With a possible NCAA Division II playoff berth hanging in the balance, the University of Minnesota Duluth will put the finishing touches on the 2016 regular season this Saturday (Nov. 12) with a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division clash at St. Cloud State University. Opening kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Husky Stadium (4,198/artificial turf) on the St. Cloud State campus.

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THE RECORDS: The Bulldogs, winners of nine straight, are 9-1 this fall,which gives them sole possession of second place in the 16-team NSIC standings, while the Huskies are an even 5-5, good for a share of ninth place (with Southwest Minnesota State University).

HOW THEY RANK: Here is how UMD and St. Cloud State stacked up in this week's American Football Coaches Association Division II and D2Football.com polls as well as the NCAA II Super Region 3 Rankings.

            AFCA    D2Football    NCAA II Super 3
UMD    No. 17    No. 12              No. 5
SCSU    NR         NR                  NR 
           
THE BROADCAST: The Bulldog-Husky 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.

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 in his fourth season of head coaching duty with the Bulldogs, having guided them to a 42-7 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 four 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).

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): 42-7 (4th)
Overall Coaching Record (Year):  51-18 (6th)
Career NSIC Record: 38-5
Career UMD Home Record: 23-1
Career UMD Road Record: 19-6
vs. St. Cloud State:  3-0

THE RIVALRY: The Bulldogs and Huskies have collided 49 times previously in a rivalry which began back in 1933 -- the third year of intercollegiate football at UMD. The all-times series is knotted 24-24, but UMD is 10-2 in its last 12 meetings with its long-time intrastate adversary. One year ago (Oct. 10), the Bulldogs jumped out to a 34-12 lead and held on for a 34-27 Homecoming triumph over the Huskies in front of a record James S. Malosky crowd of 6,157.

LAST WEEK: UMD scored early -- and often - on its way to a 75-14 thrashing of the University of Mary Saturday in the Bulldogs' regular season home finale. UMD got touchdowns from seven different players, including two scores each from senior running back/wide out Beau Bofferding, redshirt freshman running back Bryce Heim, true freshman running back Jaleen Jones, and sophomore tight end Jack Sims. UMD amassed 610 yards of total offense, including a season-high 349 yards on the ground. Bofferding led all rushers with 109 yards on just nine carries while Jones ran seven times for 70 yards. Bauer, whose day ended one play into the third quarter, completed 13 of 17 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns in his shortest appearance of the 2016 season. Redshirt freshman wide out Obi Ibeneme I had a game-high (and personal best) six receptions for 93 yards and was one of seven Bulldogs to haul in a pass. UMD held the Marauders to just 249 total yards and 14 first downs on the afternoon en route to defeating them for the 10th time in 10 lifetime tries.

St. Cloud State paid a visit to Minot State University Saturday afternoon and left with a 31-0 NSIC North Division victory in tow. The Huskies outgained the Beavers 535 to 208 in total yards and established a program single-game record with 10 sacks. They also rushed for 383 yards --their largest output since the 2014 season -- with Jaden Huff inflicting a healthy chunk of the damage (16 carries for 232 yards and two touchdowns. The shutout was the first by a Husky club in seven years.

NORTH DIVISION DOMINATORS: With last Saturday's triumph over Mary, UMD captured its ninth straight NSIC North Division title. Since the NSIC instituted divisional play in 2008, the Bulldogs are a sizzling 55-3 in NSIC North Division assignments (31-0 at home). Besides 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).
DOG EAT DOG: While UMD has reeled off six straight wins a the expense of St. Cloud State in Duluth, it is just 1-2 in its last three trips to Husky Stadium. The Bulldogs prevailed 44-21 in their most road clash with the Huskies (Oct. 11, 2014) after suffering back-to-back losses in St. Cloud the previous two seasons.

MAKING A POINT: The Bulldogs are averaging 46.7 points per game -- the fourth highest figure in the country. The school record in that department is 46.5 set in 2012. On the flip slide, UMD is giving up an average of 30.4 points per outing (the program mark is 28.0 ppg. set in 2007). UMD has allowed more overall points this season (304) than any other in its 84-year history.

BAUER POWER: Drew Bauer, who is 39-7 as a starter since assuming that role at the outset of the 2013 season, is averaging 329.5 yards of total offense per game, which puts 10th nationally. In addition, he currently ranks first among NCAA II quarterbacks in career scoring (242 points), second in rushing (3,119 yards), fourth in touchdown passes (84), sixth in total offense (11,381 yards) and 12th in passing yards (8,33). To date, the two-time All-NSIC North Division honoree has generated the second-most all-time total yards and third most passing yards in team history. He also reigns as UMD's career rushing yardage leader for a quarterbacks and is fifth among all Bulldogs in that department.

FANTASTIC FINISHES: The Bulldogs haven't closed out a regular season on a losing note since 2004 when they were ambushed 28-0 by visiting St. Cloud State University in a North Central Conference battle. That remains the last time UMD has been shut out at home.

WELCOME TO THE END ZONE: A bevy of Bulldogs registered their first collegiate touchdown last Saturday against Mary, including redshirt freshman running back Bryce Heim and sophomore tight end Jack Sims, redshirt freshman quarterback Mike Rybarczyk and redshirt freshman wide out Obi Ibeneme. Sims caught a pair passes -- his first two in a Bulldog uniform -- and parlayed both into first-half score.

SACK ATTACK: The 2016 Bulldogs have registered 43 sacks -- the third best total in the nation at the moment -- and six shy of the program record set in 2008. Senior inside linebacker Beau Bates (11.0, which is four less than the program's single-season record established by Russ Rabe in 2003) and junior outside linebacker Zach Bassuener (8.5) rank 1-2, respectively, in the NSIC in that department and 10th and 25th nationally. In addition, Bates's 17.0 tackles for a loss are tops among all NSIC defenders.

START ME UP: Senior Peter Bateman, who earlier this fall was rated as the No. 1 NCAA II offensive tackle in the nation by Hero Sports, has started all 49 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.

iN GOOD HANDS: No NCAA II outfit in the country has done a better job of controlling the football this season than UMD. The Bulldogs currently rank first nationally in time of possession with a 36:01 per game average after occupying the No. 3 spot at the conclusion of the 2015 season (34:08). UMD has also turned over the ball the fewest times (13) of any NSIC member through 10 games.

BEAU KNOWS OFFENSE: Beau Bofferding, who has rolled up 11 touchdowns over the past three games, now ranks eighth nationally in that department with a a career-high 18 and as well as all-purpose yards (168.40 per game). Bofferding, a 2015 All-NSIC North Division first team selection wh, went without a pass reception for the first time in 35 consecutive games last Saturday against Mary.

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), paces the club in that statistical category so far this season with 71 takedowns -- 29 more than the next closest Bulldog. 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 248 tackles. A distant No. 2 on that lifetime tackles list is fellow senior inside linebacker Ben McDonald, a first-year starter who has been credited with 96 stops. Bates and senior offensive tackle Peter Bateman are the lone two Bulldogs to see time in each of UMD's 49 games over the past four seasons.

SENIOR SWAN SONG: The clash with St. Cloud State will mark the final regular season collegiate appearances for the Bulldogs' 14 seniors. That group includes offensive tackle Peter Bateman, inside linebacker Beau Bates, quarterback Drew Bauer, cornerback Tony Beasley, cornerback Tavaughn Blair, wide out/running back/return specialist Beau Bofferding, center Matt Catton, offensive tackle Cameron Hehn, inside linebacker Ben McDonald, placekicker Tyler McLaughlin, offensive guard Connor Randall, nose guard Isaac Vesel, running back Darren Walker, and center Willy Westerman. Eleven of those 14 seniors (the exceptions being Beasley, Blair and Walker) were members of the Bulldogs' 2012 freshman class

WHAT A RUSH: UMD ranks 13th in NCAA II rushing offense, averaging 247.8 yards per outing. Some 15 different Bulldogs have carried the football this fall, including starting offensive guard and part-time fullback Nolan Folkert, who has ran five times for five yards and four touchdowns.

WELL-GROUNDED: Conversely, the Bulldogs have surrendered the fewest rushing yards (90.7 per game) of any NSIC club and the 11th fewest of any NCAA II squad this fall. UMD has now outgained its opponents on the ground in 19 straight games going back to a 35-31 road setback at the University of Sioux Falls.

QUITE A RUN: Going back to the start of the 2008 season, only one NCAA II outfit in the country - Northwest Missouri State - has generated a better winning percentage and has amassed more wins than UMD.

It's worth noting that Northwest Missouri State, the defending NCAA II champion, owns the nation's longest winning streak at 25 games, having not lost since falling 25-21 to host UMD in the opening round of the 2014 NCAA II playoffs (Nov. 22).

BULLDOG BITS: UMD registered its first defensive points of the 2016 season two Saturdays ago when redshirt freshman safety Bill Atkins parlayed his first collegiate interception into a pick six. The Bulldogs followed that up with another defensive touchdown last Saturday against Mary -- a fumble recovery in the Mary end zone by junior outside linebacker Zach Bassuener following a 46-yard interception return by teammate and first-year freshman cornerback Bishop McDonald. It was Bassuener's second career touchdown (he recovered another fumble in the end zone off a blocked punt against Minnesota Crookston on Nov. 1, 2014)

• Senior quarterback 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, senior wide out/running back Beau Bofferding (twice) and junior wide out/quarterback Nate Ricci (once) and the only other three Bulldogs to reach that barrier

• The last time UMD and St. Cloud State met (Oct, 10, 2015 in Duluth), Darren Walker rushed for his first touchdown as a Bulldog ... Junior wide out Nate Ricci's team-leading 43 receptions in nine games this fall are 26 more than his previous collegiate best (17 in both 2014 and 2015). Ricci has been UMD's favorite pass target in 2016 (he's been thrown to 69 times) while sophomore Jason Balts is next (48 times)

• Running back Jaleen Jones, who last month against Minnesota State-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. Placekicker/punter Cameron Hausman and cornerback Bishop McDonald are the two others.

• Last Saturday marked UMD's first multi-interception game of the 2016 season (the Buldlogs picked off two Mary passes). Eight Bulldogs now have an interception to their collegiate credit but only sophomore free safety Sam Lynch (three, including a pair in 2016), senior inside linebacker Beau Bates (two) and junior free safety Kegan Wirtz (two, both this season) are the only members of that group with more than one pick
• Redshirt freshman linebacker Aaron Gorres continues to lead the Bulldogs in special teams tackles with 13 (all on kickoffs) while junior Kale Boomer is next with 12 (all on kickoffs as well).

• UMD has amassed the third-most first downs (268) of any NCAA II club in the country and have held the advantage over its opponents in that department in all 10

• Curt Wiese has won 42 of 49 games since taking over the Bulldog program three seasons ago and only two other NCAA II coaches -- Northwest Missouri State's Adam Dorrel (50) and Colorado State University-Pueblo's John Wristen (44) -- have complied more victories during that the time period.

• UMD's 16 fumble recoveries his season take a back seat nationally to only Limestone University's 17.

UP NEXT: The Bulldogs' postseason fate will be determined this Sunday (Nov. 13) when the NCAA II playoff field is officially announced at 4 p.m. (CT) on ncaa.com. UMD had qualified for the NCAA II playoffs seven straight seasons before missing out last fall.