Box Score Different year. Same result.

Bolstered by a pair of touchdown runs by junior Austin Sikorskl and a stifling defense, the University of Minnesota Duluth opened the 2013 season the same way it has for the past 14 years -- with a victory. The five-time defending Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division champions hit pay dirt on their first series Saturday night and never looked back in cruising to a 32-7 triumph over the University of Sioux Falls in the first-ever meeting between the two clubs. The game marked the debut of Bulldog head coach Curt Wiese.

An overflow crowd of 5,217 at James S. Malosky Stadium also saw No. 11 UMD extend its NSIC home winning streak to 41 games -- a run which dates back to September 2000.

The first of Sikorski's two touchdowns -- a 19-yard jaunt -- gave UMD a 7-0 lead 2:45 into the game. The Bulldog then got two field goals from sophomore Andrew Brees from 40 and 29 yards (both coming after Sioux Falls turnovers) and added a 15-yard scoring run from starting redshirt freshman quarterback Drew Bauer to go up 19-0 at the half.  Sikorski made it 25-0 with 12:22 to go in the third quarter when he plowed in from two yards out before Luke Papilon broke the UMD's shut out bid with a short rushing touchdown of his own midway less than four minutes later. Sophomore Eric Kline, a transfer from South Dakota State University, hooked up with junior wide receiver Zach Zweifel on an 18-yard touchdown strike at the 1:33 mark of the third to cap the scoring.

"Overall it was a great first game for us," said Bauer, who completed 10 of 16 passes for 68 yards and ran for another 58 yards on 10 carries. "We got off to running start and played with confidence."
Sikorski, a 2012 All-NSIC North Division second team selection, rushed 24 times for a game-high 97 yards while sophomore backfield mate Logan Lauters chipped in with 79 yards on 15 attempts. UMD generated 381 yards of total offense (including 275 ground) and held the Cougars to just 144 yards on the night -- the lowest output by a Bulldog opponent since Oct. 31, 2009 (138 yards by the University of Minnesota Crookston). In addition, the Bulldogs sacked Papillon and fellow Cougar quarterback Matt Young five times, recovered two fumbles and came away with a one pick (by senior cornerback Kenny Chowa). The Bulldogs have now registered at least one interception in each of their last seven games going back to last year. Senior defensive end Chris Vandervest was credited with eight total tackles, which equaled a personal best and paced UMD.

"We came out with the intensity that we needed and did what we needed to do," said Vandervest, a two-time All-NSIC North Division honoree. "Creating turnovers was our emphasis during training camp and it obviously showed tonight."

UMD will be at Upper Iowa University next Saturday for another NSIC night clash. The Peacocks are also off to a 1-0 start, having blasted Minnesota Crookston 47-0 this past Friday in Crookston.