With a 10-game winning streak in tow, the University of Minnesota Duluth will open up NCAA Division II playoff warfare this Saturday (Nov. 19) with a first-round round clash against Emporia State University. Opening kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Francis G. Welch Stadium (10,000/artificial turf) in Emporia, Kansas.

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THE RECORDS: The Bulldogs closed out the regular season with a 10-1 record and placed second in the 16-team NSIC standings. The Hornets, who like UMD have reeled off 10 straight wins, are also 10-1 and took second in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

HOW THEY RANK: Here is how UMD and Emporia State stacked up in the latest 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. 13    No. 12              No. 5
ESU      No. 9      No. 6                No. 4 
           
THE BROADCAST: The Bulldog-Hornet 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: www.ncaa.com.

THE COACH: Curt Wiese is in his fourth season of head coaching duty with the Bulldogs, having guided them to a 43-7 overall record (only two NCAA II coaches have won more games during that stretch), three NCAA II playoff appearances (2013, 2014 and 2016), 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 All-Americans and 31 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 105-14 (for an .882 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): 43-7 (4th)
Overall Coaching Record (Year): 52-18 (6th)
Career NSIC Record: 39-5
Career UMD Home Record: 23-1
Career UMD Road Record: 20-6
Career NCAA II Playoff Record:  3-2
vs. Emporia State: 1-0
    
THE RIVALRY: The Bulldogs and Hornets have met only three times previously with the latest coming in the opening round of the 2013 NCAA II playoffs (Nov. 23) in Duluth where UMD cruised to a 55-13 victory. UMD also bested the host Hornets 13-7 in its 1955 season finale (Nov. 11) after prevailing 20-7 one year earlier (Oct. 2, 1954) at Public Schools Stadium in Duluth.

LAST WEEK: The Bulldogs rallied from a 27-14 halftime deficit to take down St. Cloud State University 48-34 Saturday afternoon in St. Cloud, Minn. Senior quarterback Drew Bauer, in his final regular season appearance as a Bulldogs, completed 27 of 40 passes for 388 yards -- all career highs -- and three touchdowns and paced both teams with 95 rush yards and a pair of touchdowns. That gave Bauer 483 yards of total offense, which was another personal best.
His favorite target was junior wide out Nate Ricci, who set a personal highs for both receptions (10) and receiving yards (159) and was on the receiving end of the second of Bauer's two fourth-quarter touchdowns that broke a 34-34 deadlock.UMD rolled up 581 overall yards on a season-high 96 plays while limiting the Huskies to 287 yards and 11 first downs. Senior cornerback Tavaughn Blair paced the Bulldogs with six tackles while junior outside linebacker Zach Bassuener had five stops, including all three of UMD's quarterback sacks. In addition to sophomore Sam Lynch's fourth quarter interception, UMD also recorded eight pass break ups en route to winning its regular season finale for the 12th straight year.

Emporia State also punched its ticket to the NCAA II playoffs with a road victory -- a 30-3 decision over Washburn University. The Hornets held the Ichabods to just 137 yards the entire afternoon and got three touchdown passes from their quarterback, Braxton Marstall.

THESE 'DOGS HAD THEIR DAY: Senior inside linebacker Beau Bates was chosen the 2016 NSIC Defensive Player of the Year and headlines a group of 18 Bulldogs who received some kind of All-NSIC recognition. Accompanying Bates on the 27-member All-NSIC North Division first team is junior outside linebacker Zach Bassuener, senior offensive tackle Peter Bateman, senior quarterback Drew Bauer, senior return specialist Beau Bofferding, junior offensive guard Nolan Folkert, sophomore nose tackle Dre Greer and junior wide out Nate Ricci. UMD placed another six players on the second team -- Bofferding, who was selected as both a wide receiver and running back and is believed to be the first individual to attain All-NSIC honors at three different positions, sophomore offensive tackle Matt Juneau, sophomore strong safety Sam Lynch, junior tight end Keynon Phillips, junior defensive tackle Nick Thorpe and senior running back Darren Walker. All-NSIC North Division honorable mention acclaim was secured by sophomore wide receiver Jason Balts, junior defensive ends Karl Finkel and Regis Henke, senior offensive guard Connor Randall and senior center Willy Westerman.

PLAYOFF PASTS: This marks the 10th year -- all since 2002 -- the Bulldogs have been invited to the NCAA II dance and they are 14-7 in their 21 lifetime playoff assignments. Emporia State is making its fourth NCAA II playoff appearance. The Hornets also participated in the 2003, 2013 and 2014 event and have a 2-3 record to show for it -- with all five games being contested on the road.

NOT THEIR FIRST RODEO: Nine current Bulldog seniors received playing when UMD and Emporia State collided in the 2013 NCAA II playoffs at Malosky Stadium. That group included offensive tackle Peter Bateman (starter), inside linebacker Beau Bates, quarterback Drew Bauer (starter), wide out/running back/return specialist Beau Bofferding, center Matt Catton, offensive tackle Cameron Hehn, inside linebacker Ben McDonald, offensive guard Connor Randall (starter) and center Willy Westerman.

MAKING A POINT: The Bulldogs are averaging 46.8 points per game -- the fifth 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 30.7 points per outing (the program mark is 28.0 ppg. set in 2007). UMD has allowed more overall points this season (338) than any other in its 84-year history but also became the first club to ever eclipse the 50-point mark in three consecutive games (Oct. 22-Nov. 5).

BAUER POWER: The 388 passing yards and 483 overall yards Drew Bauer rolled up last Saturday afternoon at the expense of St. Cloud State were both the fourth highest single-game outputs in program history. He now has a school-record 3,778 yards of total offense to his 2016 credit while his 3,081 passing yards are just 254 yards shy of the UMD mark set by All-American Ted Schlafke in 2005. Bauer, who is 40-7 as a starter since assuming that role at the outset of the 2013 season, is averaging 345.5 yards of total offense per game, which puts him 5th nationally. In addition, he currently ranks first among NCAA II quarterbacks in career wins (40), second in rushing (3,143 yards) and points (254), fifth in touchdown passes (87), and in total offense (11,864 yards) and 11th in passing yards (8,721). The three-time All-NSIC North Division honoree also reigns as UMD's career rushing yardage leader for a quarterbacks and is fifth among all Bulldogs in that department.

Despite being sidelined with an upper body injury for the final three games of 2015, Bauer still paced the Bulldogs in rushing, something only two other quarterbacks had done previously (Chase Vogler in 2012 and Ted Schlafke in 2007).

SACK ATTACK: The 2016 Bulldogs have registered 46 sacks -- the third best total in the nation at the moment and just three shy of the program record from 2008. Junior outside linebacker Zach Bassuener (11.5, which is 3.5 less than UMD's single-season record set by Russ Rabe in 2003) and senior inside linebacker Beau Bates (11.0) rank 1-2, respectively, in the NSIC in that department and 10th and 12th nationally. In addition, Bates's 17.0 tackles for a loss are tops among all NSIC defenders.

BEAU KNOWS DEFENSE: 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 a career-high 75 takedowns -- 30 more than the next closest Bulldog. For his career, reigning NSIC Defensive Player of the Year and two-time All-NSIC North Division first team honoree has accumulated a team-leading 252 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, who has racked up the third-most career forced fumbles (seven) and fourth-most sacks (17.0) of any active NCAA II linebacker, is one of just two Bulldogs to play in all 50 games over the past four seasons with senior offensive tackle being the other.

BEAU KNOWS OFFENSE: Earlier this week, Beau Bofferding became what is believed to be the first individual to earn All-NSIC recognition at three different positions. The senior out of Marshall, Minn., was a first team return specialist and both a second team wide out and running back. Boffering, who earlier this year against Concordia-St. Paul set a program single-game record for kick return yardage (182), ranks eighth nationally in touchdowns (a career-high 19) and 10th in all-purpose yards (168.56 per game). He has also caught at least one pass in 35 of the past 36 games, with the outlier coming in UMD's 2016 regular season finale against Mary.

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 36:25 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 (15) of any NSIC member through 11 games and has recovered more fumbles (17) than any team in the nation.

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).

GROUND AND POUND: UMD ranks 13th in NCAA II rushing offense, averaging 247.2 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. Conversely, the Bulldogs have surrendered the fewest rushing yards (92.6 per game) of any NSIC club and are 12th nationally in that department. UMD has now outgained its opponents on the ground in 20 straight games going back to a 35-31 road setback at the University of Sioux Falls.

SENIOR SWAN SONG: This Saturday marks the start of the final collegiate post-season go-aroundfor 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

BULLDOG BITS: The last time UMD and Emporia State did battle (Nov. 23, 2013), current senior quarterback Drew Bauer -- in his NCAA II playoff debut -- rushed for a career-high 173 yards and four touchdowns in the Bulldogs' 55-13 home triumph. Bauer has turned in 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) are the only other three Bulldogs to reach that barrier.

•Junior wide out Nate Ricci's career-high 57 pass receptions and 1,006 receiving yards rank eighth and fourth, respectively, on the program's all-time single-season charts. Ricci has been UMD's favorite pass target in 2016 (he's been thrown to 87 times) while sophomore Jason Balts is next (61 times). A team-leading 76.7 percent of Balts's receptions have gone for first downs.

• 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.

• Eight Bulldogs now have an interception to their collegiate credit but only sophomore free safety Sam Lynch (four, including a team-leading three 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  and junior Kale Boomer lead the 2013 Bulldogs in special teams tackles with 13 each (all on kickoffs).

• UMD has amassed the second-most first downs (299) of any NCAA II club and have held the advantage over its opponents in that department in all 11 games to date. The Bulldogs have also converted on 52.8 percent (86 of 163) of their third down conversions - the fourth best figure in the county.
 
• Curt Wiese, who made his NCAA II playoff debut against Emporia State three years ago, has won 43 of 50 games since taking over the Bulldog program three seasons ago and only two other NCAA II head coaches -- Northwest Missouri State's Adam Dorrel (51) and Colorado State University-Pueblo's John Wristen (45) -- have complied more victories during that the time period.

TO THE VICTORS: This Saturday's winner will move on to the second round of the NCAA II playoffs (Super Region 3 semifinals) on Nov. 26 to face No. 1-seeded Northwest Missouri State (11-0) on the road. The Bearcats received a first-round bye. In the other first round Super Regional Three matchups this Saturday, No. 2 University of Sioux Falls (10-0) of the NSIC will host No. 7 Azusa Pacific University (9-2) of the Great Norwest Athletic Conference while No. 6 Central Missouri University (9-2) of the MIAA pays a visit to No. 3 Harding University (11-0) of the Great American Conference.