HUDDLE UP Coming off their highest offensive output of the season, the University of Minnesota Duluth football team will look to continue its momentum heading into its final two outings of the regular season, beginning with a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division match-up against the University of Mary this Saturday. Opening kick is set for just after 2 p.m. broadcasting live on KDAL 610 AM/103.9 FM and streaming online at umdbulldogs.com/watch.

LAST TIME OUT Sophomore Wade Sullivan rushed for 180 yards, junior Cazz Martin added 179 and three touchdowns, and the UMD defense allowed just four first downs for the University of Minnesota Crookston as the Bulldogs pitched a 63-0 shutout returning to NSIC North Division play. Redshirt freshman Keegan Calchera took his first start behind center, needing just seven pass attempts on the day, completing five of them. He tossed a touchdown and ran in for another as UMD finished with 448 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground in the victory.

AGAINST THE COMPETITION The Bulldogs have never lost to the Marauders, 12-0 all-time against UMary including 6-0 during the Curt Wiese era. Under Wiese,  UMD has out-scored UMary 321-90, including a pair of shutouts in 2015 and 2018.

During his career, senior Nick Eliason has 11 receptions for 111 yards in three games against the Marauders. Senior Bryce Heim has 127 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns against UMary, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. Obi Ibeneme has 13 receptions for 202 yards in three outings.  John Larson quarterbacked the offense to victory back in 2017, finishing 20-of-29 for 235 yards and four touchdowns, completing 69 percent of his passes on the day.

In three games against the Marauders, senior Bill Atkins has totaled 13 tackles, including six solo. Nate Pearson has six tackles, including four solo and a sack, in two match-ups with UMary.

LAST MEETING The Bulldog defense took control at Malosky Stadium last season, blanking the Marauders 55-0. Three quarterbacks took snaps for UMD, including Garrett Olson who finished 3-for-5 for 51 yards and ran in a touchdown on the day.

NCAA SUPERLATIVES The week nine shutout helped the Bulldogs continue to rank among the nation's best on defense. UMD ranks in the top ten in several key categories: sixth in passing yards allowed (148.0 per game), eighth in opponents passer efficiency (93.6), ninth in both first downs allowed (126 total, an average of 14.0 per game), and ninth in total defense (263.9 yards per game). The Bulldogs also rank no. 22 in tackles for loss, averaging 8.1 per game, and no. 30 in scoring defense, allowing 18.2 points per outing.
On special teams, UMD ranks ninth in punt returns, averaging 16.64 per attempt.  Defensively, the Bulldogs are allowing just 2.88 yards per return, good for 14th in the nation. The team's three blocked punts and five total blocked kicks rank no. 8, and no. 12 respectively.

Dain Hudson ranks seventh in the nation averaging 14.9 yards per punt return, while Nate Pearson ranks no. 42 in the country, averaging 1.3 tackles for loss per game as well as no. 25 with 0.83 sacks per outing.

NSIC HASHMARKS UMD ranks third in the NSIC in scoring offense, scoring 29.9 points per game, and fifth in defense, allowing 18.2 ... The Bulldogs have the league's third-best rushing attack averaging 183.7 yards per game while leading the league in punt return average ... the leg of Dan Branger has been proved reliable this season, as UMD has the most successful PAT attempts without a miss in the NSIC (33) ... Sullivan ranks ninth in the conference averaging 59.7 yards per game with Martin not far behind, 12th at 54.9 on average ... Quincy Woods average 51.6 yards receiving per outing, good for no. 15 in the league ...  the Bulldog defense does not spend much time on the field, but Nate Pearson still ranks no. 7 in the NSIC with 12.0 tackles for loss on the year, including 10 solo. Cole Refsnider is currently tied for no. 15 with 8.5 tackles for loss on the year.

REGIONALLY SPEAKING The second NCAA II Super Region  rankings released on Monday, with UMD still on the outside looking in. The Bulldogs stand alongside Western Oregon University as the only two six-win teams outside of the top 10. UMD will have to win out to make an impression with UMary (1-8)and Northern State University (5-4) remaining on the schedule.

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 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. 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 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. The Bulldogs' last back-to-back shutouts came in 2017 when the team locked in three-straight zeros Oct. 14-26 against Northern State, Minot State University, and Bemidji State University.

COACHING DOMINANCE Since taking over the Bulldog program, Curt Wiese has won 69-of-84 games. Only one other NCAA II head coach—Colorado State-Pueblo's John Wristen (73)—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.

Follow UMD Athletics all season long by connecting with the Bulldogs on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and subscribing to the Bulldog Productions channel on YouTube. Tickets for all Bulldog home contests are available by accessing your My Bulldog Account, or clicking here.