With its sights set on capturing at least a share of its sixth Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference title in the past seven years and posting the school's fifth-ever unblemished regular season finish, the University of Minnesota Duluth will head to Minot, N.D., for a North Division matchup with Minot State University this Saturday (Nov. 15). Opening kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. at Herb Parker Stadium (4,000/artificial surface).

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THE RECORDS: UMD is 10-0 this fall (tied for first place in the 16-team NSIC with Minnesota State University-Mankato) while Mary owns a 1-9 record (15th place).

HOW THEY RANK: Here is how the Bulldogs and the Beavers stacked up in this week's American Football Coaches Association Division II and the D2Football.com polls and NCAA II Super Region Three Rankings

           AFCA    D2Football    Super 3     
UMD    No. 2    No. 2    No. 3
Minot    NR    NR    NR
        
THE BROADCAST: The UMD-Minot State bout will 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 1350 AM in Pine City, and KKIN-AM 93 in Atkin, Minn., as part of the Bulldog Radio Network and at: fan1490.com.

Saturday's regular season finale 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 21-2 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 83-9 (for a .902 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):  21-2 (2nd)
Overall Coaching Record (Year):    30-13 (4th)
Career NSIC Record:   20-1
Career UMD Home Record: 10-1
Career UMD Road Record: 11-1
vs. Minot State: 1-0

THE RIVALRY: UMD and Minot State have met on just two previous occasions with both coming since the 2012 season when the Beavers joined the NSIC. The Bulldogs prevailed 44-6 in the two clubs' first-ever confrontation on Oct. 13, 2012 in Minot and then shut down the Beavers 52-0 last fall (Oct. 19) at James S. Malosky Stadium.

LAST WEEK: UMD closed out its 2014 regular season home schedule this past Saturday with a 53-35 Senior Day triumph over the University of Mary. Sophomore Zach Bofferding rushed for a career-high four touchdowns and sophomore quarterback Drew Bauer completed 23-of-34 passes for 250 yards and two more scores for UMD, which lead 34-7 at the half.The Bulldogs also set 2014 single-game bests for both total offense (575 yards) and total plays in the win -- their eighth in eight career outings with the Marauders.

Minot State fell 27-14 to NSIC North Division rival St. Cloud State Saturday afternoon in Minot. The visiting Huskies scored the first 17 points of the game and never looked back although Minot State quarterback Zac Cunha wound up throwing for 315 yards and a touchdown while going 20-for-38.
    
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).

A SENIOR MOMENT: This Saturday will mark the final regular season appearance for UMD's 13 seniors. That group includes cornerback Daryl Brown, linebacker Gavin Brown defensive end Jacob Brusehaver, linebacker Gavin Grady, tight end Taylor Grant, linebacker/long snapper Yusef Hassan, tight end Ryan Miesbauer, offensive guard Andrew Muer, wide out/return specialist Aaron Roth, offensive tackle Phillip Rutz, running back Austin Sikorski (who, long with Brusehaver, is out for the rest of the year with a knee injury), defensive end Mitchell Ziegler and wide out/return specialist Zach Zweifel. Of that Baker's Dozen only nine players (Brusehaver, Grady, Hassan, Miesbauer, Murer, Rutz, Sikorski and Ziegler) remain from UMD's 29-member rookie class of 2010, when the Bulldogs last captured an NCAA II title. Brown, Roth and Zweifel were all called into action the following year as first-year freshmen while Daryl Brown and Grant subsequently joined the UMD program as transfers from the University of North Dakota. In addition, junior tight end Jay Schlichte, is also in his final year with the Bulldog program as he is scheduled to graduate later this year.

RUNNING THE TABLE: In its 81-year history, the Bulldogs have finished a regular season unbeaten or untied four times -- 1980 (10-0), 2002 (11-0), 2008 (11-0) and 2010 (11-0). The 2008 and 2010 clubs went on to win the NCAA II title while the 2002 Bulldogs were ousted in the first round of the NCAA II playoffs (the school's first berth in that event). In 1980, UMD was ranked ninth in the final NCAA II poll and only eight teams at that time advanced to the playoffs.

THE PRIDE OF THE NORTH: Since the NSIC instituted divisional play in 2008, the Bulldogs are a sizzling 42-2 in NSIC North Division assignments (24-0 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 27-2 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. UMD has already claimed a share of its seventh straight NSIC North Division crown and can win that title outright with a triumph Saturday in Minot.

AND THE BEAT GOES ON: UMD's 18-game regular season winning streak, 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
18        Sept. 28, 2013-present

COMING UP EMPTY: UMD's last shutout victory came at the expense of Minot State -- 52-0 on Oct. 19, 2013 at Malosky Stadium. In that win the then-No. 9 Bulldogs took advantage of three Minot State miscues to go up 17-0 (using just six offensive plays in the meantime) a little more than four minutes after the opening kickoff. They went on to hold the Beavers to minus-35 yards on the ground and just 138 yards overall.

A CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT: A victory at Minot State Saturday would give UMD at least a share of its 19th NSIC title (an outright crown is dependent on what Minnesota State University does at home against Upper Iowa University). The Bulldogs and Winona State have hoisted the NSIC championship trophy more times (18) than any other school. The Bulldogs have captured NSIC crowns in five of the past six years with 2013 being the exception (when they placed second to Minnesota State-Mankato).

ON THE LINE: The following are a few of the victory streaks the Bulldogs put on the line this Saturday at Minot State:

Consecutive Regular Season Wins: 18
Consecutive Regular Season Road Wins: 12
Consecutive NSIC Wins: 18
Consecutive NSIC North Division Wins: 19
Consecutive NSIC North Division Road Wins: 8

FANTASTIC FINISHES: The Bulldogs haven't closed out a regular season on a losing note since 2004 when St. Cloud State exited Malosky Stadium with a 28-0 North Central Conference triumph in tow.

STILL TIGHT WITH THE TURNOVERS: UMD has turned the ball over just eight times thus far in 2014 (tops in the NCAA II ranks), getting picked off on four occasions (only five schools have thrown less) and losing four fumbles (the sixth best fewest in the nation). The Bulldogs also rank 13th nationally in turnover ratio at a +12.

IN GOOD HANDS: Between them, the standout senior wide receiver tandem of Aaron Roth and Zach Zweifel have caught 292 passes for 3,649 yards and 30 touchdowns since they first emerged on the UMD landscape as true freshmen 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. Zach Zweifel (2011- )	159	2,159	16
6. Tony Doherty (2005-08)	148	1,861	15
7. Aaron Roth (2011- )	133	1,490	14

WHAT A RUSH: Through 10 games, the Bulldogs find themselves in familiar territory -- leading the NSIC in rushing offense. UMD is averaging 308.1 yards per game on the ground (the sixth best figure among all NCAA II schools) and 6.1 yards a carry thus far. The Bulldogs have been outrushed by an opponent just once since the 2012 opener -- a stretch of 35 games -- and that was at Bemidji State on Oct. 10, 2013 (258 yards to 203).
        
WHAT A RUSH II: Junior Logan Lauters paces both the Bulldogs and the NSIC in rushing with a career-high 1,151 yards and owns the fourth best per touch average (7.9) in the country at the moment. He's now rolled up 2,611 yards on the ground as a collegian (which puts him in the No. 10 position on UMD's all time leading run charts) and his 6.9 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 1,000 or more rushing yards. Lauters also has registered 11, 100-yard outings in a UMD uniform -- six in 2014 alone. Last month against Northern State, he became the 14th different Bulldog to reach the 200-yard run barrier in a single game.

UMD'S 100-YARD RUSHERS THIS SEASON

Date	Player	Opp.	Att.	Yds.	TD
Sept. 6	Logan Lauters	CSP	14	165	0
Sept. 20	Logan Lauters	SMSU	18	154	1
Sept. 20	Drew Bauer	SMSU	12	111	1
Sept. 20	Austin Sikorski	SMSU	16	103	1
Sept. 27	Logan Lauters	WSU	19	128	0
Sept. 27	Austin Sikorski	WSU	21	120	0
Oct. 4	Logan Lauters	MSUM	13	107	1
Oct. 4	Austin Sikorski	MSUM	11	102	4
Oct. 18	Logan Lauters	NSU	15	200	1
Oct. 18	Drew Bauer	NSU	12	126	2
Nov. 1	Nate Beaulieu	UMC	13	101	1
Nov. 8	Logan Lauters	UM	21	147	2

DOING THAT THING YOU DREW: Drew Bauer, who is now 21-2 as a collegiate starter, has run for the second most yards (712) and been responsible for the second points (178) of any NSIC quarterback. He also possess the best pass efficiency rating (144.1) of any league combatant. Although his football career hasn't yet hit the midway point, the Inver Grove Heights, Minn., native already has climbed into 5th place on UMD's all-time total offense list with 4,846 yards -- 350 behind the No. 4 occupant, quarterback Trevor Theelke (1995-98).

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 (.901) than UMD. In terms of victories over that stretch, the Bulldogs (83) are second only to defending national champion Northwest Missouri State University (84).
    

Team	W-L	Pct.
1. UMD	83-9	.902
2. Northwest Missouri State	84-12	.875
3. Bloomsburg	68-14	.829
4. Minnesota State-Mankato	68-15	.819
5. Colorado State-Pueblo	63-16	.797
6. Grand Valley State	70-19	.787
7. California U (Pa.)	66-20	.767
8. Shepherd University	59-19	.756
9. Pittsburg State	60-21	.741
10. West Texas A&M	64-23	.736

YOUNG PUPS: Of the 105 individuals who comprise the 2014 Bulldog roster, only 26 are either seniors (13) or juniors (13). There are 20 sophomores, 22 redshirt freshmen and 37 first-year rookies.

WHERE THEY'RE FROM: Nearly 60 percent of the current crop of Bulldogs are from Minnesota -- some 62 in all -- and another 38 UMD players are Wisconsin natives. Indiana (2), Washington (2) and Illinois (1) are home to the remaining five Bulldogs.

BULLDOG BITS: The last time the Bulldogs paid a visit to Herb Parker Stadium in Minot (Oct. 13, 2012), current junior inside linbacker Brent Stiglich came off the bench to register a career-best 10 total tackles ... the eight pass receptions Zach Zweifel collected last Saturday against Mary matched his personal collegiate best ... Senior outside linebacker Gavin Brown needs three more tackles to become the fifth Bulldog to reach the 100-stop mark for their careers this fall. He'll join senior inside linebacker Gavin Grady (142), junior outside linebacker Nate Zibolski (120), junior free safety David Boegel (117) and junior cornerback Darion Fletcher (112) in that club ... junior Andrew Brees, a Fred Mitchell Award Kicker of the Month honoree for September and October, has compiled the best field goal percentage (.714), booted his way into the UMD record books this two Saturday go by by converting all 11 of his extra points in UMD's 77-3 thrashing of the University of Minnesota-Crookston .... Senior wide out and return specialist Aaron Roth is the lone Bulldog who has played in all 49 games over the past four seasons ... The Bulldogs have intercepted nine passes this season, with a team-high three of those thefts falling in the hands of second-year sophomore strong safety Hunter Malberg ... Running back Nate Beaulieu, cornerback Dillon Martinez and punter Shawn Magee are the only three true freshmen to see playing time for the Bulldogs in 2014 ... UMD has come away with points (including 40 touchdowns) in 50 of its 59 red zone visits this season (84.7 percent). Four of the nine times it failed to score was due to the half running out and another three because of turnovers.

ON TAP: UMD's 2014 postseason fate will be determined this Sunday (Nov. 16) when the NCAA II playoff field is officially announced at 4 p.m. CT on ncaa.com. The Bulldogs have qualified for the NCAA II playoffs six straight seasons, a active run unequaled by all but one NCAA II club (Northwest Missouri State with 10).