The No. 13 (AFCA) and No. 10 (D2Football.com) ranked University of Minnesota Duluth football hosts senior day and the final regular season James S. Malosky Stadium match against  Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) foe, Bemidji State University. This will mark the ninth NSIC matchup of the 2025 season and is set for kickoff at 12:00 p.m.

SENIOR SALUTE: UMD's 2025 senior class consists of 15 players who will be honored pregame on Saturday. That 15 includes eight players who were freshmen during the 2021 season NCAA Tournament berth  (Kyle Walljasper, Luke Humbert, Gavin Skelton, Alex Sylvester, DaShaun Ames, Tyler Collien, Joey Grillo, Jake Raines). This class has an impressive overall record of 41-13. Here is the complete list of UMD's 2025 senior class:

12/QB            Kyle Walljasper     
6/DL               Mojo Weerts         
23/LB             Luke Humbert     
50/DL             Gavin Skelton     
92/DL               Gus Taylor         
90/DT             Josiah Walker     
15/DB             Alex Sylvester     
22/LB             Joshua Gonleh     
1/DB              Tyrone McCoy     
14/DB             Isaiah Hampton     
11/WR            DaShaun Ames     
19/WR            Tyler Collien         
75/OL             Tait Kongsjord     
78/OL             Joey Grillo        
62/OL            Jake Raines     

NATIONAL RANK AND FILE: This past Monday, the Bulldogs remained at No. 13 in the American Football Coaches Association's (AFCA) national rankings and held at No. 10 in the D2Football.com rankings for the second straight week.

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.

HIGHEST SUPER REGION RANKING SINCE 2018: In the first week of rankings, the team was selected sixth in the NCAA Division II Super Region Three rankings.

The last time the program was placed in the top ten team list was in week three of the Super Region Four rankings of the 2022 season, where they were selected ninth. This also marks the highest ranking since the 2018 season, where week three had them picked third after starting the rankings first overall.

The Bulldogs (8-1) are one of three NSIC teams in the list, with Augustana University (9-0) ranking ahead at fifth and Minnesota State University Mankato (7-2) lagging behind UMD in eighth. Ahead of UMD and Augustana is Ferris State University (8-0) first, University of Findlay second (9-0), University of Indianapolis third (7-1), and Ashland University (8-1) fourth.

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.

A DYNAMIC DUO: In a multi-career game for both redshirt senior quarterback Kyle Walljasper and protege redshirt freshman tight end Luke Dehnicke, they both tied program bests in the UMary victory. With six touchdown passes, Walljasper entered a four-way tie for the record, with four of these passes heading to Dehnicke. These passes saw Dehnicke reach a staggering 230 receiving yards (19 short of the program record, 249, Tim Battaglia) and account for 26 points of the 54-point victory. Dehnicke has now reached over 100 yards in a single game four times this season (152 vs Winona, 141 vs Mankato, UMary 230, and Jamestown 150).

LEAGUE LEADERS: With nine weeks under each NSIC team's belt, UMD currently leads the conference in overall team scoring offense (averaging 40.9 points per game), are second in rushing defense (allowing 91.3 yds/g), rank first in offensive efficiency (187.2), hold third in kickoff returns (24.1 avg), holds second in punting (38.3 net/p), hold third in field goals (80%),  are the first best in interceptions (363 yds), third in opponent first down defense (17.4 avg/g), third in opponent third down conversions (33%), third in opponent fourth down conversions (38.1%), and first in fourth down conversions (77.8%). They are also tied for second in red zone defense (75%), and rank second in red zone offense (83.3%).

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 third, fourth, and fifth games in passing yards (13.0 avg vs UMary, 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 four teams with a kick return touchdown (UMD, Northern State, Sioux Falls, and Moorhead)
–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 (212.9 avg/g), first in passing efficiency (195), second in total offense (271.8 yds/g), fourth in scoring (66 points), and fourth in scoring touchdowns (11).

Luke Dehnicke holds first in receiving yards (102 avg/g), has the most receiving touchdowns (12), and total yards (918). Jonathan Shrum is second in kick returns (29.0 avg)

On the defensive side, Mojo Weerts is fourth in sacks (0.63 avg/g), and Brock Unger leads the NSIC in total interception yardage (166) with a tie for third in total interceptions (3).

NCAA LEADERS: Kyle Walljasper currently ranks fifth in completion percentage with an average of 71% and first in passing efficiency (195). He is also tied for fourth in passing touchdowns (23), third in points responsible for (204), points responsible for per game (22.7), and first in yards per pass attempt (10.47).

Luke Dehnicke is tied for second in receiving touchdowns (12), ranks first in receiving yards (918), holds third in receiving yards per game (102), and has the second highest receiving yards in a game nationally (230 yards against UMary).

Brock Unger remains first in total interception return yards (166).

The team is tied for sixth in the NCAA in fourth down conversion percentage (78%), sixth in completion percentage (70%), tied for seventh in defensive touchdowns (3), tied for ninth in fewest penalties (41), tied for sixth in fewest penalties per game (4.56), sixth in fewest penalty yards (326), fifth in fewest penalty yards per game (36.22), tied for third in passes intercepted (14), tied for third in punt return defense (0.0), seventh in scoring offense (40.9), and third in team passing efficiency (187.18).

THE MATCHUP: This matchup marks the 62nd historic meeting between the two programs. The last time the Bulldogs and Beavers faced off was in the 2023 season when the two faced each other as ranked teams (UMD No. 25 and Bemidji No. 16). The Bulldogs hold an impressive 48-13-1 record over the Beavers which includes a 25-4 record in Duluth.

MORE ON THE BEAVERS: Bemidji has started the season 3-6 overall, losing to Michigan Tech in week one (17-37), Winona State in week two (17-21), Sioux Falls in week three (23-56), Augustana in week four (14-42), Minot State in week five (21-28), and MSU Moorhead last week (21-49). Their only victories came against Northern State (24-21), Wayne State (26-21), and Jamestown (47-25).

The Beavers offense is led by redshirt freshman quarterback Bart McAninch, who threw for 90 yards (11 for 19 attempts) and two touchdowns last game. He is backed up by redshirt senior Jake Hill, who has received 300 yards this season with six touchdowns to average 75 yards per game. Their backup quarterback, Connor Carver, leads the team in rushing yards with a net of 609 yards in 77 carries.

On the defensive side, Bemidji is led by Caden Bolte (59 tackles, one interception) and Gabe Ward (50 tackles, one interception).


NOTES ON THE JAMESTOWN GAME: The dynamic duo of redshirt senior quarterback Kyle Walljasper and redshirt freshman tight end Luke Dehnicke picked right up where they left off last week. Walljasper connected with Dehnicke for three passing touchdowns which were three of the six total touchdowns scored in the game by the Bulldogs. Walljasper passed four touchdowns and rushed for one for a total of 235 passing yards and 61 yards on the ground. Dehnicke hit 150 yards on eight receptions (18.75 avg.) and was the top UMD target for the second straight week. Zachary Welch gained 141 yards for his first over 100-yard rushing game as a freshman running back (12.8 avg.).

On the first drive of the game, Walljasper and the offense were in sync to drive 56 yards on nine plays with Dehnicke receiving the final pass for a 14-yard touchdown. Walljasper would then hand the offense over to Dehnicke to complete a two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead four minutes into the quarter.

The Jimmies responded with a touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie the game back up on the following drive. Two drives later, the offense went on an 80-yard drive in seven play ending in Walljasper sending a 23-yard pass to DeShaun Ames for the touchdown for a 14-8 lead. UMD failed on the conversion attempt, but the Bulldog defense then locked down the Jimmies to 21 yards on the next drive to allow the offense to drive for a field goal with Drew Henson's kick.

With 6:16 left in the quarter, Jamestown was stopped again by the UMD defense with Walljasper finding room to send one final touchdown in the air to Dehnicke for 19 yards to take a 24-8 lead. This was the last of the scoring before halftime as the next Bulldog drive ended in an interception thrown by Walljasper at the Jamestown four-yard line.

The third quarter began with Jamestown going on a determined 75-yard drive to score a touchdown and cut the lead to 24-14 after a failed two-point conversion. Again, the Bulldogs rattled off a 74-yard drive with Dehnicke breaking free on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Walljasper to mark a 31-14 score with a kick from Henson.

Jamestown responded with a 79-yard touchdown by Nate Burke that brought the Jimmies within 10 at 31-21 with 4:05 left in the third quarter. The final drive of the quarter saw the Bulldogs score again with a 48-yard drive, which ended in Walljasper's lone rushing touchdown for a 38-21 lead.

The final quarter saw both the Bulldogs and Jimmies score. UMD's Francis O'Malley rushed 11 yards for a touchdown after Welch reached well over 100 rushing yards including a 34-yard rush to set up the Bulldogs in Jimmie territory. UMD ran down the final three minutes of regulation to seal the 45-29 win.

All in all, the Bulldog offense combined for 555 yards while the defense locked down the Jimmies to 61 rushing yards but allowed 387 yards in the air. Mojo Weerts was the lone Bulldog to tally a sack for a loss of seven yards. Tyrone McCoy led the team in total tackles with seven solo.

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 (6,277 yards) and fifth in career total offense (9,423 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 3,112, 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.


FOUR PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Eight 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).

Seven 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.

Four 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.

And last week, redshirt freshman Luke Dehnicke earned his first career offensive weekly award after tallying multiple career bests against the University of Mary Marauders.In the 54-32 victory, Dehnicke received four touchdown passes and ran in one two-point conversion to account for a staggering 26 points scored. In eight receptions, he received 230 yards, which fell 19 yards shy of the program record (249 yds, Tim Battaglia) but marks him as the second most receiving yards in a single game across Division II football.