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The University of Minnesota Duluth will put the wraps on the 2017 football season this Saturday (Dec. 2) when the Bulldogs take on the University of Central Missouri in the 52nd annual Mineral Water Bowl. Kiickoff is set for 12 noon at Tiger Stadium in Excelsior Springs, Mo.

THE RECORDS: UMD, which has won eight straight games, is 9-2 overall and finished in a tie for third in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standings (with the University of Sioux Falls) with that same mark. Central Missouri is 8-3 both in all games and in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

HOW THEY RANK: Here is how the Bulldogs and Mules stacked up in the final 2017 regular season American Football Coaches Association Division II and the D2Football.com polls:
  

	AFCA	D2Football
UMD	No. 23	No. 22
CMU	RV	NR

            
THE BROADCAST: The Bulldog-Mule clash will be carried live locally on KDAL-Radio (610 AM and 103.9 FM) with Jeff Papas on the call. The broadcast can also be heard at: kdal610.com.

Saturday afternoon's game will be videostreammed as well and can be accessed for free at: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/ucmmules.

THE COACH: Curt Wiese is wrapping up in his fifth season of head coaching duty with the Bulldogs, having guided them to a 52-10 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), five 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 consecutive 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 32 All-NSIC first team selections while his Bulldogs have earned NSIC All-Academic status 72 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 114-17) and winning percentage (.870) in the country while capturing two NCAA II national championships (2008 and 2010), six overall NSIC titles (2008-12 and 2014) and 10 NSIC North Division crowns. They've also qualified for eight NCAA II playoff berths (2008-14, 2016), made two Mineral Water Bowl appearances (2014 and 2016) 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): 52-10 (5th)
    Overall Coaching Record (Year): 61-21 (7th)
    Career NSIC Record: 49-7
    Career UMD Home Record: 26-3
    Career UMD Road Record: 26-7
    vs. Central Missouri: 0-0
    Mineral Water Bowl Record: 1-0

AGAINST THE MULES: UMD and Central Missouri have met just once previously and that, oddly, enough, was in the 2001 Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs where the Mules prevailed 48-17 over the Bulldogs, who were making their first post-season appearance ever in program history.
 
LAST WEEK: The Bulldogs since throttling the University of Mary 63-27 in Mary on Nov. 11. UMD got touchdowns from eight different players -- including three who line up on the defensive side of the football -- while rolling to its 13th straight regular season finale victory. The Bulldogs, who took a 42-7 lead into halftime, scored on their first three possessions of the afternoon and never looked back en route to defeating the Maruaders (1-10) for the 11th time in 11 lifetime tries. Redshirt freshman quarterback John Larson took snaps in the opening three quarters and wound up completing 20 of 29 passes for 235 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. Two of those scoring tosses went to senior wide out Dominic Bonner in the first half and another to junior tight end Jack Sims -- his third touchdown catch as a collegian (all of which have come at the expense of Mary). Sophomore Ben Everhart, who had been injured the past month, took over the signal calling duties in the final quarter of play and threw for 55 yards while going 5-for-12. UMD senior wide out James Conner led both teams with a career-best seven receptions (for 69 yards) while junior wide out Jason Balts had four catches and one touchdown.

The UMD defense generated three touchdowns of their own, getting a pair of fumbles returns from sophomore cornerback Harry Momoh (15 yards) and junior strong safety Sam Lynch (68 yards) and a pick six from sophomore cornerback Bishop McDonald (30 yards). It marked the first three-touchdown day for a Bulldog defensive unit since Sept. 7, 2002 (three vs. Minnesota State University-Mankato). The UMD defense did, however, have their streak of four consecutive games without giving up a point snapped with 4:57 to go in the first quarter when Paul Guptil hauled in a 56-yard touchdown pass from Garrett Weissinger.

Senior outside linebacker Zach Bassuener, in his final collegiate regular season appearance, finished with a team-high nine total tackles UMD, which came into the day tied for the NCAA II lead in turnovers gain, added seven more to that list by recovering six fumbles and picking off one pass.

Central Missouri concluded the 2017 regular season on Nov. 11 with a 31-24 MIAA triumph over visiting Lindenwood University.

END OF THE LINE: Saturday's Mineral Water Bowl clash with Central Missouri will mark the final collegiate appearances for UMD'S 18 seniors. That group 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.

Bassuener, Folkert, Ricci (who has been sidelined with a season-ending injury since the fourth week of the 2017 campaign) and Sullivan -- along with junior wide out Jason Balts -- are serving as team captains this fall,

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 52-10, captured one overall NSIC championship and five NSIC North Division titles and has made three NCAA II playoff appearances.

BOWLED OVER: This will be the Bulldogs' third trip to the Mineral Water Bowl, having played in that event in both 2001 (a 48-17 loss to Central Missouri) and 2015 (a 30-22 triumph over Fort Hays State University).

BOWLED OVER II: In UMD's last Mineral Water Bowl appearance, current senior defensive end Karl Finkel sealed the win for the Bulldogs when he sacked Fort Hays quarterback Treveon Albert on a fourth-and-10 situation in the final 1:41 of play, Then-sophomore Nate Ricci, who was shifted from wide receiver to quarterback as a replacement for the injured Drew Bauer, threw a pair of touchdown passes, including a one-yard toss to current senior tight end Tyler Lattery late in the first half that put the Bulldogs in the lead for good at 17-14. Ricci was voted the Mineral Water Bowl Offensive Player of the Game after setting personal passing bests for completions (15), attempts (25), yards (123) and touchdowns. Current senior linebacker Zach Bassuener paced the Bulldogs defensively with six total tackles.

IT AIN'T OVER 'TIL IT'S OVER: This marks the 10th  season in a row the Bulldogs have advanced to postseason play (eight NCAA II playoff berths and two Mineral Water Bowl visits).

THESE 'DOGS HAD THEIR DAY: Some 19 Bulldogs received All-NSIC North Division recognition in 2017. Headlining that list were the outside linebacker Zach Bassuener (2016 and 2017), offensive tackle Nolan Folkert (2016 and 2017) and defensive end Karl Finkel (2015 and 2017), who all earned All-NSIC North Division first team status for the second time in their careers. Accompanying that senior trio on the 27-member All-NSIC North Division first team were junior offensive center Jason Anderson, junior wide receiver Jason Balts, senior inside linebacker A.J. Naatz, senior tight end Keynon Phillips, and senior defensive end Nick Thorpe.

UMD placed another six players on the second team -- senior wide receiver Dominic Bonner, junior nose tackle Dre Greer, redshirt freshman quarterback John Larson, sophomore cornerback Bishop McDonald, junior offensive guard Trapper Ward and junior running back Anthony Wood. In addition, honorable mention acclaim was secured by senior wide receiver James Conner, junior offensive tackle Matt Juneau, senior defensive end Regis Henke, junior strong safety Sam Lynch and senior free safety Kegan Wirtz.

Finkel (second team in 2016) and Juneau (second team in 2015 and 2016) are both three-time All-NSIC North Division honorees while Balts (honorable mention in 2016), Bassuener, Folkert, Greer (first team in 2016), Henke (honorable mention in 2016), Lyknch (second team in 2016), Phillips (second team in 2016), Thorpe (second team in 2016) are repeat All-NSIC North Division selections.

AT THE HEAD OF THEIR CLASS: A total of 17 Bulldogs qualified for the 2017 NSIC All-Academic Team, including junior wide out Jason Balts and senior defensive end NIck Thorpe, both of whom also earned a spot on the CoSIDA Super Region Four All-Academic Team.

PRIDE OF THE NORTH: UMD captured its 10th consecutive NSIC North Division title this fall Since the league instituted divisional play in 2008, the Bulldogs are a sizzling 63-3 in North Division assignments. That includes a perfect 34-0 mark at home.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: UMD currently ranks near the top in a host of NCAA II statistical categories such as:

Category    Rank    Avg./Total
Turnovers Gained    1st    37    
Fumbles Recovered    1st    24
First Downs Allowed    1st    134
Turnover Margin    2nd    1.55 pg
Total Defense    3rd    259.8 ypg
Time of Possession    3rd    34:57
3rd Down Conv. Defense    3rd    .245
4th Down Conv. Defense    5th    .250
Fewest Penalty Yards    7th    415
Interceptions Thrown    8th    5
Red Zone Defense    9th    .667

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 (51, which equals his career high set one year ago). He currently ranks third in the NSIC in reception yards (893) and is fourth in all purpose yards (117.18 per game).Balts has now made at least one catch in 17 straight games and 22 of the last 23 outings going back to the 2016 season opener (he missed the trip to Minot State last year while nursing an injury).

GREAT BALTS OF FIRE II: The 81-yard touchdown strike that Jason Balts and quarterback John Larson combined on last in the 2017 home finale against Minnesota Crookston was UMD's longest pass play since the 2010 opener when quarterback Chase Vogler hooked up with wide out D.J. Winfield for a 89-yard score in a 35-10 triumph at Central Washington.

THE BEAT GOES ON: The Bulldogs will finish 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.

KICKS APLENTY: Sophomore Cameron Hausman's 59 punts this season are the most by a Bulldog since Luke Radke punted 62 times during the 2005 season.

LEADER OF THE SACK: Senior outside linebacker Zach Bassuener, a two-time All-NSIC North Division first team pickm has a team-high 6.0 sacks this season and 20.5 for his career. That puts the 2016 All-NSIC first team selection at No. 4 on UMD's all-time charts -- 1.0 sacks behind No. 3 Geoff Fischer (2001-04) and 2.0 sacks behind No. 2 Sean Callahan (1988-91). Russ Rabe (2001-04) is the Bulldogs' career sack leader with 29.0.

LEADER OF THE SACK II: Bulldogs have 29 sacks on the season, but 27 of those have come in the past eight games. One year ago, the Bulldogs racked up a program-record 52 sacks, 11.5 of which were credited to from current senior Zach Bassuener.

WE'LL SECOND THAT: The Bulldogs have outscored the opposition 115-31 in the second quarter this season and have not allowed a second-quarter point in any of their past seven games.

WHAT A RUSH: Nineteen different Bulldogs have run the football this season, including junior transfer Anthony Wood, whose 678 yards, eight touchdowns and 126 carries all 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 on their 2017 resume. UMD has outgained the opposition on the ground in 30 of the past 32 games with the 2017 opener against Sioux Falls (when UMD managed negative-16 yards of rushing offense) and the ensuing weekend (59 yards versus Minnesota State-Mankato) being the exceptions.

WHAT A RUSH II: Redshirt freshman quarterback John Larson, who has started the last five 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.

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

WHAT A RUSH III: 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 earlier this year at Northern State.

GETTING A BIT DEFENSIVE: Over the past five games, UMD has given up an average of 170.4 overall yards, 8.4 first downs and 6.6 points. Opponents have also averaged 23:58 of possession time per game during that stretch.

IT TAKES A THIEF: Ten 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, also has a pick this fall.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE ROAD: UMD has reeled off 10 straight regular season road wins going back to a 42-38 loss to Southwest Minnesota State University in the 2016 opener
 
IN GOOD HANDS: The Bulldogs have held the upper hand in time of possession in 25 of the past 28 games.

START ME UP: Junior Matt Juneau, a two-time All-NSIC honoree (second team in 2016 and honorable mention this fall) who relocated from right tackle to left tackle on the UMD offensive front this season, has cracked the starting lineup in 31 straight games -- the longest ironman streak of any 2017 Bulldog. Senior outside linebacker Zach Bassuener is next with 27.

QUITE THE RUN: Since taking over the Bulldog program four-plus seasons ago, Curt Wiese has won 52 of 62 games Only two other NCAA II head coaches -- Shepherd University's Monte Cater (with 55) and Colorado State University-Pueblo's John Wristen (54) -- have accumulated more victories during that the time period. Of Wiese's 10 lifetime losses, seven have come against NSIC South Division members (including four at the hands of Minnesota State-Mankato) and one against a NSIC North Division foe (at Northern State on Oct. 31, 2015). The other two setbacks have occurred versus NCAA II postseason opponents (besides Minnesota State-Mankato).