The No. 11 (AFCA) and No. 8 (D2Football.com) ranked University of Minnesota Duluth football team travels to face Minot State University for their final Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) matchup. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. inside Herb Parker Stadium.

NORTH DIVISION CO-CHAMPIONS: With one more match to go, the NSIC has declared UMD to at least win a share of the North Division title. The Bulldogs can still improve to outright win the NSIC and North Division entirely depending on the outcomes of the Satu b rday matches.

NATIONAL RANK AND FILE: This past Monday, the Bulldogs reclaimed both the No. 11 spot in the American Football Coaches Association's (AFCA) national rankings and the No. 8 slot 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.

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. And now in the second week of rankings the team has been selected fifth.

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

The Bulldogs (9-1) are one of three NSIC teams in the list, with Minnesota State University Mankato (8-2) lagging behind UMD in sixth and Augustana University (9-1) falling from fifth to eighth. Ahead of UMD is Ferris State University (9-0) first, University of Findlay second (10-0), University of Indianapolis third (8-1), and Ashland University (8-2) 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 Balts' 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 five times this season (152 vs Winona, 141 vs Mankato, 230 vs UMary, 150 vs Jamestown, and 140 vs Bemidji).

DEHNICKE'S 1,000TH YARD: During a 69-yard touchdown reception, Luke Dehnicke climbed over his 1,000th receiving yard mark in his first season of competition. With a total of 1,058 yards this season he is now just behind D.J. Winfield's single season record of 1,201. He also has 14 touchdowns this season which is five behind the current record (Tim Battaglia, 19).

LEAGUE LEADERS: With the final regular season matchups set, UMD currently leads the conference in overall team scoring offense (averaging 41 points per game), third in scoring defense (21 points allowed per game), are second in rushing defense (allowing 99.3 yds/g), rank first in offensive efficiency (187.9), hold first in kickoff returns (24 avg), holds second in punting (38.1 net/p), hold third in field goals (80%),  are the first best in interception yards (363 yds), third in opponent first down defense (17.9 avg/g), third in opponent third down conversions (33.3%), third in opponent fourth down conversions (39.1%), and first in fourth down conversions (73.7%). They rank second in red zone offense (40-47).

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, fifth, and sixth 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 (205.4 avg/g), first in passing efficiency (194.9), second in total offense (272.8 yds/g), fifth in scoring (78 points), and fourth in scoring touchdowns (13).

Luke Dehnicke holds first in receiving yards (105.8 avg/g), has the most receiving touchdowns (14), third in scoring (90 points), third in scoring touchdowns (14), and total yards (1,058). Jonathan Shrum is second in kick returns (29.0 avg)

On the defensive side, Mojo Weerts is first in sacks (0.72 avg/g) and second in tackles for loss (1.0 avg.) while Brock Unger leads the NSIC in total interception yardage (166) with a tie for fourth in total interceptions (3).

NCAA LEADERS: Kyle Walljasper currently ranks seventh in completion percentage with an average of 70% and second in passing efficiency (194.9). He is also tenth in passing touchdowns (25), ninth in passing yards per completion (14.99), second in points responsible for (228), second in points responsible for per game (22.8), and first in yards per pass attempt (10.48). He also holds the second best single game passing efficiency this season (340.45).

Luke Dehnicke is tied for second in receiving touchdowns (14), ranks first in receiving yards (1,058), holds second in receiving yards per game (105.8), and has the third highest receiving yards in a game nationally (230 yards against UMary).

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

The team is ninth in the NCAA in fourth down conversion percentage (74%), sixth in completion percentage (69%), tied for tenth in defensive touchdowns (3), tied for fourth in fewest penalties (43), tied for fourth in fewest penalties per game (4.3), third in fewest penalty yards (336), third in fewest penalty yards per game (33.6), third in punt return defense (0.0), seventh in scoring offense (41), and second in team passing efficiency (187.87).

THE MATCHUP: This matchup marks the 13th historic meeting between the two programs. The last time the Bulldogs and Beavers faced off was last season. The Bulldogs hold an unbeaten 12-0 record over the Beavers which includes a 6-0 record in Minot.

MORE ON THE BEAVERS: Minot has started the season 3-7 overall, losing to Emporia State in week one (7-27), Minnesota State Mankato in week two (16-34), Concordia-St. Paul in week three (21-27), Winona State in week four (25-35), MSU Moorhead in week six (37-40 OT), Sioux Falls in week eight (17-24), and UMary in week nine (21-36). Their only victories came against Bemidji State (28-21), Jamestown (35-28), and Northern State last week (49-28).

The Beavers offense is led by senior quarterback Carson Chrisman, who rushed for 137 net yards and one touchdown last game. He is backed up by Evan Lovett and Devan Daniels, who have a combined 1,789 net rushing yards with Lovett scoring 11 touchdowns. They both have earned an average of over 89 rushing yards per game. 

On the defensive side, Minot is led by Brayan Augustin (52 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and Jace McDonald (49 tackles).

NOTES ON THE BEMIDJI GAME: Redshirt freshman tight end Luke Dehnicke earned his fifth game of the season over 100 receiving yards, finishing with 140 yards in five receptions to help push his single-season reception yards over the 1,000 mark. He now has 1,058 total yards this season and is trailing the program's record of 1,201 (D.J. Winfield, 2008).

UMD won the coin toss and deferred the first kickoff of the game, only to recover the fumble on that kickoff with Caden Healy securing it at the BSU 27-yard line. The Bulldogs didn't waste time and scored four plays later with Kyle Walljasper rushing for 11 yards in the first touchdown of the game with 12:36 left in the first quarter.

Bemidji scored on the following drive to tie the game after an eight-play drive for 75 yards. The Bulldogs got the ball back with seven minutes to go and proceeded to drive 59 yards, which included a 36-yard rush by Walljasper to get onto the BSU 23-yard line. Walljasper finished the drive with a pass to Dehnicke for a six-yard touchdown to mark a 14-7 lead with a kick from Drew Henson.

With 4:52 remaining in the first quarter, UMD would shut down the BSU offense with another fumble recovery four plays in, this time with Jayce Walrath securing it. The next UMD drive took them into the second quarter, where Walljasper fumbled the ball on a 23-yard rush to allow BSU to start their offense on its own 26-yard line.

The Beavers' next drive was halted five plays in when Mojo Weerts and Mark Rendl sacked Connor Carver on third down to force a punt with 10:56 to go. Both teams failed on the next two drives, but UMD then drove 78 yards with help from a 42-yard breakout rush from Ryder Patterson to the BSU 25-yard line. Walljasper finished the drive with an eight-yard rush to mark a 21-7 lead with 2:54 to go before halftime.

Bemidji turned on the gas to go on a quick two-minute drive for 60 yards to chip down the Bulldog lead to 21-14. The offense then killed off the rest of the clock to start with possession in the third quarter.

On the first drive of the third quarter, the Bulldogs sealed off a 77-yard drive with a rushing touchdown from Francis O'Malley to push back ahead 28-14.  After BSU scored on the following drive, Walljasper connected with Dehnicke for a 69-yard touchdown pass. This pass reception helped Dehnicke reach his 1,000th receiving yard as a redshirt freshman.

With UMD firmly in control of the game at 35-21, the third quarter ticked by without any more scoring. The fourth quarter saw both teams score in the final eight minutes, which included a touchdown rush from Patterson for a 42-28 final score.

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 104-27 record with an impressive two perfect 11-0 seasons, seven NSIC North Division titles, two NSIC championship victories, and five 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 (6,415 yards) and fifth in career total offense (9,705 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 3,256, 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: Nine 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).

Eight 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.

Five 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 two weeks ago, 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.