The University of Minnesota Duluth will continue on its diet of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division competition this Saturday (Oct. 18) when the Bulldogs host Northern State University in their annual Homecoming game. The opening kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. at James S. Malosky Stadium (4,500 capacity/artificial turf) on the UMD campus.

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THE RECORDS: UMD is off to a 6-0 start this fall (tied for first place with Minnesota State University-Mankato and the University of Sioux Falls) while Northern State owns a 4-2 record (tied for fifth place with Wayne State University).

HOW THEY RANK: Here is how the Bulldogs and Wolves stacked up in this week's American Football Coaches Association Division II and the D2Football.com polls.

              AFCA    D2Football  
UMD        No. 3    No. 4
NSU        NR    NR
       
THE BROADCAST: The UMD-Northern State clash will also be carried live locally on 1490 The Fan (KQDS-AM) with Jeff Papas handling the play-by-play responsibilities and ex-University of North Dakota offensive lineman Gregg Swartwoudt providing color commentary. The broadcast can also be heard on KQ 105.5 FM in Grand Rapids/Hibbing, Minn.; KQ 106.7 FM in Ely/Virginia, Minn.; Red Zone Sports Radio 1350 AM in Pine City, and KKIN-AM 93 in Atkin, Minn., as part of the Bulldog Radio Network and at: fan1490.com.

For the seventh consecutive year, My9 (KBJR DT 6.2/KRII DT 11.9) is televising all UMD home games, including the one Saturday afternoon against Northern State. Northland Newscenter sports director Zach Schneider and former long-time UMD defensive coordinator Vince Repesh will serve as the on-air talent. The telecast, which is also available locally on Charter and Mediacom cable, will be videostreammed as well and can be accessed for free at: portal.stretchinternet.com/umd.

THE COACH: Curt Wiese, who was promoted to the UMD head coaching position on Dec. 21, 2012 after spending the previous five years as its offensive coordinator, is now 17-2 with the Bulldogs. One year ago he guided UMD to an 11-2 overall record, a sixth straight berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs, a sixth NSIC North Division title in as many years and a No. 8 national ranking in the final AFCA Division II poll. Wiese's troops also shined in the classroom last fall as 14 Bulldogs earned NSIC All-Academic Team status, including offensive lineman Andrew Pattock, who was named a first team CoSIDA Academic All-American.

For his exemplary efforts, Wiese was selected the 2013 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award winner for Division II, a prestigious honor recognizing coaches for their responsibility, integrity, sportsmanship and excellence, on and off the field.

During Wiese's successful five-season run as the team's offensive coordinator, the Bulldogs finished near the top of the NCAA II leader board four times in scoring (third in 2012 with a school-record 46.5 points per game average, fifth in 2008, sixth in 2010 and ninth in 2009) and in 2012 possessed the nation's seventh best rushing attack (after ranking seventh, fourth, and third, respectively, in that department the previous three seasons). The 2012 Bulldogs were also the nation's leader in third down conversions (54.8 percent). In addition, no less than 15 of his pupils landed some kind of All-American recognition, including a pair of Harlon Hill Award finalists -- quarterback Ted Schlafke (2008), the school's career passing and total offense leader, and running back Isaac Odim (2009), UMD's No. 1 all-time ground gainer and scorer and the holder of 17 school records. In addition, his starting offensive guard from 2009-12, Garth Heikkinen, became the school's first recipient of the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year of Award and earned a playing spot in the annual East-West Shrine Game in January 2013.

Since Wiese's arrival at UMD in February 2008, the Bulldogs have gone 79-9 (for a .898 winning percentage while capturing two NCAA II national championships (2008 and 2010) along with five overall NSIC titles while producing two perfect 15-0 seasons.

Wiese, 38, came to UMD following two years of employment as the head coach at NCAA III member Marietta College (Ohio). He compiled a 9-11 career overall record with the Pioneers, including a 6-4 mark in 2006. The Stoughton, Wis., native signed on with the Marietta football program in 2003 when he became the team's offensive coordinator -- a duty he continued to maintain after he was elevated to head coach. In five years of directing the Marietta offense, Wiese helped churn out two All-Americans and 12 All-Ohio Athletic Conference selections and was a finalist for the 2004 AFCA Division III Assistant Coach of the Year Award.

Prior to his move to Marietta, Wiese worked as a graduate assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, tutoring the tight ends for two years and the offensive line for one season. He entered the coaching arena a little over a dozen years ago on the heels of a four-year collegiate playing career. After three seasons at Minnesota State University-Mankato (1995-97), Wiese transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where as a senior in 1998, he quarterbacked the Pointers to a share of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title.

WIESE BY THE NUMBERS
Record at UMD (Year): 17-2 (2nd)
Overall Coaching Record (Year): 26-13 (4th)
Career NSIC Record: 16-1
Career UMD Home Record:  8-1
Career UMD Road Record: 9-1
vs. Northern State: 1-0

THE SERIES: UMD and Northern State will meet for the 32nd time ever Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs hold a 21-10-0 lead in the all-time series, which began on Nov. 8, 1980 in Duluth, and have reeled off six straight victories at the Wolves' expense. That includes a 39-7 regular-season triumph one year ago (Nov. 16) in Aberdeen, S.D., where UMD reeled off 39 unanswered points after the Wolves hit pay dirt on their first series of the day.

LAST WEEK: The Bulldogs passed their first NSIC North Division road test of 2014 with flying colors by rolling past St. Cloud State 44-21 Saturday afternoon. The Huskies struck for a quick 7-0 on their second play from scrimmage before UMD responded with 21 straight points (capitalizing on two Husky turnovers in the process) and never looked back. Sophomore quarterback Drew Bauer had a career afternoon, completing 20 of 31 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns while tacking on 82 more yards and one score on the ground. The Bulldogs limited the Huskies to just 115 total yards the entire second half and 309 yards on the afternoon with only 58 of those yards came via the rush (on 26 tries).

Northern State rallied for a 40-38 road victory over Minnesota State University-Moorhead Saturday. Freshman tailback Nick Truen ran 15 times for 152 yards and one touchdown for the Wolves, who trailed 32-21 with just over four minutes to go in the third quarter. Minnesota State-Moorhead amassed 578 total yards on a school-record 101 plays and 32 first downs (one shy of the program mark) in the setback.

THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING: The Bulldogs' team captaincy responsibilities this fall are being shared by a trio of seniors -- defensive end Jacob Brusehaver, linebacker/long snapper Yusef Hassan, and wide out/return specialist Aaron Roth. Roth served in that same role last year and is UMD's first two-time captain since 2008 (quarterback Ted Schlafke).

HIGH EXPECTATIONS, AGAIN: In their annual preseason poll the NSIC coaches picked the Bulldogs to finish first in both the North Division and overall standings this fall. UMD garnered eight first-place votes and 215 points -- three more than Minnesota State University-Mankato, which received seven votes. Winona State University, a member of the South Division, was third with 189 points (and the remaining first-place vote) followed by North Division colleague St. Cloud State (183 pts.), the University of Sioux Falls (147 pts.) and Augustana College (145 pts.). Northern State (96 pts.) was projected to place 10th The Bulldogs, have been tabbed as the overall NSIC preseason favorite during all but one of their previous eight years of league membership (2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2003 -- they belonged to the now-defunct North Central Conference from 2004-07).

THE PRIDE OF THE NORTH: Since the NSIC instituted divisional play in 2008, the Bulldogs are a sizzling 38-2 in NSIC North Division play (21-0 at home) with both of those two losses coming to St. Cloud State (51-49 in 2012 and 35-7 in 2011). They've also gone 26-2 versus South Division opponents over that same period with setbacks to Minnesota State-Mankato (21-17 in Duluth one year ago) and to host Wayne State (7-0 in 2011) being the only two setbacks.

DOING THAT THING YOU DREW: It took nearly a year since the last one, but UMD finally got itself a NSIC Player of the Week. Drew Bauer landed the league's latest offensive honor after throwing for a career-high 326 yards and two touchdowns and tacking on a game-high 82 yards and one score on the ground in Saturday's convincing triumph at St. Cloud State. Bauer' passing yardage and total offense (408 yards) were both the highest by a Bulldog since the 2007 season finale (All-American Ted Schlafke rolled up 350 and 495 yards at St. Cloud State) and ranked 11th and fifth, respectively, on UMD's all-time single-game charts. Bauer is the first Bulldog to receive a NSIC Player of the Week citation since Nov. 6, 2013 when Aaron Roth was chosen the Special Teams recipient (he was the only UMD individual to be so honored that entire season). In addition, Bauer was also chosen as a USA College Football Player of the Week for his position, marking the second straight time UMD has been recognized by that group (senior running back Austin Sikorski and senior tight end Taylor Grant were both cited the previous week).

AND THE BEAT GOES ON: The Bulldogs will come into the Homecoming bout with Northern State toting a 14-game regular season winning streak. That run, which began a week after a 21-17 home loss to Minnesota State-Mankato on Sept. 21, 2013, is the third longest of its kind in program history:

Games  Dates
22    -      Sept. 12, 2009-Sept. 10, 2011
20     -     Nov. 3, 1979-Oct. 24, 1981
14      -    Sept. 28, 2013-present

TIGHT ON THE TURNOVERS: UMD has committed just three turnovers thus far in 2014 (no NCAA II school has fewer), getting picked off twice and losing but one fumble.

YOUNG PUPS: Of the 106 individuals who comprise the 2014 Bulldog roster, only 26 are either juniors (12) or seniors (14). There are 20 sophomores, 22 redshirt freshmen and 38 first-year rookies.

WHERE THEY'RE FROM: Nearly 60 percent of the current crop of Bulldogs are from Minnesota -- some 63 in all -- and another 38 UMD players are Wisconsin natives. Indiana (2), Washington (2), and Illinois (1) are home to the remaining five Bulldogs.

IN GOOD HANDS: Between them, the standout senior wide receiver tandem of Aaron Roth and Zach Zweifel have caught 258 passes for 3,252 yards and 23 touchdowns since they first emerged on the UMD landscape as true freshman in 2011. Here's where they both stand on UMD's all-time catch charts:

UMD CAREER PASS RECEIVING LEADERS

Player (Years)	No.	Yds.	TD
1. Tim Battaglia (2000-03)	189	3,685	38
2. Steve Battaglia (1999-02)	182	3,037	33
3. Greg Aker (2003-06)	178	2,211	25
4. D.J. Winfield (2007-10)	170	2,896	27
5. Tony Doherty (2005-2008)	148	1,861	15
6. Zach Zweifel (2011- )	142	1,929	14
7. Aaron Roth (2011- )	116	1,323	9

WHAT A RUSH: Through six games, the Bulldogs find themselves in familiar territory -- leading the NSIC in rushing offense. UMD is averaging 294.8 yards per game on the ground (the seventh best figure among all NCAA II schools) and 6.1 yards a carry thus far in 2014. The Bulldogs have been outrushed by an opponent only once since the 2011 opener -- a stretch of 31 games -- and that was at Bemidji State on Oct. 10, 2013 (258 yards to 203).

WHAT A RUSH II: Austin Sikorski has a shot of climbing into second place on UMD's all-time rushing charts this Saturday. The 2014 NSIC North Division Preaseason Offensive Player of the Year has now run for 3,103 yards (only six active NCAA II combatants have more), putting him 125 yards behind the No. 2 occupant o that list, Dave Rufledt (2001-04). Sikorski, a two-time All-NSIC honoree (first team in 2013 and second team the previous year) leads all active Bulldogs in 100-yard rushing days with 14, including three this fall.

UMD CAREER RUSHING LEADERS

Player (Years)	Att.	Yds.	Avg.	TD
1. Issac Odim (2008-10)	589	4,242	7.2	72
2. Dave Rufledt (2001-04)	648	3,228	5.1	47
3. Austin Sikorski (2011- )	529	3,103	5.9	43

WHAT A RUSH III: Junior Logan Lauters has rolled up 2,140 yards on the ground during his UMD career and his 6.8 yards per carry average takes a backseat only to three-time All-American Isaac Odim's 7.2 clip (2008-10) among all-time Bulldogs with 2,000 or more rushing yards. Lauters also has registered nine 100-yard outings in a UMD uniform -- four in 2014 alone. In the 2014 season opener against Concordia University-St. Paul, Lauters ran for a career-best and 2014 UMD single-game high 165 yards on just 14 touches.

QUITE A RUN: Going back to the start of the 2008 season, no NCAA II outfit in the country has produced a better winning percentage (.898) than UMD. In terms of victories over that stretch, the Bulldogs (79) is second only to defending national champion Northwest Missouri State University (81).
 

Team	W-L	Pct.
1. UMD	79-9	.898
2. Northwest Missouri State	81-11	.880
3. Bloomsburg	64-14	.821
4. Minnesota-State Mankato	64-15	.810
5. Grand Valley State	68-17	.800
6. Colorado State-Pueblo	59-16	.787
7. Shepherd University	57-17	.770
8. California U. (Pa.)	63-19	.768
9. West Texas A&M	61-22	.735
10. Pittsburgh State	56-21	.727

GET IN THE ZONE: UMD has come away with points (including 21 touchdowns) in 28 of its 33 red zone visits this season (84.8 percent). Two of the five times it failed to score was due to the half running out.

WELCOME BACK: The 1979 Bulldogs will be UMD's Homecoming guests of honor this Saturday at Malosky Stadium. That group won a share of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference title three years after UMD had returned to that circuit following a 26-season run in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Under the direction of the legendary Jim Malosky, the Bulldogs posted an 8-2 overall record, a 7-1 NIC mark and assembled the  start of what would eventually turn into a school-record 20-game winning streak (one that would stretch until the end of the 1981 season).

BULLDOG BITS: Northern State has dropped six straight decisions to the Bulldogs since throttling them 46-7 on Sept. 27, 2003 in Aberdeen ... Sophomore quarterback Drew Bauer has spread his 76 pass completions this fall amongst 10 receivers. He has also one reception to his 2014 credit which he parlayed into a second career touchdown ... UMD has won 28 of its last 30 games at Malosky Stadium ... The Bulldogs have picked off four passes this season, with two of those thefts being recorded by second-year sophomore strong safety Hunter Malberg in UMD's 63-21 thrashing of Minnesota State-Moorhead two weeks ago. Senior cornerback Daryl Brown and sophomore defensive end Tim Sommer (last week at St. Cloud State) have the two other interceptions ... UMD has allowed just three, first-quarter touchdown the entire season while outscoring the opposition 56-21 in the opening 15 minutes of play ... Senior wide out and return specialist Aaron Roth is the lone Bulldog who has played in all 45 games over the past four seasons ... Right cornerback Dillon Martinez and punter Shawn Magee are the lone two first-year freshmen to see playing time thus far in 2014 ... Junior Andrew Brees was among 24 placekickers who were cited by the Fred Mitchell Award committee for their excellence on the football field and in the community during the month of September. This season Brees has made good on six of eight field goals and six of seven extra points in addition to scoring once on a two-point conversion run.

UP NEXT: The Bulldogs will remain at Malosky Stadium on Oct. 25 to host Bemidji State University.