HUDDLE UP The University of Minnesota Duluth football program will look to continue its success against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division opponent the University of Minnesota Crookston as the Bulldogs look to take out frustrations of rare back-to-back defeats against the Golden Eagles on Saturday at Malosky Stadium. Opening kick is set for just after 1 p.m. broadcasting live on My9 Sports Network and KDAL 610 AM/103.9 FM.

LAST TIME OUT The could not get going for UMD (R.V.) against a gritty Upper Iowa University team with the Peacocks upseting the Bulldogs 23-13 for their second-straight win. Turnovers cost the home team as UMD suffered its first regular season defeat at Malosky Stadium since Sept. 16, 2017. The Bulldogs committed four interceptions, two turnovers, and finished 4-for-14 on third down and 0-for-1 on fourth in defeat. The quarterback tandem of Garrett Olson and Keagan Calchera combined for 248 yards on 21-of-41 passing, but the Bulldogs totalled just 111 yards on the ground.

ULTRA RARE With 20 NSIC Championships and 11-straight North Division titles to its name, UMD rarely suffers back-to-back defeats in conference competition. In fact, since returning to the NSIC in 2008, the team has never lost two-straight games. The last time the Bulldogs dropped two straight was in the 2007 season, losing three consecutive games to Minnesota State University Mankato, the University of Nebraska Omaha, and the University of North Dakota, the latter two teams in the midst of a transition to NCAA Division I FCS.

SENIOR SALUTE In their final home game, UMD bids farewell to 14 seniors: (in numerical order) defensive back Bill Atkins, wide receiver Nick Eliason, defensive back Tyrik Carmickle, running back Kyle Webb, kicker Dan Branger, running back Bryce Heim, punter Cameron Hausman, linebacker Isaac Erdmann, linebacker John Birkholz, linebacker Aaron Gorres, offensive lineman Dan Bartels, offensive lineman Zach Oruruo, wide receiver Obi Ibeneme, and defensive lineman Tom Johnson.

AGAINST THE COMPETITION In the 20-year history of the head-to-head series between UMD and Minnesota Crookston, the Bulldogs have won 13-straight and 15-of-16, with the Golden Eagles' lone win coming in 2001, a 17-13 win and just one of two regular season defeats for UMD that year. Head coach Curt Wiese is 6-0 all-time against the NSIC North Division rival. 

Quarterback John Larson threw for three touchdowns and 253 yards on 17-of-23 passing in his lone career game against Crookston in 2017. Garrett Olson went 8-for-11, tossing a touchdown and collecting 138 yards of his own through the air last season. Obi Ibeneme has nine receptions for 143 yards and three touchdowns, each of which came in 2018, while Dain Hudson caught six balls for 149 yards of his own last season. Nick Eliason has four receptions for 72 yards in his career against the Golden Eagles.

Defensively, Bill Atkins has collectected six tackles and one interception return touchdown in three career games against Crookston. Nate Pearson has five tackles in two career games, while Tom Johnson has collected nine tackles, including one sack in three career games.

LAST MEETING Wiese's Bulldogs dominated Minnesota Crookston in 2018, earning a 63-7 victory  on the road en route to an undefeated regular season. Ben Everhart threw for three touchdowns, going 13-of-22, each to Ibeneme. Wade Sullivan caught one ball for 18 yards and rushed for 28 on two attempts.

SUPERLATIVE DEFENSE UMD's defense continues to rank among the best in the nation at several key categories.  The Bulldogs rank no. 18 nationally in total defense, allowing just 282.1 yards per game (including 153.3 passing yards. good for 15th), and no. 20 allowing only 123 first downs this season (15.4 per game). UMD has averaged 8.1 tackles for loss, ranking no. 25 nationally, and 2.63 sacks for no. 39. The Bulldogs have held opposing quarterbacks to a 93.67 passer rating, 13th best in the nation, and opposing offenses to just a .341 conversion percentage on third down, good for no. 49 nationally.
Only four teams have more than UMD's three blocked punts this season. The Bulldogs also rank among the nation's leaders in punt return average, no. 4 at 20.18 per attempt.

NSIC HASHMARKS UMD's nine blocked kicks this season lead the NSIC, while their three blocked punts rank second ... the Bulldogs rank second in the conference in defensive touchdowns (two) ... UMD ranks fourth in total defense among NSIC competition ... despite missing the last three games, John Larson still ranks seventh in the NSIC with his nine passing touchdowns ... Michael Kirkendoll ranks fifth in the league averaging 1.0 pass break-ups per game ... Nate Pearson's 0.94 sacks per game rank third in the league.

(SUPER) REGIONALLY SPEAKING In another rarity, the Bulldogs find themselves on the outside looking in at the initial NCAA Super Region 4 rankings announced Monday. UMD stands alongside NSIC foe Concordia University, St. Paul as the only five-win teams outside of the top five. The conference is represented by four teams in the top ten, including Minnesota State second, Augustana (S.D.) University seventh, the University of Sioux Falls eighth, and Winona State University ninth.

DEFENSE WINS... UMD is allowing just 11.0 points per game in its five victories this season, allowing more than two scores just once (a 48-20 win at MSU Moorhead on Sept. 14) in a victory.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME Victories at Malosky Stadium have been tough to come by for Malosky Stadium since UMD's return to the NSIC in 2008. Since that opener, the Bulldogs are 58-8 on their home turf, with only one loss in the NSIC North. (Two losses came to Minnesota State in 2013 and 2017, one to Upper Iowa last week, and three more to a pair of clubs in the NCAA II playoffs). UMD's only home NSIC North Division defeat came on Oct. 31, 2015: a 23-15 win for Northern State.

LEAVING NOTHING BLANK The Bulldogs haven't been held scoreless in 105- straight games (going back to a 7-0 loss at Wayne State on Sept. 17, 2011) and the last time they were shut out at home was 90 contests ago (28-0 to St. Cloud State on Nov. 6, 2004).

COACHING DOMINANCE Since taking over the Bulldog program five years ago, Curt Wiese has won 68-of-83 games. Only one other NCAA II head coach—Colorado State-Pueblo's John Wristen (72)—has accumulated more victories during that stretch.

RUNNING THE TABLE Last fall, UMD went unbeaten and untied during the entire regular season for the sixth time in the program's 86-year history. The Bulldogs also accomplished that feat in 2014, 2010, 2008, 2002 and 1980.

TOP OF THE HEAP ONCE MORE The 2018 Bulldogs claimed a share (with Minnesota State University-Mankato) - of the NSIC title-- their 20th title ever (no school has more) -- and first since 2014. UMD also captured its 11th-straight NSIC North Division championship in 2018.

A NEW-LOOK SIDELINE Bulldog Country will have to get use to some new (but familiar) faces joining head coach Curt Wiese on the sideline as former Bulldog All-American quarterback Chase Vogler returns to campus to claim the offensive coordinator position. He is not alone, bringing another UMD All-American with him as Garth Heikkinen will now oversee the offensive line. Former standout wide receiver Jason Balts will serve as an intern assistant coach working with the running backs after wrapping his career in 2018, while Luke Bacon, a four-time NCAA FCS National Champion at North Dakota State, will work with the tight ends. Additionally, Trey Dill has been promoted to defensive coordinator after working with the defensive line the past eight years.

VETERAN LEADERSHIP As far as roster make-up goes, the Bulldogs return 14 seniors, 17 juniors, and 21 sophomores. A total of 18 redshirt freshmen will get their first taste of collegiate competition after training with UMD in their rookie year. The senior class is split right down the middle with six offensive position players, six on defense, and a pair of special teamers.

CAPTAIN IN COMMAND Senior defensive back Bill Atkins, senior linebacker Isaac Erdmann, senior defensive lineman Tom Johnson,  junior quarterback John Larson, and junior wide receiver Johnny McCormick will serve as the team captains this season for UMD.

RETURNING ALL-NSIC HONOREES An astounding total of 21 Bulldog players received All-NSIC honors following the undefeated 2018 season, and UMD returns 10 student athletes from the crop, led by First Team junior quarterback John Larson and senior linebacker Nate Pearson. UMD returns six Second Teamers in senior defensive back Bill Atkins, senior linebacker Isaac Erdmann, senior defensive lineman Tom Johnson, junior defensive back/kick returner Michael Kirkendoll, junior offensive lineman Noah LeBlanc, and sophomore running back Wade Sullivan. Additionally, two Bulldogs come back who received All-NSIC Honorable Mentions last season in junior defensive lineman Emmanuel Tetteh-Jada and sophomore running back Zach Ojile.

FIRST OF HIS KIND For the first time in league history, the NSIC honored the 2018 Assistant Coach of the Year with UMD's then-defensive coordinator John Steger taking home the honor. Steger was promoted to Associate Head Coach this season, ceding defensive coordinator duties while taking the reins of UMD's special teams and linebackers.