The No. 15 (AFCA) and No. 11 (D2Football.com) ranked University of Minnesota Duluth football team faces its first matchup after its bye week, hosting the University of Mary Marauders inside James S. Malosky Stadium. This will mark the seventh Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) matchup of the 2025 season and is set for kickoff at 12:00 p.m.

NATIONAL RANK AND FILE: This past Monday, the Bulldogs shifted to No. 15 in the American Football Coaches Association's (AFCA) national rankings, while moving to No. 11 in the D2Football.com rankings.

When they entered the rankings, it marked the first time the team was ranked by the AFCA since week one of the poll last season, where they ranked No. 19.

OPENING STRONG: The Bulldogs improved their historically strong dominance of season openers to a staggering 66-22-4 all-time record with an impressive 9-3 record under Curt Wiese (six straight since 2018).

Notably, in Luke Dehnicke's breakout performance as a redshirt freshman tight end, he climbed his way to 152 receiving yards to knock out Jason Balt's 2017 performance from the program's 150-yard receiving last time list.

LEAGUE LEADERS: With eight weeks under each NSIC team's belt, UMD currently leads the conference in overall team scoring offense (averaging 38.4 points per game), rank second in scoring defense (only allowing an average of 17.3 points per game), hold second in total defense (allowing 328.3 yards avg/g), are second in rushing defense (allowing 101.7 yds avg/g), rank first in offensive efficiency (175.3), hold second in kickoff returns (25.1 avg), holds second in punting (38.0 net/p),  are the first best in interceptions (336 yds), opponent first down defense (16.6 avg/g), second in opponent fourth down conversions (31.3%), and first in fourth down conversions (80%). They are also currently the second least penalized team with an average of 35.1 yards lost per game, rank first in redzone defense (68.8%), and hold second in time of possession (avg. 33:23 per game).

The team holds multiple NSIC bests in game highs including:
–Points scored (61 against CSP and 63 against SMSU)
–Touchdowns (9 against CSP and SMSU)
–The second and third games in passing yards (12.9 avg at Winona, 12.7 avg at CSP)
–Tied for first on the longest field goal (52 yards, Drew Henson)
–The longest interception return (82 yards, Brock Unger)
–One of three teams with a kick return touchdown (UMD, Northern State, and Sioux Falls)
–Holds the first and second best interceptions (63 yards by Luke Humbert against CSP and 61 yards by Brock Unger against Winona).

Individually, Kyle Walljasper ranks third in passing yards (203.3 avg/g), first in passing efficiency (178.6), and fourth in scoring (54 points).
Luke Dehnicke holds fifth in receiving yards (76.9 avg/g). Jonathan Shrum is third in kick returns (29.4 avg)

On the defensive side, Mojo Weerts is fourth in sacks (.67 avg/g), and Brock Unger leads the NSIC in total interception yardage (166) with a tie for second in total interceptions (3).

NCAA LEADERS: Kyle Walljasper currently ranks fourth in completion percentage with an average of 71% and sixth in passing efficiency (178.6). He also ranks fourth in yards per pass attempt (9.95) and tenth in points responsible for per game (18.9).

Jonathan Shrum is tied for ninth in kickoff return touchdowns (1) while Brock Unger remains first in total interception return yards (166).

The team ranks fourth in the NCAA in fewest penalty yards per game (35.14), fifth in fewest penalty yards (246), tied for sixth in fourth down conversions (80%), fifth in completion percentage (70%), tied for fourth in defensive touchdowns (3), tied for fourth in passes intercepted (12), ranks ninth in scoring offense (38.4), sixth in team passing efficiency (175.30), and tied for third in punt return defense (0.0).

THE MATCHUP: This matchup marks the 18th historic meeting between the two programs (first match in 2009). The Bulldogs hold a staggering 17-0 all-time record, with the last ten wins coming under Coach Wiese's leadership. The Bulldogs have averaged 47.88 points per game against the Marauders. In the last matchup in Duluth, UMD shut out UMary 46-0 in 202,3 and collectively in the last five home games, the Bulldogs outscored them 278-63.

MORE ON THE MARAUDERS: UMary has started the season 3-4 overall, losing to Wayne State College in week two (7-42), Augustana University in week three (20-21), Northern State University in week five (14-53), and Minnesota State University Moorhead last week (35-38). 

The two sides last battled last season in Bismarck, earning a bounce-back 43-7 win over the Marauders. UMD scored an unanswered 36 points in the first three quarters, which included a 22-point effort in the third quarter. 

The Maruaders' offense will be led by senior quarterback Jolo Polo Solomon, who threw for 284 yards (30 for 42 attempts), two touchdowns, and 11 rushing yards last game. He is backed up by redshirt freshman Xavier Brackenridge, who has 496 yards rushing this season with three touchdowns. Last week, he ran for over 70 yards (108) against MSU Moorhead. The top targets this season are Damani Wilks (474 yds), Karsyn Jablonski(443 yds), and Luke Bodine (425 yds).

On the defensive side, UMary is led by Christopher Federico (51 tackles, two sacks) and Tuakoi Mahe (40 tackles and two sacks).

LAST MATCHUP: The Bulldog defense got off to a hot start with Cassius Rohadfox, Mac Strand, and Landon Carter all collecting sacks to force an early three-and-out from UMary. UMD would force the Marauders to punt on both of their first two drives of the game before breaking things open on offense. After driving down the field from their own 43 yard line, Kyle Walljasper would find an open Jimmy Durocher for a quick 2 yard receiving touchdown with four seconds left in the first quarter.
  
The UMD defense didn't slow down, and Jonathan Shrum came up with his first interception of the season to turn over the Marauder's opening drive of the second quarter Another punt set up the Bulldogs at the UMary 48-yard line, which was capped off with a 24-yard rushing touchdown from Walljasper to put UMD up 14-0 at the 6:48 mark before the half.
  
Both teams came out into the second half with scoreless drives before a 57-yard drive for the Bulldogs would end in a 15-yard receiving touchdown from Walljasper to redshirt freshman Ryder Patterson with 6:16 left in the frame. The fake extra point attempt would turn into a carry for Logan Kobus to convert the two point attempt and give UMD a 22-0 lead with six minutes left in the quarter.  A huge 34-yard reception from Durocher from Walljasper would set up a 15-yard rushing touchdown from Alex Riley at 2:32, closing out another 50+ yard drive and putting UMD up 29-0. On the very next drive, Kenneth Stevenson collected the pick six and gave UMD a 36-0 lead with just 50 seconds remaining as it headed into the fourth.
  
The UMD offense kept their foot on the gas with substitutions in the final quarter, and increased the scoreline to 43-0 on a 30-yard receiving touchdown from Jacob Eggert to Tanner Schmidt at 9:07. The Bulldogs forced a turnover on downs on the following UMary drive, but would let up a fumble recovery touchdown in the final two minutes that allowed the Marauders their only score on the day and 43-7 final score.
  
UMD compiled 365 yards of total offense, while it held UMary to just 92. The Bulldogs had 181 rushing yards on the ground and 184 in the air, while the defensive side kept the Marauders to -8 rushing yards. Walljasper had a season-best 138 yards on the ground with one TD to pair with135 passing yards and two passing touchdowns. Walljasper's main target was again Ames, who had 49 yards on the day.

Andrew Klopp led the defense with five tackles, including a team-best three solo efforts and 1.5 sacks and 2.5 TFL for 18 yards. Stand added four tackles (three assists) and a sack. Three other players logged sacks, including Carter Landon (1.5), Cassius Rohadfox (1.5) and Matt Weerts (1.0).

NOTES ON THE NSU GAME: Walljasper moved to No. 9 in career rushing yards… Walljasper's second 100+ rushing yard game (121 yards, Sioux Falls)…First loss since week seven of 2024 (Sioux Falls, 24-21)… second straight loss against Northern State (overall 29-13 since 1980)… most points allowed since week nine of 2024.

LAST TIME OUT: Walljasper improved in the program's career rushing yards, moving to the No. 9 slot, overcoming Cory Veech's 2,904 yards with 2,961 yards. During the game, he totaled 105 net rushing yards (4.6 average yards per carry) with two rushing touchdowns. In the air, he threw for 226 yards but tallied his lowest completion percentage at 68.2% (15 completed of 22 attempts).

The Bulldogs began the game with an opening drive of 75 yards. Walljasper connected with Chuck Gilbert III on an 18-yard pass after dodging a sack for the game's first touchdown. Drew Henson sent the first extra point in to make a 7-0 lead with 10 minutes to go in the first quarter.

This was the last time in the first quarter that UMD would find the end zone, as the following two drives by the Wolves culminated in a ten-point retaliation with a field goal drive and a touchdown drive.

The second quarter began with an NSU score advantage of 10-7. The Bulldog defense would halt their first drive with a sack by Tyrone McCoy to force a turnover on downs at the Wolves' 37-yard line. NSU managed to halt the offense to a field goal at the 15-yard line for a 10-10 score.

The Wolves ground down the Bulldog defense for a field goal on the following drive. UMD then handed the ball back to NSU after a 51-yard drive that ended with a fumble by Francis O'Malley, allowing a return of 63 yards by Tasean Young Jr. The Wolves finished the drive with a touchdown to jump ahead 20-10 with 46 seconds left before halftime. The Bulldogs were unable to score on the following drive and started the second half on defense.

The defense halted the Wolves' first drive of the half to give the offense another successful touchdown drive with a Walljasper rushing touchdown, marking the team down by three points. The Bulldogs again stuffed the Wolves' offensive effort, but a muffed punt by Catcher Langeness gave the ball right back to NSU at the UMD 18-yard line. NSU would score to bring back the ten-point lead over the Bulldogs.

On the next drive, the offense again found a rhythm to score another touchdown with help from a 40-yard pass from Walljasper to DaShaun Ames to bring them within scoring distance. Walljasper finished the drive off with his second rushing touchdown of the day to set the score at 27-24 in NSU's favor.

It took until under a minute remained in the third quarter, but the Wolves found room to bring back their ten-point lead with another touchdown.

The first drive on each side beginning the fourth would sputter until under two minutes remained when Walljasper threw a 29-yard pass to Ben Fritsch to set up the offense at the four-yard line. Luke Dehnicke got the job done with another pass from Walljasper to push back within three points with another extra point kick from Henson.

With 1:35 left on the clock, Jadon Apgar sent a perfectly executed onside kick to give the Bulldog offense a chance from midfield. However, the chance would be dashed two plays later when Young Jr. intercepted Walljasper to end the game at 34-31.

The receiving core was led by Ames, with five catches for 83 yards total (16.6 average). Following close behind was Ryder Patterson with five catches for 67 yards (13.4 average), and he followed Walljasper in rushing yards with 50 yards gained. Gilbert III and Dehnicke split the two receiving touchdowns.

On defense, Walrath earned the most tackles with a career high of eight (four solo and four assisted), with McCoy and Alex Sylvester earning above five tackles. McCoy earned his first Bulldog sack for a loss of nine yards while Brock Unger tallied a broken-up pass.

THESE ARE YOUR CAPTAINS SPEAKING: UMD has four captains this season, including three redshirt seniors, DaShaun Ames, Kyle Walljasper, and Alex Sylvester, along with senior Mojo Weerts.

SECOND WINNINGEST UMD FOOTBALL COACH: Curt Wiese enters his 13th season at the helm of UMD (15th career season). Wiese commands a dominant 106-27 record with an impressive two perfect 11-0 seasons, seven NSIC North Division titles, two NSIC championship victories, and two National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II playoff appearances. Last season, he earned his way to becoming the second-winningest coach in UMD football history behind Hall of Fame coach Jim Malosky.

WALLJASPER EYEING TOP-10: Walljasper currently ranks fifth in career passing yards (5,784 yards) and fifth in career total offense (8,779 yards ranking behind Ricky Fritz with 9,926). Last season, he earned the 10th spot in single-season total offense (2,685 yards).

Currently, Walljasper broke into the top 10 career rushing yards with 2,961, breaking Amory Bodin's No. 10 spot of 2,782 yards and Cory Veech's No. 9 slot of 2,904 yards. This makes him one of three Bulldog quarterbacks in the category. He now trails Chase Vogler with 3,405 yards.

FAMILIAR PERFORMANCES: Walljasper had a over 100 yard rushing day with a gain of 139 yards on 17 attempts (avg. 8.1 yards per carry). He rushed for one touchdown and threw for two to account for 18 points of the 43-point day. DaShaun Ames had the longest catch of the day in a 49-yard reception. Ryder Patterson earned one of the touchdowns with a total of 24-yards receiving.

Defensively, Mojo Weerts is the top returning Bulldog from the last matchup with three solo tackles, all three resulting in a total loss of 21 yards, and one sack for a loss of 11 yards. Jonathan Shrum, Joey Krouse, and Alex Sylvester all gave solid performances with three total tackles each.

THREE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Six weeks ago, Jonathan Shrum earned UMD's first 2025 NSIC Player of the Week selection off of his Special Teams performance against CSP, with his 90-yard kick return touchdown (Totaled 111 kick return yards).

Five weeks ago, Jadon Apgar earned his first-ever weekly award for special teams as a freshman kicker after helping lift a 17-14 victory over the then-ranked No. 7 Minnesota State. He went three for three in field goals in a match that was decided by his kick in the final second of the game.

And two weeks ago, Drew Henson earned his first career special teams weekly award after sending two long field goals in to help the team lift a 28-14 win over the Minnesota State University Moorhead. He nearly met the UMD program record (57 yards) for the longest field goal with his kick of 52 yards. On top of that, he nailed a 40-yard field goal and two extra points for a total of eight points of the Bulldogs' 28-point day. He also kept the Dragons' offense pinned with four punts that averaged 39.5 yards each and set them behind the 20-yard line twice. In total, he punted 158 yards in his best performance in his career.