The No. 17 University of Minnesota Duluth football team will take to the road this Saturday to face Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foe Wayne State College at Memorial Stadium in Wayne, Neb. The unbeaten Bulldogs and the Wildcats last met in Duluth over the 2021 season. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m.
RANK AND FILE: For a second-straight week, the Bulldogs are ranked in both national polls. UMD has the No. 21 slot in the latest D2 Football national poll, and moved up to 17th in the latest American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches' Poll.
READY, SET, GO: The Bulldogs are off to a 5-0 start for the the third time in Bulldog head coach Curt Wiese's coaching career. It also marks the 14th time in program history UMD has strung together five triumphs out of the starting blocks.
UMD is now just one of 19 teams left out of 114 ranked in the NCAA unbeaten into the first month of the season.
POINT TAKEN: The Bulldogs continue to score early and often through five games, averaging 26.2 points before halftime. UMD is averaging just under two TDs in the first quarter alone (13.6).
Overall, the Bulldogs have the second-best scoring offense in the NSIC, averaging 40.2 points per game -- just one point shy of the top spot. Nationally, UMD ranks 19th overall.
SECOND HALF SHUTDOWNS: UMD's defense has allowed second half points in only three of the five games they've played this season, and just once in the third quarter in five games
In fact, the Bulldogs are giving up an average of just 2.8 points in the third quarter and 5.2 in the fourth for an average of eight points a half.
Overall, UMD's defense has been dominate, and currently ranks 19th in the NCAA and second in the NSIC with an average of just 15.8 points allowed a game.
UMD's rushing defense also ranks 14th in the country -- the Bulldogs are allowing just 74.2 yards on the ground a game after holding their last two opponents in the red.
A RUSH TO THE TOP: Redshirt sophomore quarterback Kyle Walljasper has run for nine touchdowns through the first five games -- just two shy of his total output for last season.
Walljasper ranks fourth in the nation with a 7.73 yards per carry and fifth in rushing TDs (9).
Other categories where Walljasper currently ranks in the top-6 in the NCAA:
4th -Total Points Responsible For (120)
4th - Points Responsible for per Game (24.0)
4th - Rush Yards per Carry (7.72)
6th - Rushing Yards (548)
5th - Scoring per game (10.8)
5th - Total Points Scored (54)
Walljasper now has nine rushing TDs to pair with 11 passing touchdowns for a total of 20 through the first five games.
HAVE LEGS, WILL RUN: UMD's offense is averaging 247.4 rushing yards a game -- the eight most yards a game in the NCAA and most in the NSIC.
SACK ATTACK: After blasting the Warriors last weekend for eight sacks -- the second time this season UMD has accured the number and the only two times a team has recorded eight in a game this season by any NSIC team -- the Bulldogs jumped into the second in the NCAA with 23 team sacks.
Drew Hennessey, who had 3.5 sacks last weekend against WSU, ranks third in the country with a 1.40 sacks per game average -- which also leads the NSIC. Hennessey has seven sacks so far on the season, which already surpasses his 2022 career-high mark of six. Hennessey's 3.5 sacks against the Warriors was also a single-game best by the redshirt senior.
TOUCHDOWN TIGHT END: Redshirt senior tight end Sam Pitz ranks third in the NSIC with six touchdown receptions. Pitz has 17 receptions overall and is averaging 15.7 yards per catch.
BEST OF THE BEST: The Bulldogs rank in the top-16 nationally in the following categories:
2nd -- Team Sacks (4.60)
11th -- Team Tackles for Loss (8.8)
8th -- Rushing Offense (274.4)
14th -- Rushing Defense (74.2)
12th - 3rd Down Conversion Pct (0.519)
16th - Scoring Offense (40.2)
5th - Net Punting (40.15)
THE MATCHUP: Saturday's game will mark the 17th meeting ever between UMD and Wayne State College, a series that started in 1993. The Bulldogs hold a commanding 14-2 lead in all-time, and are unbeaten in two visits to Wayne, Neb. since 2002. In eight games over the past 21 years (dating back to 2002), UMD is averaging 35.7 points a game against the Wildcats. One of UMD's two all-time losses happened in its last head-to-head battle witth the Wildcats back on Sept. 25, 2021, a 31-28 upset of the Bulldogs by WSC in Duluth.
In that game, UMD's lone lead of the game came from a touchdown in the first quarter, a 30-yd run from Cazz Martin. But WSC reeled off three-straight TDs over a five minute span before the Bulldogs were able to get a second touchdown from Martin at 9:36 of the second quarter. In all, the Wildcats scored four touchdowns in the second quarter to UMD's two, and at halftime, WSC led 28-21.
After a scoreless third quarter by both teams, Martin struck again to open up the fourth quarter and drew UMD even with the Wildcats at 28-28 at the13:56 mark. But with just 2:25 on the clock, WSC hit a 35-yd field goal to take over the lead, a lead that stayed intact after a UMD fumble on the WSC 45 yd line with just 58 second left that allowed the Wildcats to run out the clock.
Martin recorded three rushing TDs in the loss, while Brad Dati had 14 tackles for the Bulldogs defense -- more than twice as many as an other defensive player on either team. Dati had 7 tackles for loss for a total of 37 yards and recorded two sacks in the setback.
Other Notables:
--Dati's 14 tackles against WSC that day still sits as a career-best.
--The Wildcats had a slight edge in total offense yardage, 357-337, but the Bulldogs had three fumbles. Neither team converted a fourth down -- WSC was 0-of-4, UMD 0-of-1.
Head-to-Head
OVERALL: UMD leads 14-2
In Duluth: 4-2 (since 2002)
In Wayne:2-1 (since 2002)
Last UMD win: Oct. 12, 2019 (21-7)
Last WSC win: Sept. 25, 2021 (31-28)
Largest win for UMD: 43 (64-21, 2013)
Largest win for WSC: 28 (63--35, 1997)
Longest win streak for UMD: 9 (1993-2003)
Longest win streak for WSC: 1 (Twice)
Current win streak: WSC, 1
Wiese vs WSC: 4-- 1
Masters vs UMD: 0-0
LAST TIME OUT: The Bulldogs improved to 5-0 with a 38-14 Homecoming win over Winona State University last weekend at Malosky Stadium. UMD went to the air in the first half to score, and the first touchdown of the game came after a nine-play, 85 yard drive that ended with a 18-yard TD toss by redshirt sophomore quarterback Kyle Walljasper to senior running back Daniel Mitchell. The touchdown, Mitchell's second of the season and first from the air, along with a Curtis Cox point after completion, gave UMD a 7-0 lead at 7:39 of the first quarter.
The Bulldogs defense smothered the Warriors early, highlighted by back-to-back sacks from redshirt senior linebacker Drew Hennessey that forced WSU to punt with 11:18 left in the quarter. Just 1:14 later, UMD showcased some offensive trickery when Walljasper ran to his left, quickly pitched the ball back to redshirt sophomore wide receiver DaShaun Ames, who then rolled to his right on WSU's 25 yardline and hit a wide open Sam Pitz. Pitz walked in from 10 yards out for the touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead at 10:04 of the second.
After UMD's defense again kept WSU away from the end zone, Walljasper and Co. needed just 2:11 to take a 21-0 lead. Walljasper hit Pitz right up the middle for a 37 yard touchdown pass, and a Marcus Glodowski interception on UMD's 22-yd line secured the commanding 21-0 advantage at halftime.
Ames, who already had thrown for one TD on the day, opened up the third quarter with another. The wide receiver ran back the opening kick of the half 93 yards for UMD first kickoff return for a touchdown since 2016 to put the Bulldogs up 28-0.
The Warriors finally got on board – snapping the Bulldogs opponent scoreless streak at six quarters – at 10:19 of the third quarter, but UMD again stretched out its lead with a 11-play, 73 yard march down the field punctuated by the Walljasper to Pitz connection for a third time on the afternoon. Walljasper hit Pitz in the end zone for a 14-yd TD at 4:02 of the third, also giving the QB his third passing touchdown on the day.
Winona was credited for a second touchdown at 2:42 of the third quarter, though it appeared that the ball came out of Sylvere Campbell's hand before he crossed the goal line. Campbell's 49-yd TD reception made it a 35-14 score line, but UMD's defense denied the Warriors any further offensive points.
In fact, the only points of the final quarter came off the foot of placekicker Curtis Cox, who hit a 35 yd FG at 12:35 to make it a 38-14 contest. The Bulldogs defense did the rest, highlighted by consecutive sacks around the 10 minute mark courtesy of Ethan Beffert and Hennessey. At the nine minute mark, UMD added another sack by Zach Wallace and Landon Carter before Andrew Klopp picked off Stenstrom at 6:31, defusing the Warriors attempt to add to the scoreboard and keeping the Bulldogs unbeaten on the season.
NOTES FROM THE WSU GAME: In all, UMD recorded eight sacks behind 3.5 from Drew Hennessey, and two picks from Klopp and Marcus Glodowski. The Bulldogs held the Warriors to -28 rushing yards – the second time in as many games UMD opponents have been held to negative rushing yards. Both Hennessey and Jacob Mogensen led the defense with six tackles on the day.
--UMD rolled up 420 total yards of offense, the third time this season the Bulldogs have been at 420 or more in a game. Walljasper, who did not play the final 10 minutes of the fourth quarter, racked up 122 yards on the ground, while Jimmy Durocher had 93 yards and a team-best six receptions. All told, UMD had 198 yards on the ground and 222 in the air. Pitz paced the Bulldogs with three TDS – a career best effort, while Walljasper had three touchdown passes.
--UMD is now 37-10 all-time against Winona State and has won 10-straight games against the Warriors dating back to the 2008 season (when UMD rejoined the NSIC).
--UMD held the Warriors to -28 rushing yards on the day, the lowest opponent output of the season, and the lowest opponent output since he Bulldogs held Minnesota State, Moorhead to -37 yards last season in a 38-28 win in Duluth.
--The Bulldogs have held other teams to negative rushing yards six times in the past five seasons, including three times in the last two years.
NSIC NOTABLES: UMD boasts the second best offense in the NSIC with its 40.2 ppg average, and leads the league with the fewest offensive yards allowed a game -- 283.
Other UMD NSIC players/stats in the top-7 -
--Kyle Walljasper -- 2nd in rushing TDs (9), 2nd yards per game (109.6), 2nd scoring (10.8 ppg), 3rd in passing efficiency (164.7).
--DaShaun Ames, 3rd, kick returns (31.0), while Ames' 93-yd return against WSU is the longest in the league this season.
--Drew Hennessey, 1st Sacks (1.40, 7 total). 2nd tackles for loss (2.10)
--Ethan Beffer, 6th tackles for loss (1.30)
--Tim Pokornowski and Marcus Glodowski, 6th interceptions (2). Pokornowski's 95 yard interception against Northern State is the longest this season in the NSIC.
--Curtis Cox ranks 2nd among all kickers with an average of 7.8 points a game, and -Curtis 6th in made FGs (5)
-- Logan Kubus, 3rd average punt yardage (42.7 average per punt in 10 attempts)
--The Bulldogs 550 offensive yards against Sioux Falls on Sept. 16 ranks as the biggest haul by any team so far in the NSIC. The Bulldogs averaged 10.0 yds per carry.
REPORTING FOR DUTY: The Bulldogs have five captains for the 2023 season -- graduate seniors Brad Dati, Treyvon Cahalan, Marcus Glodowski, Nathan Bursch and redshirt sophomore Kyle Walljasper.
WIESE HITS 100: Curt Wiese picked up his 100th career victory last in UMD's 42-34 win over Sioux Falls on Sept. 16. All-time, Wiese is 102-32, with a 93-21 record at the helm of the Bulldogs.
Wiese is currently the third all-time winningest coach in UMD program history, and is closing in on the second winningest coach Bob Nielson, who had 100 wins in 10 total seasons.
NOTES ON WAYNE STATE: The Wildcats are 4-1, with their lone loss to nationally ranked Minnesota State, Mankato back on Sept. 9 in Mankato, Minn. by a score of 31-14. Since then, WSC has reeled off three-straight wins, including against UMD common opponent Southwest Minnesota State, who the Wildcats defeated 49-10 in Wayne, Neb. (By contrast, UMD knocked off the Mustangs 33-0 in Marshall, Minn. the following weekend.)
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Junior quarterback Nick Bohn leads WSC with 12 passing TDs and six running touchdowns for a total of 18 through five games. Bohn ranks seventh in the NSIC in points per game, with an average of 7.2, and fifth in points with 36.
Redshirt freshman running back Latravious Boyd has five rushing TDs, three of which came last weekend against Minot State in the Wildcats 48-22 win. Boyd also had 196 yards in the game.
WSC's defense currently ranks ninth in the NSIC after having given up 393 yards on offense a game. Junior lineback Dexter Larsen leads the Wildcats with a total of 36 tackles so far this season. Junior linebacker Alex Schall has a team-best 22 tackles to his name, and ranks second on the squard with a total of 34.
Two players have recorded two interceptions on the season, putting them in a eight-way tie (that included UMD's Tim Pokornowski and Marcus Glodowski) -- Gerale Flye and Jacob Byrd.
HEAD COACH LOGAN MASTERS: Former Wildcat standout receiver Logan Masters is his second season as head football coach at WSC. He was promoted to head coach of the Wildcat football program on February 11, 2022 and is the 23rd head coach in the 106-year history of Wayne State football.
It was a memorable first season on the Wildcat sidelines for Masters, who guided Wayne State to a first-ever Northern Sun Conference overall championship with a 9-2 record while also leading the Wildcats to the NCAA Division II playoffs for just the second time in school history. Wayne State was a perfect 6-0 at home and the nine wins matches the most wins in school history for a single season.
