HUDDLE UP The No. 13-ranked University of Minnesota Duluth football program begins a two-game road swing this weekend as the Bulldogs head up Highway-2 to take on Bemidji State University in a battle for the top of the NSIC North division between two undefeated teams at Chet Anderson Stadium in Bemidji. Opening kick is set for 4 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT UMD never trailed in the "Battle of the Bone," holding off St. Cloud State University for a 20-14 victory on Saturday, Sept. 21 at Malosky Stadium. The Bulldogs took a 10-0 lead to the locker room after a touchdown pass from junior quarterback John Larson to sophomore tight end Kurtis Weigand and a 27-yard field goal from Dan Branger.  Sophomore running back Zach Ojile extened the lead to 17-0 in the third before St. Cloud State finally got on the board. An unlikely tipped catch by junior wide receiver Quincy Woods late in the fourth quarter helped UMD put the game on ice as the team would kneel out the clock.

WE'RE GOIN' STREAKING! UMD's victory over  St. Cloud State extended its NSIC winning streak to 23-straight games, dating back to Sept. 16, 2017.

BULLDOGS IN THE POLLS A model of consistency, the Bulldogs remained the nation's No. 13-ranked program in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) II Coaches Poll for the third-straight week. UMD continued its rise in points, closing the game on no. 12-ranked Indianapolis now with 418 points. Valdosta (Ga.) State University remains the top-ranked team in the country, holding 30-of-32 first-place votes.  No. 3 Minnesota State University leads two NSIC teams in the top-25 with St. Cloud State still standing among the teams receiving votes.

NCAA SUPERLATIVES UMD's defense continues to stack up among the best in the nation, ranking ninth in rushing defense so far this year at 50.3 yards per game. At the same time, the Bulldogs rank in the top 10 (seventh) holding opposing quarterbacks to an 82.55 passer efficiency. The team's 10.0 tackles for loss also rank seventh in NCAA II. UMD has held opponents to just 41 first downs yet this far, good for no. 24 nationally.

The offensive line continues to hold tough, allowing just the team's first sack of the season last Saturday. Only three teams nationally have yet to allow a sack this season, putting UMD fourth. The Bulldogs continue to rank in the top 50 nationally for rushing offense, currently no. 31 averaging 214.0 yards per game. UMD also ranks no. 24 in total offense at 458.7 yards per game.

Individually, junior defensive back Michael Kirkendoll ranks no. 12 in the nation with his 31.5 yards per kick return. He's also in the top-25 in passes defended, knocking down 1.7 balls per game so far this year. John Larson ranks no. 16 in total offense, averaging 296.3 yards between throws and rushes per game this year as well as no. 20 already tossing seven touchdowns this season. He's also no. 22 responsible for 50 points already this year.

On the defensive side of the ball, junior linebacker Nate Pearson ranks no. 12 averaging over a sack per game, 1.17, on the year.

AGAINST THE COMPETITION With an impressive 47-10-1 all-time mark against Bemidji State, UMD has quieted any notion that the Highway-2 showdown is anything of a rivalry. The Bulldogs have won 17-straight dating back to the 1999 season. Head coach Curt Wiese is 6-0 in his career against BSU, but the Beavers did put a scare into the Bulldogs forcing double overtime a season ago.

LAST MEETING A pair of late first-half scores by the UMD offense -- a Wade Sullivan touchdown with 1:16 remaining and a Cameron Hausman field goal as the clock struck 0:00 marked the only points for either team as UMD led 9-0 the Beavers at at the half in their last meeting on Sept. 22, 2018. Bemidji State struck for a pair of touchdown passes in the third while UMD settled for a field goal in the third.  Johnny McCormick caught a fourth-quarter touchdown pass from John Larson to put the Bulldogs back on top in the fourth 19-16, but BSU's late field goal would send the game to overtime. Neither team scored in the first overtime session, but Sullivan ran in his second of the day in 2OT. In the Beavers' chance for rebuttal, Nate Pearson and Dre Greer sacked the quarterback on fourth down to end the day.

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. 

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.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME Going back to the 2008 opener, the Bulldogs are 57-7 at Malosky Stadium (with two of the losses coming to Minnesota State in 2013 and 2017 and three others to a pair of clubs in the NCAA II playoffs). 

LEAVING NOTHING BLANK The Bulldogs haven't been held scoreless in 101- 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 88 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 66-of-78 games. Only one other NCAA II head coach—Colorado State-Pueblo's John Wristen (67)—has accumulated more victories during that stretch.

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.

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.

THESE 'DOGS HAD THEIR DAY A total of 21 Bulldogs received some kind of All-NSIC North Division recognition in 2018. Headlining the list of honorees was center Jason Anderson (2017, 2018) and nose tackle Dre Greer (2016, 2018), who both earned All-NSIC North Division first team status for the second time in their respective careers, as well as Matt Juneau, a four-time All-NSIC North Division offensive tackle (first team in 2018, second team in 2015-16 and honorable mention last fall). Accompanying that senior trio on the 27-member All-NSIC North Division first team were six other Bulldogs -- senior cornerback Tareq Abulebbeh, senior linebacker Alex Helmer, sophomore quarterback John Larson, senior strong safety Sam Lynch, sophomore linebacker Nate Pearson and senior offensive tackle Trapper Ward. UMD placed another nine players on the second team, including junior free safety Bill Atkins, junior linebacker Isaac Erdmann, junior defensive end Tom Johnson, sophomore offensive guard Noah LeBlanc, sophomore cornerback Michael Kirkendoll, senior wide out Nate Ricci, redshirt freshman running back Wade Sullivan, senior linebacker Gus Wedig and senior offensive guard Joe Yernatich.  In addition, honorable mention recognition was secured by senior tight end Tyler Lattery, redshirt freshman tight end Zach Ojile and sophomore defensive end Emmanuel Tetteh-Jada.

AND THIS 'DOG DID, TOO John Steger, who wrapped his 18th season with UMD in 2018, was named the NSIC Assistant Coach of the Year, an award that debuted last season. This year, Steger has been promoted to Associate Head Coach and taken over duties overseeing the special teams.

UMD ALL-AMERICANS The Bulldogs boasted four All-American honorees last season, including a Football Gazette First Team selection in linebacker Alex Helmer. Offensive lineman Matt Juneau earned Second Team honors from the AFCA, while the Football Gazette named linemates Jason Anderson and Trapper Ward among its Honorable Mentions. 

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