The University of Minnesota Duluth will put its 22-game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division winning streak on the line this Saturday afternoon (Oct. 17) when the Bulldogs invade the Bismarck Community Bowl (7,000 capacity/artificial turf) in Bismarck, N.D., for a 2:30 p.m. clash with the University of Mary.

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THE RECORDS: UMD is 4-2 on the year while Mary sports an 0-6 record.

HOW THEY RANK: Here is how the Bulldogs and Marauders stacked up in this week's American Football Coaches Association Division II and the D2Football.com polls:
 
                AFCA    D2Football    
UMD        No. 21    No. 12
MARY        NR           NR  
    
THE BROADCAST: The Bulldog-Marauder matchup will be carried live locally on 92.1 FM The Fan 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.; 105.7 FM The Fan Siren/Pine City, Minn., and Red Zone Sports Radio 930 in Aitkin, Minn., as part of the Bulldog Radio Network and at: 921thefan.com or free via the iHeartRadio app.

Saturday afternoon's game will be videostreammed as well and can be accessed for free at: portal.stretchinternet.com/umd.

THE COACH: Curt Wiese is now in his third season of head coaching duty with the Bulldogs, having guided them to a 28-5 overall record, two consecutive NCAA II playoff appearances, one overall NSIC title (it shared that honor with Minnesota State University-Mankato last fall) and two straight NSIC North Division crowns. Last fall, UMD went 13-1 (its third most single-season victories ever) and closed out the year holding down the No. 3 spot in the final AFCA Division II poll. That followed up a rookie-go-around that included an 11-2 mark in all games and a No. 8 final AFCA II poll ranking.

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.
Since being appointed UMD's sixth head coach on Dec. 21, 2012, Wiese has helped produce 10 All-Americans and 16 All-NSIC first team selections while 26 of his Bulldogs have earned NSIC All-Academic status (including offensive lineman Andrew Pattock, who as a senior in 2013 was named a first team CoSIDA Academic All-American).

In addition, UMD has cracked the Top 25 in every American Football Coaches Association Poll during Wiese's head coaching tenure.
 
Over the course of 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 90-12 (for an NCAA II-best .882 winning percentage over that stretch) while capturing two NCAA II national championships (2008 and 2010), six overall NSIC titles and seven NSIC North Division crowns. They've also made seven NCAA II playoff appearances and produced two perfect 15-0 seasons and three 11-0 regular seasons.

Wiese, 39, 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.
  
THE RIVALRY: UMD and Mary will meet for just the ninth time ever this Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs have won all eight of the previous confrontations, outscoring the Marauders 349-127 in the process (or by an average score of 44-16) and are 3-0-0 lifetime in Bismarck.
 
LAST WEEK: UMD jumped out to a 34-12 lead and held on for a 34-27 Homecoming triumph over NSIC North Division rival St. Cloud State Saturday in front of a record James S. Malosky crowd of 6,157. Junior quarterback Drew Bauer finsihed paced the Bulldogs with 88 rushing yards and one touchdown on 18 carries and was 11-of-20 through the air for another 191 yards and one score. His one scoring strike went 49 yards to junior wide out Beau Bofferding with 1:48 to go before halftime. UMD also got a pair of one-yard touchdown runs from freshman Jamiah Newell (which put UMD up 6-0 a little less than two minutes into the game) and junior transfer Darren Walker (his first score as a Bulldog). UMD never trailed the entire afternoon and reeled off 21 straight points to go up 34-12 through three quarters before the Huskies struck for a pair of touchdowns six minutes apart. St. Cloud State was driving for the potential game-tying score with 1:03 left, but Bulldog freshman safety Sam Lynch batted down a pass on a fourth-and-two situation from their 27-yard line to seal the win -- UMD's sixth in a row over the Huskies. St. Cloud State rolled up 494 yards of total offense, 424 of which came from the right arm of Nate Meyer. The Husky junior quarterback threw for four touchdowns while completing 33 of 53 passes, but was picked off once. That interception proved costly as it was returned 22 yards for a third-quarter touchdown by senior inside linebacker Brent Stiglich.
 
Mary fell 15-9 in overtime to visiting Minot State University. Quarterback Caleb Buck completed 27 of 50 passes for 214 yards for the Marauders, who forced the extra session by kicking a 27-yard field goal with four seconds to go in regulation. Mary gave up just 73 passing yards in the defeat, but allowed 267 yards on the ground.

CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN: The Bulldogs' team captaincy responsibilities this fall are being shared by a trio of seniors - defensive nose tackle Jonathan Harden, running back Logan Lauters and inside linebacker Brent Stiglich -- along with junior inside linebacker Beau Bates and junior quarterback Drew Bauer

HOW THE NSIC COACHES SEE IT SHAKING OUT: For only the second time in the last eight years, UMD was not picked as the team to beat. in the annual NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll. Minnesota State-Mankato, which shared the 2014 NSIC title with UMD, earned that distinction, garnering 10 first-place votes and 218 points. The Bulldogs, who were tabbed as the NSIC North Division preseason favorites for the eighth straight time, picked up a pair of first-place votes and 209 points and were followed by the University of Sioux Falls (the remaining four first-place votes and 206 points), Augustana University (169 pts.), St. Cloud State University (161 pts.), Winona State University (157 pts.), Northern State University (133) and Concordia University-St. Paul (133 pts.).

UMD has been chosen as the overall NSIC preseason favorite in seven of its previous nine years of conference membership (2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2003 -- the Bulldogs belonged to the now-defunct North Central Conference from 2004-07).

SOME TOUGH SLEDDING: This Saturday will mark the first time the Bulldogs will go up against a club with a losing record this fall. UMD's previous six opponents (including St. Cloud State) are a combined 25-11 thus far. The Bulldogs' two losses this season have come on the road to a pair of nationally-ranked opponents by a combined seven points (20-17 to No. 1 Minnesota State-Mankato in the 2015 opener and 35-31 two weeks later to then-No. 12 Sioux Falls).
Prior to this year, the Bulldogs had lost two games during an entire regular season just once since 2007 (and that came in 2011).

PRIDE OF THE NORTH: Since the NSIC instituted divisional play in 2008, the Bulldogs are a sizzling 45-2 in NSIC North Division assignments (25-0 at home) with both of those two losses coming in consecutive years St. Cloud State (51-49 in 2012 and 35-7 in 2011).

PRIDE OF THE NORTH II: UMD, the seven-time defending NSIC North Division champion, will bring a 22-game North Division winning streak into this Saturday's bout with Mary. The Bulldogs have also won 10 straight NSIC North Division road outings since being upended 51-49 by St. Cloud State on Sept. 29, 2012.

GETTING HIS KICKS: This fall, senior Andrew Brees has become the first Bulldog to handle both the team's full-time placekicking and punting duties since 1988 (Randy Fietek). The two-time All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division first team placekicker (2014 and 2012) has averaged 41.1 yards per punt this season -- the 19th best mark in the nation -- and four of his 27 punts have sailed 50 or more yards. He's also a perfect 18-for-18 on extra point attempts and has connected on six of seven field goals. On top of this, he's also run for a pair of two-point conversions and, in last Saturday's 34-27 win over St. Cloud State, peeled off a 35-yard ground gain out of punt formation. This past September, Brees was among 21 placekickers from all divisions to receive a Fred Mitchell Award Kicker of the Month citation for excellence on the football field and in the community. It marked the third time during his career he was so honored. BHe currently ranks ninth in career field goals (35) among all active NCAA II kickers .

BAUER POWER: Junior Drew Bauer, the 2015 NSIC North Division Preseason Offensive Player and the holder of the school's single-season rushing record for a quarterback (983 yards in 2014), has already generated both the fourth most all-time total yards (6,769) and passing yards (4,763) in program history. He'll enter Saturday's bout at Mary sporting a 28-5 career record as a starter.

BALL HAWK: Senior cornerback and second-year starter Darion Fletcher currently ranks third among all NCAA II combatants in passes defended (pass breakups plus interceptions) with 14. The 2014 All-NSIC North Division second team honoree has two of UMD's three interceptions this fall, giving him a team-high seven for his career (no other Bulldog has more than one collegiate theft).

CATCHING ON FAST: Junior wideout/runningback Beau Bofferding, who tops the 2015 Bulldgos in both receptions (18) and all-purpose yards (796), has caught at least one pass in 19 consecutive games since being blanked in that department in the 2014 season opener.
CATCHING ON FAST II: The last time the Bulldogs and Mary hooked up (Nov. 14, 2014 for Senior Day at Malosky Stadium), Bofferding rushed for a career-best four touchdowns in UMD's 53-35 win.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME: This season marks the 50th year of Bulldog football at Malosky Stadium. Since moving to that on-campus facility on Oct. 29, 1966, the Bulldogs have won over 77 percent of their home games, going 192-54-4 (.776). In recent times, opponents have found victories even harder to come by at Malosky Stadium as UMD has amassed a sizzling 47-3 mark there since the 2008 opener. The Bulldogs have also gone 53-1 versus overall NSIC competition at Malosky Stadium since Oct. 21, 2000 with that lone loss being inflicted by Minnesota State-Mankato on Sept. 21, 2013 (21-17).

TOP 'DOGS: UMD captured a share of its league-record 19th NSIC championship last year -- and did so with the most victories (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 .737 (a 236-82-5 record), which is second only to Sioux Falls' .795 mark (31-8-0 in three-plus seasons of NSIC membership).

GET IN THE ZONE: UMD has come away with points (including 17 touchdowns) in 21 of its 23 red zone visits this season (91.3 percent). It failed to score once due to a missed field goal attempt and one other time when it turned the ball over on downs.

BALL CONTROL: UMD currently ranks 11th among all NCAA II clubs in time of possession (33:18) and leads the entire NSIC in that department.

WHAT A RUSH: Senior team captain Logan Lauters, who has sat out all but two series (the opening two versus Upper Iowa on Sept. 27) with a lower body injury, occupies the No. 2 on UMD's career rushing charts with 3,297 yards. That's 945 yards behind the No. 1 occupant, three-time All-American Isaac Odim (4,442 yards from 2008-10). Lauters's career 6.4 yards per run average takes a backseat only Odim's 7.2 clip (2008-10) among Bulldogs with 1,000 or more yards. He currently ranks eighth among all active NCAA II players in career yards per carry and 10th in rushing yards. One year ago, Lauters rolled up 1,531 yards on the ground -- a figure eclipsed by only one other Bulldog ever in a single-season (Isaac Odim in both 2009 and 2008).


WHERE THEY'RE FROM: Just over 92 percent of the current crop of Bulldogs are either Minnesota (54) or Wisconsin (40) natives. California (3), Illinois (2), Florida (1), Colorado (1), and Washington (1) are home to the remaining nine Bulldogs.

BULLDOG BITS: On the second play of the second half last Saturday, UMD senior inside linebacker  and team captain Brent Stiglich picked off his first collegiate pass and ran it back 22 yards for his first touchdown as a Bulldog. Stiglich wound up with a UMD 2015 single-game high and career-best 11 total tackles, including one sack, forced one fumble and had one pass breakup ... UMD has outscored the opposition 66-33 in the first quarter and 127-57 in the opening 30 minutes of play this season ... Head coach Curt Wiese has won 28 of 33 games since taking over the Bulldog program three seasons ago and only two other NCAA II coaches -- Northwest Missouri State University's Adam Dorrel (31) and Colorado State University-Pueblo's John Wristen (30) -- have complied more victories during that the time period ... Senior Logan Lauters has rushed for 100 or more yards on a team-high 13 occasions as a Bulldog. Drew Bauer is next with seven ... UMD has appeared in every AFCA II Top 25 poll since Aug. 12, 2008 ... Just 10 individuals make up the Bulldogs' 2015 senior class and of those 10, only eight -- David Boegel, Andrew Brees, Ty Fischer (who joined the Bulldogs this fall after a two-season absence), Darion Fletcher, Justin Fowlkes, Logan Lauters, Mark Nahorniak and Brent Stiglich -- began their collegiate careers at UMD ... Both junior quarterback Drew Bauer and junior offensive tackle Peter Bateman have made more career starts (33 in a row) than any other active Bulldog while the senior trio of free safety David Boegel, placekicker Andrew Brees and cornerback Darion Fletcher share the team lead for career appearances (44 of a possible 45). Boegel leads all current Bulldogs in career tackles with 180 while Fletcher is next at 157 .

ON TAP: UMD will return to Malosky Stadium on Oct. 24 to host the University of Minnesota-Crookston.