HUDDLE UP The University of Minnesota Duluth closes out the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) regular season on the road Saturday, taking on Northern State University while seeking an undefeated North Division campaign. Opening kick is set for just after 1 p.m. broadcasting live on KDAL 610 AM/103.9 FM and streaming online at umdbulldogs.com/watch.

LAST TIME OUT Junior quarterback John Larson returned to the starting line-up, out since week five with an upper body injury, and led the Bulldog offense to a dominating first half, leading the University of Mary 45-0 at the break before handing the reins of the offense to redshirt freshman Keagan Calchera who helped UMD cruise to a 59-7 victory. Larson threw five touchdown passes and caught another while Calchera added a pair through the air. Junior linebacker Joe Kordus led the defensive effort, totaling nine tackles  including 4.5 for loss (for 31 yards) including 2.5 of the Bulldogs' six sacks on the day.

RULERS OF THE NORTH UMD claimed a share of the NSIC's North Division for the 12th-consecutive season after improving to 6-0 last week against UMary. The Bulldogs have won the division each season since returning to the league in 2008 and have claimed 20 overall NSIC Championships in program history.

AGAINST THE COMPETITION The lone NSIC North Division team with a victory over UMD since the 2008 realignment, Northern State upset the team in Aberdeen back in 2015, but the Bulldogs own the overall edge, 25-11 in series history and 5-1 under head coach Curt Wiese.

The current Bulldogs know nothing but success against the Wolves over the past three seasons. Last year, Obi Ibeneme caught four passes for 62 yards in the victory. Nate Pearson has five total tackles, including 3.0 for loss and 2.5 sacks in his career.

LAST MEETING UMD closed out the 2018 regular season with a 40-13 victory over Northern State, led offesnively by Wade Sullivan's 127 all-purpose yards and Zach Ojile's two touchdowns on the ground. Bill Atkins collected six tackles, Michael Kirkendoll a pair, and Nate Pearson led the Bulldogs with 2.0 sacks on the day.

NCAA SUPERLATIVES While the offense shiend for UMD last weekend against UMary, the defense continues to rank among the nation's best headed to the final week of the regular season. The Bulldogs rank second in the nation, holding opponents to just 134 total first downs , an average of 13.4 per game, and fourth in NCAA II for total defense, allowing just 252.1 yards per game. That includes a no. 3 ranking in passing yards allowed (141.7) and no. 34 ranking in rushing yards (110.4). Opponents have converted just 31.6 percent of third downs against UMD, ranking no. 31 in the country. The Bulldog defense has also allowed just 17.1 points per game, ranking no. 21 nationally. UMD also ranks no. 17 in tackles for loss, averaging 8.5 and no. 26 in sacks, averaging 2.90.

On special teams, UMD ranks no. 14 in the country and leads the conference with five blocked kicks, including three blocked punts (good for no. 11 nationally). The Bulldogs allowed just 17.51 yards per kick return, ranking no. 31, and 2.88 yards per punt return, ranking no. 14. On the other side, UMD ranks no. 7 nationally averaging 17.16 yards per punt return. 
Individually, linebacker Nate Pearson ranks no. 29 nationally, averaging nearly a sack per game (0.80) and no. 50 in tackles for loss (1.30). 

NSIC HASHMARKS The NSIC is represented by three of the top four teams in the national rankings for defense (Minnesota State University, the University of Sioux Falls, and of course, UMD). The Bulldogs rank third in the league for defense and lead the league in passing defense, but also rank fourth in the conference for offense at 390.3 yards per game. UMD also ranks third in scoring at 32.8 points per game.
Individually, John Larson ranks third in the conference with his 14 touchdowns - despite missing four games - and sixth in points responsible four,Dain Hudson leads the NSIC averaging 15.0 yards per punt return, which also ranks seventh nationally.

REGIONALLY SPEAKING After another dominating NSIC North victory this past weekend, the Bulldogs still find themselves on the outside looking in at the Super Region Four Top 10 ahead of the regular season finale. UMD is just one of three teams (Bemidji State University, Western Oregon University) that have seven wins but are not in the top ten, and the bottom four teams in the top ten suffered defeats last weekend (Angelo State University, the University of Sioux Falls, Winona State University, and Dixie State University).

DEFENSE WINS... UMD is allowing just 8.9 points per game in its seven 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 opponents since UMD's return to the NSIC in 2008. Since that opener, the Bulldogs are 58-8 on their home turf. Two defeats came to Minnesota State in 2013 and 2017, one each to Sioux Falls and Upper Iowa, and three in the NCAA II playoffs. 

LEAVING NOTHING BLANK ... The Bulldogs haven't been held scoreless in 106- 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 91 contests ago (28-0 to St. Cloud State on Nov. 6, 2004).

... EXCEPT ON DEFENSE UMD shut out Minnesota Crookston on Nov. 3, the team's first shutout of the season, almost a year to the date of their last shutout, the team's 55-0 win over UMary back on Nov. 2, 2018. 

COACHING DOMINANCE Since taking over the Bulldog program five years ago, Curt Wiese has won 70-of-85 games. Only one other NCAA II head coach—Colorado State-Pueblo's John Wristen (74)—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.

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.