THE MATCHUP Minnesota Duluth Football is getting ready for their last game of the season. The Bulldogs will be in Aberdeen to kick off against the Northern State Wolves on Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. Going into the weekend UMD is 7-3 overall and 4-1 in the North Division. Northern State will go into the weekend 6-4 overall and 3-2 in the division. On the road UMD has gone 2-3 and NSU has gone 5-0 at home. Since 1980 when the teams first kick-off, UMD leads the all-time series 25-13. The Bulldogs last lost to the Wolves in 2016, when they were on the road and fell short 39-19. Last season, the teams kicked off in Duluth on Nov. 13, where UMD came out victorious 49-35. The Bulldogs had a slow start to the game and trailed for most of it, but took the lead in the third quarter. The Bulldogs had a total of 537 offensive yards, compared to NSU's 475. UMD went 8-16 on their third down conversion rate. During that game Armani Carmickle tallied 184 receiving yards with his longest at 62.  

LAST TIME OUT This last weekend, UMD was in Sioux Falls competing against Augustana, where they took home the win 34-24. The Bulldogs scored a touchdown in the first quarter to start the game off. Carmickle made a 55 yard touchdown reception from Kyle Walljasper. Then in the second quarter, Walljasper completed a 14 yard pass to Zach Ojile for a 14-3 lead. The Vikings made their second field goal to put the score at 14-6 at the half. As the Bulldogs were ahead, Ojile extended the lead with his second touchdown in the third. The Bulldogs scored two more times in the fourth quarter to secure the win. UMD led the game with 343 offensive yards, while keeping Augustana to just 207 yards. On the offensive side of the game, UMD went 8-14 on third-down conversions and 4-5 on red-zone scoring chances.  Walljasper made 207 passing yards and rushed for 81, giving him a total of 289 yards on the game. Defensively, UMD put up a battle for the Vikings. The Bulldogs held them to just 13 first downs, and a third-down conversion rate of 2-13. The defense made a total of six sacks, one fumble recovery, and an interception for six yards. Brady Herbst made two of the sacks and Marcus Glodowski led the team in tackles with eight. 

TOP 'DOGS With the Bulldogs victory last weekend, they have moved up in the rankings both in the nation and the conference. Minnesota Duluth continues to hold the number one spot in both the nation and NSIC for time of possession. UMD is ranked at the top of the conference and fifth nationally for kick-off return defense. The special teams is ranked second in the NSIC and seventh nationally for punt returns. The Bulldog defense moved up a spot nationally to eighth and stayed first in the conference for total defense. They are also ranked 11th nationally and first in the league for first downs defense. UMD's offense moved up six spots to 10th in the nation and second in the NSIC for third-down conversions, in addition to being ranked 12th nationally and first in the conference for rushing offense. 

GBOR'S AT THE TOP Last weekend against the Vikings, Dayvia Gbor recorded his fifth interception of the season. With that he is now ranked first in the NSIC and 11th in the nation for interceptions. 

COX ON THE KICK During the 2022 season, Curtis Cox has gone a perfect 35-35 on the PAT. Cox has attempted nine field goals, making four of them, with the longest at 48 yards. 

REGIONAL RANKINGS In the third NCAA Regional rankings, UMD has been placed at No. 9 in the Super Region Four. 
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT Last weekend Northern State lost their contest to Bemidji State 24-14. The Wolves were held scoreless until the fourth quarter where they got on the board with a five yard touchdown reception by Ben Noland. Late in the fourth they scored their second of the game off a one yard rush. During that game, the Wolves were led by Noland in receiving yards with 131 with his longest at 90. The 90 yard pass was made by Anthony Vespo, as that was his only pass attempt. NSU was held to just 252 offensive yards, while the Beavers led with 502. The Wolves had only 11 first downs and third-down conversion rate of 2-10. While NSU's defense made two fumble recoveries, they could not break through the offensive line to make a sack. During the 2022 season, NSU totaled 3617 yards, with 2165 of the yards coming from passing. The Wolves average 27.6 points a game, while holding opponents to 16.5. Noland leads the team in receiving yards with 613. Will Madler has been the quarterback to see the most action with the Wolves this season. In 10 games he has completed 1624 yards for a completion percentage of 53.73. Northern State is ranked first in the NSIC and fifth nationally for rushing defense. They are also ranked recond in the NSIC and fifth nationally for red-zone defense.