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Armed with a six-game winning streak, the University of Minnesota Duluth will make its final 2017 regular season home appearance this Saturday (Nov. 4) when the Bulldogs host the University of Minnesota Crookston in their annual Senior Day game. Opening kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. at James S. Malosky Stadium (4,500/artificial turf) on the UMD campus.

THE RECORDS: UMD is 7-2 overall and 5-0 in the NSIC North Division while Minnesota Crookston sports a 0-9 record in all games to go with a 0-5 NSIC North Division mark.

HOW THEY RANK: Here is how the Bulldogs and Golden Eagles stacked up in the most recent American Football Coaches Association Division II and the D2Football.com polls as well as the NCAA II Super Region Four Rankings:
 

	AFCA	D2Football.com	Region Four
UMD	RV	No. 23	No. 9
UMC	NR	NR	NR

THE BROADCAST: The Bulldog-Golden Eagle clash will be carried live locally on KDAL-Radio (610 AM and 103.9 FM) with Jeff Papas handling the play-by-play responsibilities and ex-University of North Dakota offensive lineman Gregg Swartwoudt providing color commentary. The broadcast can also be heard at: kdal610.com.

For the 10th consecutive year, My9 (KBJR DT 6.2/KRII DT 11.9) is televising all UMD home games. 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 fifth season of head coaching duty with the Bulldogs, having guided them to a 50-10 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), four straight NSIC North Division crowns and a school-record 22-game home winning streak which stretched between Oct. 5, 2013 and Nov. 12, 2016.

Last fall, his Bulldogs reeled off 10 straight victories following a setback in the season opener and wound up going 10-2. Along the way they returned to the NCAA II playoffs after a brief, one-year absence, and occupied the No. 13 spot in the final AFCA II poll. One year earlier, UMD capped off a 9-3 season by defeating Fort Hays State University 30-22 in the Mineral Water Bowl and in 2014 rolled up a 13-1 overall record (the third most wins in program history) and captured a share of its league-record 19th NSIC crown after going 11-0 in conference play. That was in addition to advancing to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA II playoffs and ending up at No. 3 spot in the final AFCA II poll. That followed up Wiese's 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 17 different All-Americans and 27 All-NSIC first team selections while his Bulldogs have earned NSIC All-Academic status 55 times. That includes 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. 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 generated both the second- most victories (they are 112-17) and winning percentage (.868) in the country while capturing two NCAA II national championships (2008 and 2010), six overall NSIC titles (2008-12 and 2014) and nine NSIC North Division crowns. They've also made eight NCAA II playoff appearances and produced two perfect 15-0 seasons and three 11-0 regular seasons.

Wiese 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 was among 10 head coaches nationwide who were honorary coach nominees for the 2016 Allstate Insurance and American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team.

    WIESE BY THE NUMBERS
    Record at UMD (Year): 50-10 (5th)
    Overall Coaching Record (Year):  59-21 (7th)
    Career NSIC Record: 47-7
    Career UMD Home Record: 25-3
    Career UMD Road Record:    25-7
    vs. Minnesota-Crookston: 4-0

THE RIVALRY: The Bulldogs and Golden Eagles have met on 14 previous occasions, including once in each of the past nine seasons. UMD holds a 13-1 lead in the all-time series, which began in Crookston on Sept. 28, 1999 -- the Golden Eagles' inaugural year as members of the NSIC. Minnesota Crookston recorded its lone victory over the Bulldogs two seasons later (a 17-13 home decision), but has since fallen to UMD 11 straight times. The latest of those setbacks occurred one year ago (Oct. 29) when the Bulldogs raced out to a 26-0 first-quarter lead and proceed to topple the Golden Eagles 54-23. UMD was held to a 2016 season-low 446 yards of total offense, getting nearly half of that output (209 yards) in the opening 15 minutes of play, but limited the Golden Eagles to just 280 overall yards, including eight on the ground.

LAST WEEK: UMD parlayed another dominating defensive effort into a 17-0 NSIC North Division triumph over Bemidji State on a blustery Thursday (Oct. 26) in Bemidji, Minn. Junior running back Anthony Wood rushed for a pair of first half touchdowns finished with 104 yards on the ground, which was more than double what Bemidji State accumulated in total offense as an entire team (50 yards). The Beavers also mustered a mere three first downs and eight rushing yards, lost three fumbles and had a punt blocked while losing to their long-time intrastate rivals for the 16th straight time. With the winter storm conditions, redshirt freshman quarterback John Larson attempted just seven passes, completing three of them for 31 yards. Junior inside linebacker A.J. Naatz was credited with a Bulldog-high five total tackles and was in on UMD's lone sack of the evening while redshirt freshman outside linebacker Nate Pearson came off the bench to make four stops.

Minnesota Crookston surrendered a touchdown with 18 seconds to go in regulation and fell 42-35 to NSIC North Division rival Minot State University at home on Saturday afternoon. Golden Eagle quarterback Joe Nava threw for 241 yards and five touchdowns (with just one interception) while going 20-for-25 in the setback.

SENIOR SALUTE: Saturday's bout will mark the final regular season Malsoky Stadium appearances for the Bulldogs 18 seniors That group, which will be honored in a pre-game ceremony, include linebacker Zach Bassuener, center John Bednarczyk, wide receiver Dominic Bonner, free safety Kale Boomer, running back James Conner, defensive end Karl Finkel, offensive tackle Nolan Folkert, cornerback Courtney Fowler, defensive end Regis Henke, offensive lineman Kenny Kirkvold, tight end Nick Larson, cornerback Tyler Morris, tight end Keynon Phillips, wide receiver Nate Ricci, (who is out for the year with an upper body injury) punter Ty Sullivan, defensive end Nick Thorpe, free safety Kegan Wirtz and linebacker Alex Wood.

Since this class first arrived on campus back in the fall of 2013 (under then rookie head coach Curt Wiese), they have been part of a Bulldog program that has gone 50-10, captured one overall NSIC championship and four NSIC North Division titles and has made three NCAA II playoff appearances.

ON THE LINE: A win against the Golden Eagles, would give UMD at least a share of its 10th consecutive NSIC North Division title.

THREE'S A CHARM: UMD has now posted three straight shutouts for only the second time in the 85-year history of its football program. The 1934 Bulldogs blanked each of their first four opponents during a season in which they allowed just 15 points in seven games.

MAKING A POINT: The Bulldogs have held the opposition scoreless in 13-plus straight quarters since Minnesota State University-Moorhead's Demitrius Carr ran 20 yards for a score with 4:16 to go in the third quarter of UMD's 23-14 slaying of the Dragons in Moorhead, Minn.

PRIDE OF THE NORTH: In addition to claiming at least a share of all nine NSIC North Division titles since the league instituted divisional play in 2008, the Bulldogs are a sizzling 61-3 in North Division assignments. That includes a perfect 33-0 mark at home. Besides a 23-15 defeat at Northern State University on Oct. 31, 2015, UMD's other NSIC North Division losses came in consecutive years at St. Cloud State University (51-49 in 2012 and 35-7 in 2011).

SIMPLY STIFLING: In their 17-0 victory at Bemidji State, the Bulldogs gave up just 50 yards (in 36 plays) of total offense. The last UMD opponent to accumulate less overall yards was those same Beavers in 1996 (33 yards on 40 plays).

GETTING A BIT DEFENSIVE: UMD currently ranks sixth in the nation -- but third in the NSIC -- in total defense, yielding just 266.2 yards a game. The Bulldogs are also third in third down conversion defense (24.8 percent) and first in fourth down conversion defense (12.5 percent). UMD had not given up a fourth down conversion all year until doing so at Bemidji State.

NOT IN OUR HOUSE: Since the 2008 opener, the Bulldogs are 51-6 at Malosky Stadium (with two of the losses coming to Minnesota State-Mankato in 2013 and 2017 and two in the NCAA II playoffs). Here are the some of the streaks UMD will put on the line this Saturday afternoon:
Consecutive NSIC North Division Home Wins: 33
Consecutive Home Games Without Being Shut Out: 79
Consecutive NSIC Home Games Without Being Shut Out: 121
Consecutive Wins vs. Minnesota Crookston: 11

NOT IN OUR HOUSE II: The Bulldogs have won their last 12 regular season home finales going back to a 29-0 loss to then-North Central Conference colleague St. Cloud State in 2004. That also is the last time UMD has been shut out at home.

THE BEAT GOES ON: The Bulldogs are now guaranteed of finishing with a winning record for the 10th consecutive year. That's the longest such run by a UMD club since it went 19 seasons in a row above the .500 mark between 1970 and 1988.

SOME TOUGH SLEDDING: UMD's eight opponents to date are a combined 50-31 and the two clubs that defeated the Bulldogs earlier this year -- nationally ranked Minnesota State (9-0) and Sioux Falls (8-1) -- are No. 1 and No. 2 in the overall NSIC standings. MSU-Moorhead and Minot State are the only two teams UMD has faced thus far that (at game time) owned a losing record.
 
WHAT A RUSH: Some 17 different Bulldogs have already run the football this season, including junior transfer Anthony Wood, whose 576 yards and 112 carries both are team highs. Wood (vs. St. Cloud State and Bemidji State) and redshirt freshman running back Austin Sylvester (at Northern State) each have at least one 100-yard rushing day to their 2017 credit. UMD, which finished 13th in NCAA II rushing offense last fall (averaging 233.4 yards per outing), has outgained the opposition on the ground in 28 of the past 30 games with the 2017 opener against Sioux Falls (when UMD managed negative-16 yards of rushing offense) and ensuing weekend (59 yards versus Minnesota State-Mankato) being the exceptions.

WHAT A RUSH II: UMD rushed 67 times in the shutout win over Bemidji State. That's the most carries by a Bulldog club since the opening round of the NCAA II playoffs when UMD rolled up 72 rushing attempts in a 57-55 double overtime loss at Missouri Western State University.

WHAT A RUSH III: Redshirt freshman quarterback John Larson, who has started the last three games, has the Bulldogs' top two longest runs from scrimmage this season -- a 51-yarder vs. Minot State (the longest by a UMD quarterback since Nate Ricci bolted 64 yards for a score against visiting Minot State on Nov. 14, 2015) and a 41-yarder vs. Bemidji State.  

WHAT A RUSH IV: Senior offensive tackle and part-time fullback Nolan Folkert has rushed 15 times for 17 yards and 10 touchdowns during his career (with all those carries coming in the past two seasons). Folkert's fellow 2016 All-NSIC first team interior lineman, junior nose tackle Dre Greer, parlayed his first collegiate rush attempt into a two-yard touchdown run last month at Northern State.

GREAT BALTS OF FIRE: Junior wide out Jason Balts, who in Week 4 of the 2017 season at Wayne State College generated the third-highest single-game pass reception yardage total (217) in UMD history, continues to top the Bulldogs in catches (42). He currently ranks third in the NSIC in reception yards (698) and is fifth in all purpose yards (112.22 per game).Balts has made at least one catch in 15 straight games and 20 of the last 21 outings going back to the 2016 season opener (he missed the trip to Minot State last year while nursing an injury).

IN GOOD HANDS: No NCAA II outfit in the country did a better job of controlling the football last season than UMD. The Bulldogs ranked first nationally in time of possession with a 36:06 per game average after occupying the No. 3 spot at the conclusion of the 2015 season (34:08). Thus far in 2017, UMD ranks 4th nationally and second in the NSIC in that department (33:18). The Bulldogs have held the upper hand in time of possession in 23 of the past 26 games.

IN GOOD HANDS II: The Bulldogs capped off their Bemidji State win with a 19-play drive that took 11:45 off the clock (which is believed to be a school record) in the fourth quarter and was capped off by sophomore Dan Branger's 22-yard field goal. UMD held the ball for 24 of 30 minutes in the second half against the Beavers.

IT TAKES A THIEF: Seven current Bulldogs have an interception to their UMD credit and six of those have multiple thefts -- junior strong safety Sam Lynch (five, including a team-leading three in 2016), senior free safety Kegan Wirtz (three), sophomore strong safety Bill Atkins (three), junior Dennis Archibald (two), freshman cornerback Justic'e King (two) and sophomore cornerback Bishop McDonald (two including the club's first pick of this season). Cornerback Jake Goodman, who along with Justic'e King are the only two true UMD freshmen to see playing time in 2017, has the Bulldogs' other pick this fall.

START ME UP: Junior Matt Juneau, a 2016 All-NSIC second team honoree who relocated from right tackle to left tackle on the UMD offensive front this season, has cracked the starting lineup in 29 consecutive games -- the longest ironman streak of any 2017 Bulldog. Senior outside linebacker Zach Bassuener is next with 25.

SACK IT TO ME: The Bulldogs have 22 sacks on the season, but 20 of those have come in the past six games. One year ago, the Bulldogs racked up a program-record 52 sacks, 11.5 of which came from current senior outside linebacker Zach Bassuener. Bassuener, a 2016 All-NSIC first team selection, has been credited with a team-leading 4.0 sacks thus far in 2017. That gives him 18.5 for his career, which ties him for fifth place on UMD's all-time charts. Sitting at No. 4 on that list is Bassuener's former teammate, 2016 NSIC Defensive Player of the Year Beau Bates (with 19.0).

BULLDOG BITS: The Bulldogs have outscored the opposition 70-34 in the final 15 minutes of regulation this season, but have been outscored 55-40 in the third quarter.

• Sophomore Cameron Hausman has already punted a career-high 53 times this year after he -- and two other Bulldogs -- registered 33 punts during the entire 12-game 2017 season. (Hausman had 26 of those punts).

•UMD leads the nation in turnovers gained with 25 and is second in recovered fumbles (16).

• John Larson is one of six different Bulldogs who has line up under center at least for one snap this season. joining Ben Everhart, Mike Rybarczyk, Jason Balts and Nate Ricci.

UP NEXT: The Bulldogs will put the wraps on the 2017 regular season with a Nov. 11 NSIC North Division road clash against the University of Mary.