their inception as a varsity sport in 1922. Minnesota State is in its fourth season in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and owns a 41-7 (.854) record in league action. Over the course of its history, MSU has claimed 17 conference championships, including 15 NIC titles.
What's in a Win: A win would mark the second time in program history that MSU has started the season with a 10-0 record, joining the 2009 squad as the only other team to do so...It would also mark the 392nd win in program history and the 42nd win for the Mavericks since becoming members of the NSIC in 2008...A win would be MSU's second all-time against Sioux Falls and its first against the Cougars in the city of Mankato.
A Little Bit About Our Opponent: Sioux Falls enters the weekend the owners of a 8-1 record and are winners of its last three games. Last weekend, the Cougars knocked off Upper Iowa, 54-41 in Sioux Falls.
As a team, USF is averaging 34.1 points per game while its opponents are averaging 20.1. The Cougars are averaging 135.9 yards per game on the ground and giving up 127.8 while throwing for 259.1 yards and allowing 254.8 in the air. In terms of total offense per game, Sioux Falls accumulates an average of 395 yards per game while its opponents gain 382.6.
Offensively, the Cougars are led by senior running back Kristian Porter who has rushed 110 times for 567 yards, averaging 63 yards per game and 5.2 yards per carry to go with five touchdowns. Senior quarterback Taylor Perkins has completed 166 of 290 passes for 2,207 yards and 25 touchdowns, averaging 245.2 yards per game to go with four interceptions. Perkins' favorite target this season has been junior wideout Carrington Hanna who has caught 59 passes for 794 yards and ten touchdowns, averaging 88.2 yards per game and 13.5 yards per catch. Senior wideout Jeremiah Oates has caught 46 passes for 893 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 99.2 yards per game and 19.4 yards per catch.
Defensively, a trio of senior linebackers lead the Cougars in tackles led by Matt White who has 81 tackles. Eric Anderson adds 69 tackles while Nick Bonte has 60. The Cougars are coached by Jed Stugart who is 52-12 during his time at Sioux Falls.
Series Notes: Saturday's game marks the third-ever meeting between Minnesota State and Sioux Falls...The two teams last did battle on the football field on Oct. 20, 1937 as USF came away with a 7-6 win in Mankato...MSU won the lone game played in Sioux Falls on Oct. 17, 1936, 27-7...USF defensive line coach Jared Schwanz is a Minnesota State alum and played football for the Mavericks from 2005-06...In 2006 he played in nine games and recorded nine tackles, a pass break-up and forced a fumble...He also served as an intern in the Minnesota State Athletic Communications office.
Rank 'Em: The Mavericks moved up a spot to sixth in this week's AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, found
HERE. In the d2football.com poll, MSU was ranked #2 in the most recent poll, found
HERE. The Mavericks are also ranked #2 in the NCAA Super Region 3 poll, found
HERE.
To view the complete release in .pdf form, click
HERE
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Team Comparison (League Rank)
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MSU
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Category
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USF
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213.2 (2nd)
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Rushing Offense
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135.90 (12th)
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175.8 (14th)
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Passing Offense
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259.1 (6th)
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389.0 (10th)
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Total Offense
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395.0 (6th)
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35.4 (3rd)
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Scoring Offense
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34.1 (4th)
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77.0 (1st)
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Rushing Defense
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127.8 (6th)
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192.6 (2nd)
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Passing Defense
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254. 8 (14th)
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269.6 (1st)
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Total Defense
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382.6 (9th)
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16.8 (1st)
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Scoring Defense
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20.1 (T3rd)
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38.7 (9th)
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3rd Down Conversion %
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39.8 (8th)
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32:56 (1st)
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Time of Posession
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29:01 (11th)
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