The University of Minnesota Duluth, riding the crest of a 13-game regular season winning streak, will engage in its first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division road assignment of 2014 this Saturday afternoon (Oct. 11) when the Bulldogs square off with St. Cloud State University. Opening kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Husky Stadium (4,198 capacity/artificial turf) on the St. Cloud State campus.

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THE RECORDS: UMD is off to a 5-0 start this fall (tied for first place with the University of Sioux Falls, Minnesota State University-Mankato and Upper Iowa University in the overall NSIC standings) while St. Cloud State sports a 2-3 record (tied for ninth with the University of Mary).

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

                AFCA       D2Football    
UMD        No. 4           No. 5
SCSU        NR              NR
        
THE BROADCAST: The Bulldog-Husky clash will also be carried live locally on 1490 The Fan (KQDS-AM) with Jeff Papas handling the play-by-play responsibilities 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 910 AM in Hayward, Wis.; 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: www.fan1490.com.

In addition, Saturday afternoon's game will be videostreammed 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 16-2 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 78-9 (for a .896 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): 16-2 (2nd)
Overall Coaching Record (Year): 25-13 (4th)
Career NSIC Record: 15-1
Career UMD Home Record: 8-1
Career UMD Road Record: 8-1
vs. St. Cloud State: 1-0

THE SERIES: The Bulldogs and Huskies have collided 46 times previously in a rivalry which began back in 1933 -- the third year of intercollegiate football at UMD. St. Cloud State holds a slim 24-22 lead in the all-time series, but is just 2-8 in its last 10 meetings with its long-time intrastate adversary. The Huskies had won two straight over the Bulldogs (51-49 on Sept. 29, 2012 and 35-7 on Oct. 27, 2011 -- both in St. Cloud) until one year ago (Oct. 5) when Homecoming host and No. 11 ranked UMD spotted No. 18 St. Cloud State a 7-0 second-quarter lead then closed out the day with 34 unanswered points to win 34-7.  Then junior running back Austin Sikorski ran 17 times for 177 yards and two touchdowns while sophomore backfield mate Logan Lauters added 107 ground yards and scored twice on 12 carries for the Bulldogs, who rolled up a season-high 471 yards of rushing offense and held the then-unbeaten Huskies to just 190 yards overall.

LAST WEEK: UMD got into the end zone on six of its first seven possession of the night and went on to flatten Minnesota State University-Moorhead 63-28 at James S. Malosky Stadium. The Bulldogs ran for 367 yards in the victory -- their 13th straight over the Dragons -- with junior Logan Lauters (107 yards and one touchdown) and senior backfield mate Austin Sikorski (102 yards on just 11 touches) inflicting  most of the damage. Sophomore quarterback Drew Bauer was 10-of-16 through the air for 147 yards and one score.

St. Cloud State overcame a 24-17 halftime deficit by scoring 28 unanswered points in the final two quarters and sailed to a 45-24 victory over the winless Golden Eagles of the University of Minnesota Crookston. The Huskies outgained the Eagles 520-246 in total yards and 26-11 in first downs en route to claiming their first road win of 2014.  

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.). 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 37-2 in NSIC North Division play (20-0 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.

GRANITE CITY SHOOT OUT: UMD is 0-2 in its last two trips to Husky Stadium and that includes a wild 51-49 defeat two years ago. In that loss, the Bulldogs were seconds away from wfrom keeping their perfect 2012 record intact, but a walk-off touchdown on the final play of the night by St. Cloud State quashed those plans. The Bulldogs, after falling behind for the first time all game with 2:09 to go in the fourth quarter, regained the lead at 49-45 on senior quarterback Chase Vogler's 35-yard touchdown scamper only to see the Huskies take the ensuing kick off and march 75 yards on 10 plays. That 76-second drive was capped off with an eight-yard scoring reception by Michael Walker with no ticks on the clock left.

WHAT A RUSH: Through five games, the Bulldogs find themselves in familiar territory -- leading the NSIC in rushing offense. UMD is averaging 314.6 yards per game on the ground (the fifth best figure among all NCAA II schools) and 6.3 yards a carry thus far in 2014.

WHAT A RUSH II: With his 102-yard night Saturday against MSU-Moorhead, senior running back Austin Sikorski moved up to third on UMD's all-time rushing charts, supplanting Brad Foss (3,001 yards between 2007-10). Sikorski, the 2014 NSIC North Division Preaseason Offensive Player of the Year, has now run for 3,071 yards  -- only six active NCAA II combatants have more) -- while averaging 6.0 yards per carry. That's the third best mark of any UMD runner with over 2,000 yards on the ground. The 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 already 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- )	513	3,071	6.0	42

WHAT A RUSH III: Logan Lauters eclipsed the 2,000-yard career rushing plateau over the weekend and will come into Saturday's engagement at St. Cloud State with 2,006 yards to his collegiate credit. 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 attempts.

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.

FAN FAVORITES: In the 11-year history of Husky Stadium, three of the top four largest single-game crowds have involved games with the Bulldogs (UMD's last three trips to St. Cloud, in fact):
 

Attend.	Date	Opponent
1. 5,558	Oct. 29, 2011	UMD
2. 5,102	Oct. 18, 2008	UMD
3. 4,671	Aug. 27, 2009	Augustana
4. 4,524	Sept. 29, 2012	UMD

 
ON A ROLL: UMD has now reeled off 13 consecutive regular season triumphs going back to 21-17 home loss to Minnesota State-Mankato on Sept. 21, 2013.

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 (.895) than UMD. In terms of victories over that stretch, the Bulldogs (78) is second only to defending national champion Northwest Missouri State University (80).
    

Team	W-L	Pct.
1. UMD	78-9	.896
2. Northwest Missouri State	80-11	.879
3. Bloomsburg	63-14	.818
4. Minnesota-State Mankato	63-15	.808
5. Grand Valley State	67-17	.798
6. Colorado State-Pueblo	59-15	.797
7. Shepherd University	56-17	.767
8. California U. (Pa.)	62-19	.765
9. West Texas A&M	60-22	.732
10. Pittsburgh State	55-21	.724

WHATEVER WORKS: In last Saturday's 63-28 win over MSU-Moorhead,  sophomore quarterback Drew Bauer became the first Bulldog in history to achieve the touchdown "trifecta" as he threw for one touchdown, ran for another, and caught a third (an 11-yard toss from freshman wide out Nate Ricci). Bauer now has two career touchdown receptions, picking up his first in the 2013 regular season finale at Northern State. He also has rushed for 1,134 yards (on 219 tries) in 18 career starts with the Bulldogs.

IN GOOD HANDS: Between them, the standout senior wide receiver tandem of Aaron Roth and Zach Zweifel have caught 251 passes for 3,090 yards and 22 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- )	137	1,826	14
7. Aaron Roth (2011- )	114	1,264	8

IN THE ZONE: UMD has come away with points (including 16 touchdowns) in 23 of its 27 red zone visits this season. Two of the four times it failed to score was due to the half running out and once was on a loss of downs.

BULLDOG BITS: True sophomore strong safety Hunter Malberg picked off two MSU-Moorhead passes Saturday night, matching his entire 2013 pick total ... UMD has allowed just two first-quarter touchdown the entire season while outscoring the opposition 49-14 in the opening 15 minutes of play ... Redshirt freshman James Conner parlayed his first collegiate pass reception into a touchdown (from seven yards out) last Saturday at Malosky Stadium. He and fellow redshirt freshman running back Nick Larson ran the ball for the first time as collegians  that night as well ... Senior wide out and return specialist Aaron Roth is the lone Bulldog who has played in all 44 games over the past four seasons. He kept that ironman streak alive last Saturday while filling a reserve role in the defensive secondary (where he was credited with a pair of tackles).. 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 .... Dillon Martinez  made his first collegiate start (at right cornerback) Saturday against MSU-Moorhead. He and punter Shawn Magee are the lone two first-year freshman to see playing time thus far in 2014.

ON TAP: The Bulldogs will welcome Northern State University to Malosky Stadium as their Homecoming guests on Oct. 18.