The University of Minnesota Duluth will attempt to keep its perfect all-time Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division home record intact this Saturday (Oct. 15) when the Bulldogs take on Northern State University in their annual Homecoming game. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. at James S. Malosky Stadium (5,000/artificial turf) on the UMD campus.

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THE RECORDS: The Bulldogs, who are riding a five-game winning streak, are 5-1 this fall (tied for second place in the NSIC standings with Bemidji State University and Winona State University) while Northern State sports an even 3-3 mark (tied for eighth place with Minnesota State University-Moorhead and St. Cloud 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 D2Football.com polls.

                AFCA       D2Football    
UMD           RV         No. 14
NSU            NR          NR     
       
THE BROADCAST: The Bulldogs-Wolves 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., and KQ 106.7 FM in Ely/Virginia, Minn., as part of the Bulldog Radio Network and at: 921thefan.com or free via the iHeartRadio app

For the ninth consecutive year, My9 (KBJR DT 6.2/KRII DT 11.9) is televising all UMD home games, including Saturday's clash with Northern State. KBJR-TV 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 is in his fourth season of head coaching duty with the Bulldogs, having guided them to a 38-7 overall record (only two NCAA II coaches have won more games during that stretch), two NCAA II playoff appearances (2013 and 2014), one overall NSIC title (it shared that honor with Minnesota State University-Mankato in 2014) and three straight NSIC North Division crowns. Last fall, the Bulldogs went 9-3 after going 13-1 (their third most single-season victories ever) in 2014 and closing 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 15 different All-Americans and 23 All-NSIC first team selections while 39 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).

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 100-14 (for an .877 winning percentage over that stretch -- the second-best mark in NCAA II football) while capturing two NCAA II national championships (2008 and 2010), six overall NSIC titles and eight 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, 40, 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 is one of 10 head coaches nationwide who are honorary coach nominees for the 2016 Allstate Insurance and American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team.

WIESE BY THE NUMBERS
Record at UMD (Year): 38-7 (4th)
Overall Coaching Record (Year):  47-18 (6th)
Career NSIC Record:  34-5
Career UMD Home Record: 20-1
Career UMD Road Record: 18-6
vs. Northern State: 2-1

THE RIVALRY: UMD and Northern State will collided for the 34th time ever Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs hold a 22-11-0 lead in the all-time series, which began on Nov. 8, 1980 in Duluth, an are 7-1 in their last eight meetings withe the Wolves. The lone setback during that stretch occurred one year ago (Oct. 31) in Aberdeen, S.D., where Northern State prevailed 23-15 over the Bulldogs. UMD committed six turnovers (four interceptions and two fumbles) in the loss and was held to its lowest point output of the 2015 season, Both of the Bulldog touchdowns came off off rushes of five and six yards by junior quarterback Drew Bauer (he added a two-point conversion run as well) in what would be his final appearance of the 2015 season
 
have reeled off seven straight victories at the Wolves' expense since falling 46-7 in Aberdeen on Sept. 27, 2003. One year ago (Oct. 18), the Bulldogs rolled to a 43-30 Homecoming triumph over the Northern State with the two teams combining for 1,039 yards of total offense -- and the Bulldogs accounting for a 2014 single-game best 567 yards of that total.

LAST WEEK: UMD made its 2016 NSIC North Division road debut by upending Minot State University 38-7 Saturday. Senior quarterback Drew Bauer had a hand in four of UMD's five touchdowns, throwing for three scores and running for another. He hooked up twice with senior wide out Beau Bofferding on a pair of lengthy second-quarter touchdown strikes (31 and 32 yards) and then hit junior wide out Nate Ricci with a 56-yard scoring toss midway through the third quarter before calling it an afternoon. UMD dominated Minot State in virtually every statistical category including total yards (516 to 181), first downs (27 to 9), rushing yards (194 to 51) and passing yards (322 to 130). The Beavers mustered just 53 overall yards (a mere three yards via the rush) the entire first half and turned the ball over three times -- all fumbles -- on the day. Bulldog senior running back Darren Walker led all rushers with 84 yards on 15 carries while Ricci and junior wide out James Conner both had a game-high four receptions. Senior inside linebacker Beau Bates, who was one of 24 Bulldogs to register a tackle, paced UMD in that department with seven stops.The Bulldogs ran their lifetime record against the Beavers to 5-0, having outscored them 26-23 in the process.

Northern State gave up the game-tying touchdown with 27 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and then fell 31-28 in overtime to Bemidji State University Saturday afternoon in Bemidji, Minn. The Wolves, who had a chance to win the NSIC North Division game on the final play regulation but had its 37-yard field goal attempt blocks, finished with 439 yards of total offense.

NORTH DIVISION DOMINANCE: Since the NSIC instituted divisional play in 2008, the Bulldogs are a sizzling 51-3 in NSIC North Division assignments (28-0 at home). Beside a 23-15 defeat at Northern State last Halloween, UMD's other losses came in consecutive years at St. Cloud State (51-49 in 2012 and 35-7 in 2011). The Bulldogs is the eight-time defending NSIC North Division champion and shared the title last year with both Bemidji State and Northern State.

WHAT A RUN: Last Saturday in Minot, N.D., senior Drew Bauer assumed the title as the top-rushing quarterback in Bulldog history. In 42 career appearances, Bauer has run for 2,505 yards, which is two more than his predecessor, Chase Vogler, did from 2009-12. Last fall, the Inver Grove Heights, Minn., native became just the third signal caller ever to reign as UMD's top ground gainer with 661 yards (joining Vogler in 2012 and Ted Schlafke in 2007).

NOT IN OUR HOUSE: This season marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of Malosky Stadium. Since christening that on-campus facility on Oct. 29, 1966, the Bulldogs have won 78.0 percent of their home games, going 197-54-4 . In recent times, opponents have found victories even harder to come by at Malosky Stadium as UMD has amassed a sizzling 52-4 mark there since the 2008 opener (with two of those setbacks coming in the NCAA II playoffs). The Bulldogs have also gone 59-1 versus overall NSIC competition (league games and NCAA II playoffs) at Malosky Stadium since Oct. 21, 2000 with that lone setback being inflicted by Minnesota State-Mankato on Sept. 21, 2013 (21-17). Here are the some of the streaks UMD will put on the line this Saturday:

Consecutive Home Wins: 19
Consecutive NSIC North Division Home Wins: 28
Consecutive Home Games Without Being Shut Out: 72
Consecutive NSIC Home Games Without Being Shut Out: 114

LEADERS OF THE SACK: In their 38-7 triumph at Minot State, the Bulldogs registered eight quarterback sacks (two shy of the program single-game record) to push their 2016 total to 26 -- the fourth best mark in the nation at the moment. Junio outside linebacker Zach Bassuener (7.0) and senior inside linebacker Beau Bates (6.5) rank 1-2, respectively, in the NSIC in that department Bassuener also tops the 2016 Bulldogs in quarterback hurries with seven.

START ME UP: Senior offensive tackle Peter Bateman, who last month was rated as the No. 1 NCAA II offensive tackle in the nation by Hero Sports, has started all 45 games over the last four seasons -- the longest ironman run of any active Bulldog. A 2016 D2Football.com Preseason All-American first team pick, Bateman collared All-NSIC North Division status for the third straight season one year ago (first team in 2015 and 2014 and second team in 2013) as well as USA College Football All-American (first team) and Don Hansen All-American (honorable mention) acclaim.

START ME UP II: Junior wide out James Conner made his first collegiate start this past Saturday at Minot State and wound tying for the team pass reception lead with four (which he parlayed into 44 yards).

BALL CONTROL: No NCAA II outfit in the country has done a better job of controlling the football this fall than UMD. The Bulldogs currently rank first nationally in time of possession with a 37:12 per game average -- after occupying the No. 3 spot at the conclusion of the 2015 season (34:08)

BAUER POWER: Drew Bauer, who is 35-7 as a starter since assuming that role at the outset of the 2013 season, is averaging 366.6 yards of total offense, which puts him No. 2 in the NSIC and ninth nationally. He also currently ranks first among NCAA II quarterbacks in career scoring (238 points), second in rushing (2,905 yards) and fifth in both total offense (10,200 yards) and touchdown passes (75). To date, the two-time All-NSIC North Division honoree has generated both the third-most all-time total yards and fourth-most passing yards (7,270) in team history.

BEAU KNOWS DEFENSE: Senior inside linebacker Beau Bates, UMD's leading tackler from a year ago (he had 71 stops for the second consecutive fall), tops the Bulldogs in that statistical category so far this season with 47 takedowns For his career, the 2015 Don Hansen All-Super Region 3 second team and All-NSIC North Division first team honoree has accumulated a team-leading 224 tackles. The next closest Bulldog to Bates in lifetime tackles is fellow senior inside linebacker Ben McDonald, a first-year starter who has been credited with 91 stops. Bates and senior offensive tackle Peter Bateman are the lone two Bulldogs to see time in each of UMD's 45 games over the past four seasons.

BEAU KNOWS OFFENSE: Senior wide out Beau Bofferding who now has caught at least one pass in 31 straight games (going back to Week Two of the 2014 season), needs just three more receptions to become the 12th Bulldog to reach the 100-catch mark for a career. The Marshall, Minn., product and 2015 All-NSIC North Division first team selection is also averaging the fourth most all-purpose yards (143.83) in the NSIC at the moment.

A NICE RETURN ON ITS INVESTMENT: Junior Nate Ricci currently ranks ninth among all NCAA II combatants in punt return average (16.4 yards) and has already brought back one punt for a touchdown (his first such score as a collegian) this fall -- a 62-yard jaunt in UMD's 2016 Malosky Stadium debut against Winona State. Three Saturdays ago against Augustana College, Ricci set a career-high with his 153 receiving yards and matched another with his six pass receptions. The last Bulldog pass catcher to crack the 150-yard barrier was D.J. Winfield, who did it (160 yards) at Central Washington University on Aug. 30, 2010. Ricci's team-leading 25 receptions in six games this season are eight more than his previous best (17 in both 2014 and 2015).

GROUND AND POUND: Drew Bauer has registered 10, 100-yard rushing afternoons as a Bulldog -- including two this fall -- while senior running back Darren Walker (five times), a 2015 transfer from Los Angeles Harbor College, junior wide out Nate Ricci (once) and sophomore running back Jamiah Newell (once), who is out for the season with a lower body injury, are the only other three Bulldogs to reach that barrier.

BULLDOG BITS: Drew Bauer's 56-yard touchdown toss to Nate Ricci in the second half of last Saturday's 38-7 victory over Minot State was the Bulldogs' longest pass play of the 2016 season. Ricci has been UMD's favorite pass target this fall (he's been thrown to 43 times) while junior transfer D.J. Herbert is next (39 times). Sophmore wide out Jason Balts has caught more third down passes (nine of which seven have gone for first downs) than any other 2016 Bulldog ... UMD has amassed the fourth-most first downs (160) of any NCAA II club in the country and have held the advantage over its opponents in that department in all six games to date ... Rookie running back Jaleen Jones , who two weeks ago at MSU-Moorhead parlayed his third collegiate rushing attempt into an 85-yard touchdown -- the longest run from scrimmage by a Bulldog since All-American Isaac Odim's 86-yard jaunt against Concordia University-St. Paul on Aug. 29, 2009, is one of three true freshmen who have seen playing time for the Bulldogs this fall. He joins placekicker/punter Cameron Hausman and cornerback Bishop McDonald ... UMD has outscored the opposition by a somewhat slim 245-201 margin this fall but has put up more points than its foes in all four quarters ... Six active Bulldogs have an interception to their collegiate credit but only sophomore free safety Sam Lynch (three, including a pair in 2016) and junior free safety Kegan Wirtz (two, both this season) are the only members of that group with more than one pick ... UMD is in the midst of a five-week stretch in which this weekend is the lone time it will be on the road ... Curt Wiese has won 38 of 45 games since taking over the Bulldog program three seasons ago and only two other NCAA II coaches -- Northwest Missouri State's Adam Dorrel (46) and Colorado State University-Pueblo's John Wristen (40) -- have complied more victories during that the time period ... Just under 90 percent of the 2016 Bulldogs come from either Minnesota (56) or Wisconsin (35). Illinois (6), California (1), Colorado (1), Florida (1) and Washington (1) are home to the remaining 10 Bulldogs ... UMD will enter this weekend having generated the sixth most first downs (133) in the country .. Beau Bofferding has already had two kickoff returns of 70 yards this season ... Redshirt freshman linebacker Aaron Gorres leds the Bulldogs in special teams tackles with nine (all on kickoffs).

UP NEXT: The Bulldogs will remain at Malosky Stadium for an Oct. 22 NSIC North Division showdown with Bemidji State.