The recently ranked No. 16 (AFCA) and No. 11 (D2Football.com) University of Minnesota Duluth football team heads back on the road to face the No. 25 University of Sioux Falls Saturday on Bob Young Field. This match marks the team's third Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) matchup of the 2025 season and the second time this season facing a ranked opponent.

NATIONAL RANK AND FILE: This past Monday, the Bulldogs moved up eight slots in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 in the third week of rankings to mark their highest ranking since the 2021 season. UMD also entered the D2Football.com rankings for the first time this season, jumping to the No. 11 slot.

This marks the first time the team is 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.

EARLY LEAGUE LEADERS: While it is still early with only three games under each NSIC team's belt, UMD currently leads the conference in overall team scoring defense (only allowing 28 points in three games), third down conversion defense (20.6%), first down defense (12.3 avg/g), leading in total defense, leading in rushing defense (78.7 yds/g) and first in team offensive efficiency (188.6).

The team holds multiple NSIC bests in game highs including:
–Points scored (61 against CSP)
–Touchdowns (9 against CSP)
–Offensive yards (7.9 avg against CSP)
–The top two games in passing yards (12.9 avg at Winona, 12.7 avg at CSP)
–One of two teams with a kick return touchdown (UMD and Northern State)
–Hold the second and third best interception returns (63 yards by Luke Humbert against CSP and 61 yards by Brock Unger against Winona) also marks first and second in average.

NCAA LEADERS: Walljasper currently ranks ninth in passing efficiency with a rating of 190.8. He also ranks fourth in yards per pass attempt with an average of 10.85, and he ranks fourth in completion percentage (73%).

Dehnicke ranks third in receiving yards (339) and eighth in receiving yards per game (113.0). Jonathan Shrum ranks fourth in kickoff returns (38.7) and ninth in combined kick returns (232).

As a team, they rank seventh in team passing efficiency (188.59), seventh in scoring defense (9.3), 13th in completion percentage (.707), fifth in kickoff returns (38.67), tenth in red zone defense (.500), fourth in fewest penalty yards per game (28.67), seventh in third down conversion percentage (0.553), and sixth in third down conversion percentage defense (0.206).

MORE ON THE NO. 25 COUGARS: Sioux Falls is the lone NSIC opponent that the Bulldogs fall behind in the all-time record. UMD is 2-7 overall since 2013, and in four trips to Sioux Falls, the team is 0-4. They currently hold an identical 3-0 record like the Bulldogs with wins against Black Hills State (27-21), Northern State (42-28), and Bemidji State (56-23). These wins awarded them their first ranking of the 2025 season this past week by the AFCA to No. 25. 

As a team, they lead the NSIC in kickoffs (40.5 yds/avg), first downs (25.7 avg/g), third down conversions (55.6%), and time of possession (37:48 avg/g).

Nationally, they are fourth in first downs on offense (77), second in kickoff returns (40.5 avg), second in time of possession (37:57), and ninth in scoring offense (41.7).

Helping some of those leading stats is senior quarterback Camden Dean, who is sixth in the nation for completion percentage (72%), fifth in passing touchdowns (8), fourteenth in passing yards (744), tenth in passing efficiency (184.7), seventh in rushing touchdowns (4), and twelfth in total offense (312.3). 

LAST MATCHUP: The Cougars got on the scoreboard first, kicking a successful 27-yard field goal after forcing UMD to punt on the afternoon's opening possession. A sack for loss from Andrew Klopp helped the defense as both teams forced four consecutive drives to end in a punt.
 
UMD's offense broke the stalemate in the second quarter, tacking on the first touchdown of the afternoon with a 21-yard rush from Alex Riley with 5:48 left in the frame. The Cougars responded, however. with a touchdown of their own on the next drive to collect a 10-7 lead as both teams headed back to the locker rooms for the halftime intermission. 
 
The UMD offense brought the bag out in the second half, pulling out a pitch back play to set up a 56-yard passing touchdown from redshirt sophomore QB Jacob Eggert to Jimmy Durocher on the Bulldogs' first possession. But again, USF had no trouble responding, and scored on its next drive to move back into the 17-14 lead at 8:37 of the third quarter
 
A 19-yard touchdown from Eggert to DaShaun Ames – his eighth of the season – capped off the opening drive for the Bulldogs in the fourth quarter, allowing UMD to retake a 21-17 lead with just over 14 minutes left to go. USF countered once again, scoring on its next drive to take back the lead, and eventual final 24-21 score.
 
Despite forcing the Cougars to punt with just under a minute left, UMD was intercepted on its final two possessions of the game and was unable to regain the advantage before time expired.
 
Eggert made his first career start for UMD, and went 20-of-35 for 247 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions. Riley led the Bulldogs rushing attack with 85 yards and one touchdown, while Ames made his presence felt in the passing game, recording six receptions for 63 yards and one touchdown.  Durocher added five catches for 134 yards and one score. 
 
Tyrone McCoy led the Bulldog defense with three tackles and one interception. Klopp added four tackles, 1.0 TFL, and one sack, while  Matt Weerts added three tackles, 2.0 TFL, and one sack in the loss.

NOTES ON THE MINNESOTA STATE GAME: UMD advanced to a 3-0 start… downed the No. 7 team in the country (AFCA)... perfect 2-0 start to NSIC competition… 10-2 overall record in Military Appreciation Games… third year in a row that UMD has upset a ranked MSU…Walljasper had 225 passing yards with a season high 61 rushing yards and a season high 75% completion rate… Apgar was perfect three for three on field goals.

LAST TIME OUT: Entering the first quarter, the Mavericks quickly got acquainted with the Bulldog defense, being held to 23 yards in seven plays. Kyle Walljasper and the Bulldog offense battled out from their own end zone with a start on the three-yard line.

The drive featured a 31-yard dart from Walljasper to Luke Dehnicke, but the drive would sputter out on the Maverick's 18-yard line a few plays later. Jadon Apgar then put the Bulldogs on the board first at 3-0 with three minutes to go.

After 28 yards of offense, Brock Unger made an interception to end the Maverick drive and put the offense close to the end zone but UMD would lose the ball two plays later on a fumble by Peyton Menzel. As a result, the score remained at 3-0 entering the second quarter.

The defenses continued to keep big offensive drives to a minimum but the UMD defense was the first to crack with the Mavericks scoring the first touchdown of the game on a nine-play 82-yard drive. An interception with 30 seconds left in the quarter dashed UMD's hope of inching back ahead before halftime.

After receiving the kickoff, Walljasper and the offense marched down the field 78 yards before being held up just outside the end zone. Apgar then sent his second kick of the day through the uprights to mark a 7-6 score.

It would come down to the final quarter, when a determined UMD drive allowed Jacob Eggert to sub in for Walljasper to rush in both an eight-yard touchdown and a two-point conversion to push ahead 14-7 with 13:49 remaining. The Mavericks responded with a drive that lasted ten seconds with a 61-yard pass to tie the game at 14-14.

The following Bulldog drive floundered, giving MSU the ball back with under eight minutes remaining. The defense put together a stop with only losing 1:55 off the clock to get Walljasper and company the ball back.

UMD's offense continued to run down the clock with big plays from Dehnicke and Johnson pushing the clock down to two seconds left at the Maverick 10-yard line.

With bated breath, the 5,487-strong crowd watched as a kick from Apgar didn't connect, but soon it became known the Mavericks had called a timeout. With another chance granted, Apgar's kick sailed through the uprights to seal the upset victory at 17-14.

The Bulldog offense combined for 393 yards to outdo the Mavericks with 267. Rushing-wise, UMD nearly quadrupled MSU 168-69. The defense kept the Mavericks to two of seven third-down conversions while the offense completed at a rate of 10 of 16 on the day.

Individually, Dehnicke was the top receiving Bulldog for the second time this season with his second over 100-yard receiving day. He tallied 141 yards on 11 receptions, with his longest breakthrough measuring at 31 yards. Dehnicke out caught the Maverick's top target, TreShawn Watson, 141-103.

Walljasper had another colossal day under center with 225 passing yards with a season high 61 rushing yards, and a season high 75% completion rate. Eggert relieved him under center for two plays, earning the lone rushing touchdown and a two-point conversion.

Defensively, Ross Rivord and Jayce Walrath split first with identical tackles and sacks (6 total, three solo, three assisted, half sack). Walrath however, earned an interception for a gain of eighteen yards to complement Unger's interception of 23 yards.

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 sixth in career passing yards (5,001 yards, just behind John Larson with 5,308) and fifth in career total offense (7,664 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 2,663 breaking Amory Bodin's No. 10 spot of 2,662 yards. This makes him one of three Bulldog quarterbacks in the category.

FAMILIAR PERFORMANCES: Alex Riley, DaShaun Ames, and Derrick Johnson all had great outings last season against the Cougars. Riley earned a team-leading 85 yards rushing on 10 attempts (longest 29 yards) with one touchdown. Johnson followed just behind with 47 yards on five attempts (longest 29 yards). Ames was second in receiving yards behind Jimmy Durocher, earning 63 yards and one touchdown (longest 19 yards).

TWO PLAYERS OF THE WEEK IN TWO WEEKS: Two 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).

Now this week, Jadon Apgar earns 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.