After pulling out a dramatic come-from-behind home victory in the opening round of the NCAA II playoffs last weekend, the University of Minnesota Duluth will now take its 2014 postseason show on the road to Arkadelphia, Ark., this Saturday (Nov. 29) to face Ouachita Baptist University. Opening kickoff is set for 12 p.m. at Cliff Harris Stadium (6,550 capacity/natural grass) on the OBU campus.

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THE RECORDS: UMD is a perfect 12-0 overall and went 11-0 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Sun Conference play to claim a share of the league title (with Minnesota State University-Mankato). Ouachita Baptist sports a 10-0 record in all games and place first in the 11-team Great American Conference with that same mark.

HOW THEY RANK: Here is how the Bulldogs and the Tigers stacked up in the latest American Football Coaches Association Division II and the D2Football.com polls as well NCAA II Super Region Three Rankings

    AFCA    D2Football    Super 3     
UMD    No. 2    No. 2    No. 4
OBU    No. 7    No. 13    No. 1
        
THE BROADCAST: The UMD-Ouachita Baptist 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.

In addition, Saturday's game will be videostreammed and can be accessed at: new.livestream.com/obu/football/

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 23-2 with the Bulldogs. One year ago, he guided UMD to an 11-2 overall record, a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs, an 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 85-9 (for an NCAA II-best .904 winning percentage) while capturing two NCAA II national championships (2008 and 2010), six overall NSIC titlesa and seven NSIC North Division crowns. They've also made seven NCII playoff appearances and produced 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): 23-2 (2nd)
Overall Coaching Record (Year): 32-13 (4th)
Career NSIC Record 21-1
Career UMD Home Record: 1-1
Career UMD Road Record: 12-1
Career NCAA II Playoff Record: 2-1
vs. Ouachita Baptist: 0-0

THE SERIES: The Bulldogs and Ouachita Baptist will meet for the first time ever this Saturday. In fact, UMD has never faced any of the current 11 members of the Great American Conference.

LAST WEEK: UMD punched its ticket to Arkadelphia by rallying for a 25-21 victory over No. 6 Northwest Missouri State University Saturday afternoon at James S. Malosky Stadium. The Bulldogs trailed the defending NCAA II champions 21-6 with less than 11 minutes to go before striking for three touchdowns and 19 unanswered points in span of 9:41. Sophomore quarterback Drew Bauer capped the largest comeback playoff victory in program history with a four-yard scoring run with 26 seconds remaining in regulation. Bauer figured in all four UMD touchdowns -- passing for two and running for two others -- and finished with a game-high 131 yards rushing on a career-best 25 carries. He also completed 12 of 22 throws for 106 yards with no picks but was sacked three times. The Bulldogs as a team rushed for 230 yards -- the most given up by Northwest Missouri State this fall (it had allowed a NCAA II-best 58.1 yards per game coming into the day) and 313 yards of total offense, including 183 in the fourth quarter. Sophomore inside linebacker Beau Bates was credited with a personal-best (and a UMD 2014 single-game high) 13 total tackles, the last of which came on the final play of the day, while senior outside linebacker Gavin Brown had a hand in 12 stops in his last collegiate home appearance.

Ouachita Baptist has been idle since overpowering cross-town rival Henderson State University (which was ranked 14th in the AFCA poll at the time) 41-20 in the 88th annual Battle of the Ravine on Nov. 15.
    
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).

THESE 'DOGS HAD THEIR (NSIC) DAY: A league-high 20 Bulldogs were recognized All-NSIC honors fir 2014. Headlining that list was senior offensive guard Andrew Muer, who attained All-NSIC North Division first team status for the second straight year (the lone Bulldog to do so). He was joined on that 27-member group by sophomore offensive tackle Peter Bateman, junior free safety David Boegel, junior placekicker Andrew Brees, senior inside linebacker Gavin Grady, junior nose tackle Jonathan Harden, junior running back Logan Lauters, and senior offensive tackle Phillip Rutz. UMD placed another eight players on the All-NSIC North Division second team: sophomore inside linebacker Beau Bates, sophomore quarterback Drew Bauer, senior outside linebacker Gavin Brown, junior cornerback Darion Fletcher, sophomore offensive guard Connor Randall, senior wide receiver Aaron Roth, senior running back Austin Sikorski, and senior wide receiver Zach Zweifel. In addition, honorable mention acclaim was secured by senior defensive end Jacob Brusehaver, sophomore defensive end Jake Lambrecht, sophomore strong safety Hunter Malberg, junior outside linebacker Nathan Zibolski and Roth (as a return specialist). Sikorski (first team in 2013 and second team in 2012), Roth (first team in 2012 and second team last fall) and Zweifel (second team both 2012 and 2011) are all three-time All-NSIC North Division honorees while Brees (first team in 2012), Bateman (second team in 2013), Lauters (second team in 2012), Zibolski (honorable mention in 2013) and Muer have earned all-league distinction twice.

AND THE BEAT GOES ON: UMD's current 12-game winning streak is the fourth longest in program history:
Games    Dates
20        Nov. 3, 1979-Oct. 24, 1981
17        Nov. 10, 2007- Aug. 29, 2009
17        Sept. 4, 2010 -Sept. 10, 2011
12        Sept. 6, 2014-present

PLAYOFF PASTS: This marks the ninth year -- all since 2002 -- the Bulldogs have been invited to the NCAA II dance and they are 13-6 in their 19 lifetime playoff assignments. A complete listing of UMD's NCAA II playoff appearances is as follows:

Date	Opponent	Round	UMD-Opp
11/23/02	at Northwest Missouri State	1st	41-45
11/12/05	at North Dakota	1st	12-23
11/22/08	Chadron State	2nd	20-10
11/29/08	at Grand Valley State	Qrt.	19-13 2OT
12/6/08	At California U. (Pa.)	Semis	45-7
12/13/08	Northwest Missouri State	Champ.	21-14
11/21/09	Nebraska-Kearney	2nd	42-7
11/28/09	Grand Valley State	Qrt.	10-24
11/27/10	St. Cloud State	2nd	20-17 OT
12/4/10	Augustana College	Qrt.	24-13
12/11/10	Northwest Missouri State	Semis	17-13
12/18/10	Delta State	Champ	20-17
11/19/11	Saginaw Valley State	1st	30-27 OT
11/26/11	at CSU-Pueblo	2nd	24-21
12/3/11	Wayne State (Mich.)	Qrt.	25-31
11/17/12	at Missouri Western	1st	55-57 OT
11/23/13	Emporia State	1st	55-13
11/30/13	at Northwest Missouri State	2nd	21-45
11/22/14	Northwest Missouri State	1st	25-21

Home: 8-2 Road: 3-4 Neutral Site: 2-0.

TOP 'DOGS: UMD captured a share of its league-record 19th NSIC championship this fall -- and did so with the most wins (11) in program history. In addition to owning more NSIC crowns than any other institution (they have one more than Winona State University), the Bulldogs have compiled an all-time winning percentage of .738 (off a 231-80-5 record), which is second only to Sioux Falls's .758 mark (25-8 in three seasons of NSIC membership).

ON THE RIGHT TRACK: This marks the third time in the 82-year history of Bulldog football that a UMD club is 12-0. The 2008 and 2010 Bulldogs also hit that mark before both went to finish 15-0 and bring home an NCAA II championship.

A SENIOR MOMENT: This is the final NCAA II playoff go-around 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.

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 (.902) than UMD. In terms of victories over that stretch, the Bulldogs and Northwest Missouri State (85) share the nation's lead with 85 while Minnesota State-Mankato (70) is a distant third.

Team	W-L	Pct.
1. UMD	85-9	.904
2. Northwest Missouri State	84-13	.867
3. Minnesota State-Mankato	69-15	.821
4. Bloomsburg	68-15	.819
5. Colorado State-Pueblo	64-16	.800
6. Grand Valley State	71-19	.789
7. California U (Pa.)	67-20	.770
8. Shepherd University	59-20	.747
9. Pittsburg State	62-21	.746
10. West Texas A&M	64-24	.727

   
THE PRIDE OF THE NORTH: Since the NSIC instituted divisional play in 2008, the Bulldogs are a sizzling 43-2 in NSIC North Division assignments (25-0 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 captured its seventh straight NSIC North Division crown this fall.

STILL TIGHT WITH THE TURNOVERS: UMD has turned the ball over just 10 times thus far in 2014 (the second fewest in the NCAA II ranks), getting picked off on six occasions and losing four fumbles (only five schools have less). The Bulldogs also rank 13th nationally in turnover ratio at a +14.

IN GOOD HANDS: Between them, the standout senior wide receiver tandem of Aaron Roth and Zach Zweifel have caught 301 passes for 3,723 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- )	164	2,203	16
6. Tony Doherty (2005-08)	148	1,861	15
7. Aaron Roth (2011-  )	137	1,520	14

   
WHAT A RUSH: Through 12 games, UMD is averaging 296.6 yards per game on the ground (the seventh best figure among all NCAA II schools) and 5.8 yards a carry. The Bulldogs have been outrushed by an opponent just twice since the 2012 season opener -- a stretch of 37 games -- and that was at Bemidji State University on Oct. 10, 2013 (258 yards to 203) and by Northwest Missouri State last Saturday (241 to 207). On the other side of the ball, UMD ranks eighth nationally in rushing defense (91.8 yards per game).

WHAT A RUSH II: Junior Logan Lauters finished the regular season with the NSIC's second-best rushing harvest and has now rolled up 1,287 yards on the ground this fall -- the 7th highest single-season total ever turned in by a Bulldog. Lauters, who owns the sixth best per touch average (7.4) in the country at the moment, now ranks eight among all-time Bulldog ball carriers with 2,747 yards while his career 6.8 yards per run 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 yards

UMD CAREER RUSHING LEADERS

Player (Years)	No.	Yds.	TD
1. Isaac Odim (2008-10)	589	4,242	72
2. Dave Rufledt (2001-04)	648	3,228	47
3. Austin Sikorski (2010-14)	554	3,216	44
4. Brad Foss (2007-10)	531	3,001	30
5. Ted McKnight (1973-76)	502	2,957	47
6. Chase Vogler (2009-12)	606	2,768	39
7. Logan Lauters (2012-   )	405	2,747	31

   
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
Nov. 22	Drew Bauer	NMSU	25	131	2

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 are Wisconsin natives. Indiana (2), Washington (2) and Illinois (1) are home to the remaining five Bulldogs.

DOING THAT THING YOU DREW: Drew Bauer, who is now 23-2 as a collegiate starter, has been responsible for the 11th most points (212) of any NCAA II player in the nation. Although his football career hasn't yet hit the midway point, the Inver Grove Heights, Minn., native already occupies fifth place on UMD's all-time total offense list with 5,176 yards -- 18 yards behind quarterback Trevor Theelke (1995-98) at No. 4:

UMD CAREER TOTAL OFFENSE LEADERS

Player (Years)	Plays	Yds.	TD
1. Ted Schlafke (2005-08)	1,692	11,591	106
2. Chase Vogler (2009-12)	1,463	7,583	98
3. Ricky Fritz (1998-2002)	1,464	9,926	104
4. Trevor Theelke (1995-98)	843	5,196	53
5. Drew Bauer (2013-  )	854	5,178	60

  
Bauer's 2,797 yards of total offense in 2014 is the seventh highest single-season total in team history.

BULLDOG BITS:  Of the eight second-round NCAA II playoff matchups on tap for this Saturday, the only one featuring two unbeaten teams is UMD vs. Ouachita Baptist ... UMD is the lone NCAA II club at the moment with 12 wins under its belt ... The Bulldogs have qualified for the NCAA II playoffs seven straight seasons, an active run unequaled by all but one NCAA II club (Northwest Missouri State with 11) ... Saturday will be UMD's third time on natural grass in the past two seasons. The Bulldogs upended Minnesota State University-Moorhead 69-45 on Oct. 12, 2013 and the University of Minnesota Crookston 77-3 earlier this fall on real grass ... The Bulldogs are one of six unbeaten teams still alive in the NCAA II playoffs ... Saturday's clash with No. 7 Ouachita Baptist will be UMD's third against a nationally-ranked opponent this fall. The Bulldogs defeated then-No. 20 Winona State University 28-21 in Winona, Minn., on Sept. 27 and No. 6 Northwest Missouri State last Saturday afternoon ... Bulldog opponents are a mere 7-of-20 on fourth down conversions this season (35.0 percent) while UMD is 17 of 23 (73.9 percent - the fifth best figure in the nation) ... Junior inside linebacker Brent Stiglich and sophomore inside linebacker Beau Bates need three and seven more tackles, respectively, to become the next two current Bulldogs to reach the 100-stop career mark this fall. They'll join senior inside linebacker Gavin Grady (152), junior outside linebacker Nathan Zibolski (125), junior free safety David Boegel (124), junior cornerback Darion Fletcher (120) and senior outside linebacker Gavin Brown (109) in that club ... Junior Andrew Brees, a Fred Mitchell Award Kicker of the Month honoree for both September and October, has matched his career high for field goals (10) this fall. The third-year starter also booted his way into the UMD record books one month ago (Nov. 1) by by converting all 11 of his extra points in a 77-3 thrashing of Minnesota-Crookston. Brees is a perfect 22-for-22 on extra point kicks on the road this season .... Senior wide out and return specialist Aaron Roth is the lone Bulldog who has played in all 51 games over the past four seasons ... UMD's five road opponents thus far combined to score just seven points during the second quarter this season .. The Bulldogs have intercepted 11 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 ... Sophomore wide out Beau Bofferding has caught at least one pass in each of the last 11 games -- the longest such active run by a Bulldog. Bofferding is one of 14 Bulldogs with at least one pass reception to his 2014 credit ... UMD has outscored the opposition 135-48 in the opening quarter of play this season.

TO THE VICTORS: This Saturday's winner will move on to the third round of the NCAA II playoffs (Super Region 3 finals) on Dec. 6 to face either No. 2-seed Minnesota State-Mankato (11-0) or No. 3 Pittsburg State Uniiversity (11-1) on the road. Those two teams will also collide Saturday afternoon in Mankato.