For Immediate Release
Monday, September 30, 2013
NSIC Media Relations
Full PDF Release
Week 4 Results
September 28
U-Mary 7 at Upper Iowa 36
Southwest Minnesota State 40 at Bemidji State 41
Minnesota Crookston 7 at Sioux Falls 52
No. 13 Minnesota Duluth 64 at Wayne State 21
Winona State 49 at Minot State 14
Northern State 14 at No. 2 Minnesota State 42
Concordia-St. Paul 36 at MSU Moorhead 34
Augustana 6 at No. 20 St. Cloud State 31 |
Week 5 Schedule
October 5
Minnesota State at Concordia-St. Paul12 p.m.
St. Cloud State at Minnesota Duluth1 p.m.
Wayne State at Augustana 1 p.m.
Bemidji State at Minnesota Crookston1 p.m.
Minot State at U-Mary 2:30 p.m.
MSU Moorhead at Northern State2:30 p.m.
Upper Iowa at Winona State 6 p.m.
Sioux Falls at Southwest Minnesota State6 p.m. |
NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
#5 Chichi Ojika (RB, 5-8, 185, Sr., New Brighton, Minn. / Irondale HS)
Winona State University
Chichi Ojika rushed for 242 yards and two touchdowns – the third-most by any runner in Winona State history – as the Warriors beat Minot State 49-14 Saturday in Minot. Ojika set the tone for his night right away, galloping 82 yards for a touchdown on the Warriors’ second play of the game. The senior also had a 43 yard touchdown run in the third quarter. One week after recording the first 100-yard game of his career, Ojika became the first Warrior since Rayon Simmons in 2011 to gain at least 200 yards on the ground in a game. The rushing total also moved Ojika past the 1,000 yard mark for his career. Ojika also returned two kickoffs on the day, giving him 269 total yards on the afternoon.
NSIC Defensive Player of the Week
#28 Jack Moro (DB, 5-11, 190, Sr., Brookfield, Wis. / Central HS)
St. Cloud State University
Jack Moro intercepted Augustana College three times and tied the school record for career interceptions with 19 in the Huskies 31-6 win over the Vikings. His first two picks came on back to back Viking drives in the first quarter and his third came in the second. His second INT set up the Huskies for their first score of the game. Moro finished the game with three tackles and a pass break up. Moro has five interceptions this season and the three picks marked the third time in his career that he has intercepted three times in a game. The record of 19 is held by Dan Neubauer who played for the Huskies from 1977-80. The Huskies are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since starting the 2005 season 5-0.
NSIC Special teams Player of the Week
#37 Zach Pulkinen (P/K, 5-11, 200, Sr., Minot, N.D. /College of Idaho)
Bemidji State University
Zach Pulkinen knocked through a game-winning 37-yard field goal Saturday to lift the Beavers to a 41-40 homecoming victory against Southwest Minnesota State. He totaled five points in the game. Pulkinen recorded eight kickoffs for 482 yards (60.2 yards per kick) and a touchback. He also punted six times for 244 yards (40.7 yards per punt) and a long punt of 48 yards.
Team Notes:
Augustana
#4 Grant Gebhardt (WR, 6-0, 185, Jr., Burwell, Neb./Burwell HS) caught his first touchdown pass of the season in Augustana’s loss at St. Cloud State on Saturday. Gebhardt finished the game with a team-high six catches for 50 yards and a touchdown. The junior’s longest reception came on a 14-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter. Gebhardt also returned two kickoffs for 43 yards to finish with a game-high 93 all-purpose yards.
#42 Ben Skelly (LB, 6-1, 205, Jr., Lakeville, Minn./North HS) matched his career-high with nine tackles for Augustana against St. Cloud State. Skelly posted nine solo tackles in the game and currently ranks third on the team with 26 tackles on the season.
Augustana returns home this weekend to host Wayne State beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Bemidji State
#4 Avery Walker (RB, 5-10, 202, Sr-1L, Milwaukee, Wis. / Mesabi Range CC) posted a career-game as a Beaver in the 41-40 homecoming victory against Southwest Minnesota State Saturday with 243 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. He carried the ball 29 times for 170 yards (5.9 yards per carry) and a score, which included a career-long rush of 40 yards that went for a touchdown. Both his receptions went for touchdowns and totaled 73 yards, which included a 67-yard catch and run to the end zone.
#46 Connor Quinn (ILB, 6-1, 223, So-1L, Geneva, Ill. / Geneva HS) posted a game-high 13 tackles (six solo) and scored his second touchdown of the season on a 20-yard interception return for a touchdown Saturday in a 41-40 homecoming victory versus SMSU. He also added a half tackle for loss and a pass break-up.
#37 Zach Pulkinen (K/P, 5-11, 200, Sr-3L, Minot, N.D. / College of Idaho) knocked through a game-winning 37-yard field goal Saturday to lift the Beavers to a 41-40 homecoming victory against Southwest Minnesota State. He totaled five points. Pulkinen recorded eight kickoffs for 482 yards (60.2 yards per kick) and a touchback. He also punted six times for 244 yards (40.7 yards per punt) and a long punt of 48 yards.
The lead changed six times throughout the contest. BSU controlled the clock for the first time this season and led in time of possession 35:16 to 24:44. Despite a 20-7 lead after the first quarter, BSU was outscored 30-6 in the second and third quarters to trail 37-26 entering the final frame. A 15-yard pass play, then a 40-yard run handed the Beavers a 38-37 lead with 5:37 left. SMSU converted on a 33-yard field goal with 3:26 remaining to regain a lead, but BSU responded with the last minute field goal for the win, capping an eight-play, 55-yard drive.
The Beavers now head into NSIC North play Oct. 5 when they travel west on Highway 2 to battle University of Minnesota Crookston (0-4, 0-4 NSIC). BSU is 19-1 all-time against UMC and have won 14-straight against the Golden Eagles. The Beavers are 8-1 at Minnesota Crookston, with the only loss in the series coming in 1998. Last season, the Beavers defeated UMC 35-2 in Bemidji, Minn. Since 2004, the team have been playing for a traveling trophy, a Hubcap, to signify its Highway 2 rivalry. BSU is 9-0 in Hubcap games.
Concordia-St. Paul
#2 Tre Spears (RB, 5-10, 225, Jr, Chicago / Morgan Park HS) topped the 100-yard mark for the third time in four games to start the 2013 season as he bruised the Dragon defense for 150 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries. More importantly, he carried the load offensively for the Golden Bears in a 36-34 win as Concordia dominated time of possession with 34:34, nearly a 10-minute advantage. His 490 yards on the season rank fifth in the conference as he averages 122.5 yards per game on the ground.
#40 Chris Krakau (LB, 6-1, 215, R-Fr., South Milwaukee, Wis. / HS) was a difference-maker in a 36-34 road win at MSU Moorhead, making a sack while forcing and fumbling a fumble of the Dragon quarterback with 2:21 to play in the game to protect a 36-28 lead. He finished the game with career-highs of 10 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks to go with the forced fumble and recovery.
#23 Cordell Smith (WR/PR, 6-4, 210, Jr., Mequon, Wis. / Homestead HS) helped turn the momentum for Concordia in a 36-34 road win at MSU Moorhead. With the offense scoreless and trailing 7-0 midway through the second quarter, Smith took matters into his own hands with a 62-yard punt return for touchdown with the team converting a 2-point conversion to take a lead they’d never relinquish. The punt return touchdown was the first of his career and Concordia’s first since the 2004 season. Smith had four punt returns for 71 yards, averaging 17.8.
Concordia improves to 3-1 for the 14th time in program history dating back to 1969 and its the first 3-1 start since the 2010 Mineral Water Bowl team that finished 8-4 … Concordia’s previous 13 teams that started 3-1 have all finished .500 or better on the season … this Saturday, the Golden Bears host #2 Minnesota State for homecoming with a noon kickoff … a win for the Golden Bears would give them a 4-1 start for the first time since their last NSIC Championship season in 2005 and would be the 10th 4-1 or better start in program history … Concordia is 2-5 all-time against MSU, losing the last two meetings … Concordia is 1-2 all-time against the Mavericks at home with the only home win coming in 2005 at Griffin Stadium … the Golden Bears are 0-2 against MSU at Sea Foam Stadium, losing in 2009 and 2011 … Concordia’s last win over the Mavericks was in 2010 in Mankato with MSU ranked #11 which gave Concordia a 3-1 start en route to an 8-4 finish and a Mineral Water Bowl appearance.
University of Mary
Craig Bagnell (QB, 5-10, 185, Sr., Polson, Mont. / Polson) set the Marauders career record for pass completions on Saturday, finding his intended target 608 times in his career. He is also 13 touchdowns and 282 passing yards behind Chris Schwab, the Marauders career leaded in both categories. Schwab passed for 7,786 yards and 73 scores in his career. Bagnell finished with 233 yards passing against the Peacocks, completing 21-of-43 passes for one score and two interceptions.
Troy Guptill (LB, 6-2, 225, Jr., Quinn, S.D. / Phillip HS) posted three sacks, 12 tackles (including nine solo stops) and forced a fumble in the University of Mary loss at Upper Iowa. The sacks and tackles are career highs. Guptill leads the NSIC in forced fumbles, is second in tackles for loss and third in sacks. The junior linebacker personally ensured the Peacocks wouldn’t score on their first possession. With Upper Iowa facing a third and five, Guptill sacked the quarterback for a five-yard loss. The Peacocks went for the score on fourth down but Guptill extinguished the play with a sack and a forced fumble recovered by the Marauders. His three sacks ties the school record for a Northern Sun contest, first established by Pierre Atkinson against MSU Moorhead on Oct. 11, 2008... Grant Singer (LB, 6-1, 215, Jr., Turtle Lake, N.D. / Turtle Lake - Mercer) continued his outstanding play this season, posting 15 tackles against the Peacocks with nine solo stops. The all-conference linebacker recovered one fumble and also intercepted a pass. Singer is now tied for the NSIC lead in tackles with 10.8 per game.
Jeremy Mayfield (WR, 5-9, 170, Stockton, Calif.) posted two of the longest plays for the Marauders since U-Mary began NCAA play in 2006. Mayfield returned one kickoff 90 yards, the second longest for the Marauders in the past eight years. He also scored the Marauders lone touchdown on a 69 yard reception in the first quarter, the fifth longest pass play. He finished with three kick returns for 118 yards and three catches for 77 yards.
Minnesota Crookston
Tevin Kellum (Sr., DB, Detroit, Mich.) made 15 tackles including 12 solo tackles which places second all-time in single-game at UMC. In addition Kellum made an interception, his first of the season for the Golden Eagles.
UMC struggled on the defensive end last weekend but will look to get things going Oct. 5 as they return home for their homecoming game against the Bemidji State University Beavers at 1 p.m. at Ed Widseth Field. The Golden Eagles are 0-4 on the season while BSU is 2-2.
Minnesota Duluth
Logan Lauters (RB, 5-8, 200, So, Cedarburg, Wis.). spearheaded UMD’s offensive onslaught in its 64-21 victory at Wayne State, rushing for 103 yards and three touchdowns on just 11 carries. All three of his touchdowns and nine of those rushes came in the first half. Lauter’s second score of the day, a 64-yard scamper which put the Bulldogs up 22-14 midway through the first quarter, was the longest run from scrimmage by a Bulldog since last November. Lauters, who established a career-high for touchdowns Saturday, has now eclipsed the 100-yard rush mark three times as a collegian.
UMD (3-1 overall) returns to James S. Malosky Stadium this Saturday to host St. Cloud State in its annual Homecoming Game. This will be the second straight time the Bulldogs will host a nationally ranked opponent. (Then second-ranked Minnesota State-Mankato was in Duluth two weeks ago). UMD has lost two straight to St. Cloud State -- its longest losing skid against any NSIC foe - with both of those setbacks coming in St. Cloud (2011 and 2012). The Bulldogs have reeled off four straight home wins over the Huskies since being blanked 28-0 in the 2004 season finale when both clubs were members of the now-defunct North Central Conference. That remains the only time UMD has been held scoreless at Malosky Stadium in the last 21 years (St. Cloud State prevailed 33-0 over the host Bulldogs in 1992).
This past Saturday afternoon, the Bulldogs erupted for a season-high 483 yards of total offense and cruised to 63-21 victory at Wayne State College. UMD also eclipsed 2013 bests for rushing yards (316) while holding Wayne State to just 532 yards on the ground and 258 yards overall. UMD also forced three turnovers against Wayne State after coming up empty in that department the previous week in a 21-17 loss to Minnesota State-Mankato.
Senior outside linebacker Colby Ring returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown and UMD's third pick-six of the somewhat young 2013 season.
Jeron Johnson, fellow senior running back Chaz Thomas, and junior tight end Taylor Grant, a transfer from the University of North Dakota, all made their first pass catches as Bulldogs at Wayne State.
Logan Lauters became the first Bulldog to run for 100 yards this fall in the victory at Wayne State … UMD has come away with points (three touchdowns and a field goal) on its opening series in all four outings thus far.
The Bulldogs rank third among all NCAA II schools in average time of possession (35:45) and are eighth in rushing defense (77.5 yard per game)
UMD's 65 victories and its .891 winning percentage (off a 65-8 record) since the start of the 2008 season are tops among all NCAA II schools.
Minnesota State
Jon Wolf (QB, 6-4, 200, Sr., Oak Forest, Ill., Oak Forest) posted his first 100+ yard rushing game this season as he ran for 109 yards and two touchdowns in MSU’s 42-14 win over Northern State. His first touchdown opened the scoring as he ran 50 yards to give the Mavericks the early lead. One quarter later, Wolf ran for another touchdown, this time a 31-yard run to put the Mavericks up 14-0 with just over 11 minutes remaining in the second quarter. He also finished the day 9-of-11 passing for 160 yards and a touchdown.
Patrick Schmidt (CB, 6-0, 180, So., Menasha, Wis., Menasha) recorded four tackles on the day, including 0.5 sacks, and 1.5 tackles for a loss. He also recorded an interception at the goal line and returned it 30 yards up field, ending a would-be Northern State scoring drive.
With its win over Northern State, MSU is now 4-0 on the season. This is the third time MSU has began its season with a 4-0 record since joining the NSIC back in 2008. MSU previously started 4-0 in the 2008 and 2012 seasons.
MSU had two players, senior Wolf and sophomore Chad Zastrow, rush for more than 100 yards against Northern State as they posted 109 and 102 rushing yards, respectively. They also combined for three touchdown runs as well. With its 42-14 win over Northern State, MSU has improved its homecoming record to 46-33-2. MSU is now 5-1 in its last six homecoming games. With Jon Wolf’s touchdown run on the Mavericks first drive to open the game against Northern State, MSU has now scored a touchdown on three of its four opening drives this season.
MSU Moorhead
Jake Hodge (QB, 6-1, 195, So., Kasson, Minn. / Kasson-Mantorville HS) had one of the best days of his MSUM career during the Dragons’ 36-34 loss to Concordia-St. Paul on Sept. 28. Hodge completed 21-of-38 passes for a career-high 285 yards and two touchdowns, and also rushed for a career-high 107 yards and two touchdowns. For the day, Hodge accounted for 392 yards of total offense and four touchdowns. For the season, Hodge leads MSUM in rushing yards (243), rushing touchdowns (five), passing touchdowns (five) and passing yards (558).
Sam Callahan (DE, 6-2, 230, Sr., Fargo, N.D. / Fargo South HS) had a team-best nine tackles during the Dragons’ 36-34 home loss to Concordia-St. Paul on Sept. 28. Callahan’s nine tackles were a season-high. He also teamed up with fellow senior Mike Mann for a key fourth-down stop in the final two minutes which put MSUM in position for the tying touchdown. Callahan is tied for third on the team in tackles with 26.
Chris Binford (CB, 5-7, 147, So., Artesia, Calif./Valley Christian HS) had four kick returns for 106 yards during the Dragons’ 36-34 loss, but also had two returns of 40 yards or more. He returned the opening kickoff of the game 41 yards, and later added a 43-yard return. Binford leads MSUM with a 22.9 kick return average this season.
Minot State
Minot State made too many mistakes to overcome a solid Winona State team during Saturday’s 49-14 Homecoming loss at Herb Parker Stadium. The Beavers fumbled nine times in the los, losing four balls, including two in the red zone. #16 Zac Cunha (QB, 6-3, 233, So., Rocklin, Calif. / Roseville High School) threw for 300-plus yards for the second time in his career, going 28-for-52 for 309 yards and two touchdowns. The Beavers also had a 100-yard rusher for the first time this season as #24 Jarvis Mustipher (RB, 5-7, 234, R-Fr., Melbourne, Fla. / Viera High School) had a career high 113 yards on 16 carries. Pacing the defense was #20 Cooper Helm (DB, 6-3, 173, So., Wenatchee, Wash. / Wenatchee High School) who had two interceptions to lift his team-leading season total to three. He now has five interceptions in 16 games for the Beavers. #40 Chad Marshall (LB, 6-2, 234, Sr., Hazen, N.D. / Hazen High School) finished with six tackles to raise his season total to 34 and his career total to 254 in four years. The Beavers move on to face rival University of Mary Saturday at the Bismarck Community Bowl.
Northern State
The No. 2 ranked team in the country lived up to its billing Saturday afternoon in Mankato, Minn., as the Northern State football team fell to Minnesota State 42-14. The loss is the third-straight now for the Wolves.
The Mavericks held NSU to a season-low 61 yards rushing on 23 carries in the game, while rushing for 447 yards of their own and accumulating 607 yards of total offense. MSU came into the game as the number one scoring offense in the league at 41 points per game.
Jared Jacobson had a nice day through the air for the Wolves. Jacobson went 23-for-37 for 207 yards passing and a three-yard touchdown pass to Terrelle Walker in the fourth quarter. Zac Emde came on late in the game in relief of Jacobson and hit Trevor Mau for a 27-yard touchdown pass on his only attempt of the game. The catch for Mau was his first since 2010. Mau saw action for the first time Saturday since his freshman year, as he returned from a serious injury.
Sioux Falls
#3 Nephi Garcia (RB, 5-7, 185, Jr., Palm Desert, Calif. /College of the Desert)
rushed for a career-high 167 yards and a touchdown on Saturday in the Cougars’ home win, his third straight game with over 100 yards on the ground. He also caught two passes for 29 yards. His signature moment was a 42-yard juke-n-jive on the opening play of the second quarter that paved the way to freshman QB Luke Papilion’s one-yard burst into the endzone, giving the homestanding Cougars the 20-0 advantage. Garcia’s efforts carrying the ball and blocking for teammates helped USF total 467 rushing yards versus the Golden Eagles, just shy of a school record. The Cougars have rushed for 1,107 yards after posting 586 yards at the same point last season. After a rough debut to the season in a loss at Duluth, the Cougars have rushed for 1,096 yards in their last three games, an average of 365 yards per contest. The College of the Desert product has taken full advantage of his time on the field since putting on pads for the Cougars for the first time this fall, racking up 457 yards on the ground in his first four contests. Garcia ranks sixth in the NSIC in rushing yards, even while splitting carries with Papillion, who is right behind him in seventh place among conference rushing leaders. That duo’s excellence in running the read option has led to the Cougars scoring 107 points in their last three games, and 97 points in their two home games. Garcia’s 6.3 yards per attempt ranks third in the NSIC, and since getting held to 20 yards on eight carries in the season opener, he’s averaged 145.7 yards and 6.8 yards per carry over the last three.
The University of Sioux Falls football team enjoyed a big offensive day Saturday at Bob Young Field, running past the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles 52-7 in the first-ever meeting between the programs.
With the win, the Cougars improve to 2-2 on the season and 44-1 all-time at Bob Young Field.
For the third week in a row, USF was carried by its rushing attack, as the Cougars came up just short of a school record with 467 team rushing yards. Junior Nephi Garcia rushed for a career-high 167 yards on 18 carries, the third consecutive game in which Garcia has surpassed the century mark.
The Cougars had 680 yards of total offense for the game, while holding the Eagles to only 211 yards. It’s the first time USF has surpassed the 600-yard mark since they routed Dakota Wesleyan 63-3 on October 23, 2010. USF has now rushed for 1,096 yards in their last three games.
USF will take to the road next week. The Cougars will make their first trip to Mattke Field to face Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall, Minn. Kick-off is set for 6 p.m.
Southwest Minnesota State
Junior running back Tyler Tonderum (5-10, 191, Armstrong, Iowa) – who entered the week ranked third in the country in rushing – racked up 224 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries and also had one reception for 10 yards in SMSU’s 41-40 loss at Bemidji State. Tonderum has now rushed for 785 yards – already the 14th highest in school single-season history – along with 10 touchdowns on 117 carries this season.
Junior defensive end AJ Page (6-6, 231, Minneapolis) finished with 11 tackles (four solo), including 2.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks and one blocked PAT in SMSU’s loss to Bemidji State. Page leads the team this season in tackles (38), tackles for loss (9.0) and sacks (4.5).
Senior placekicker Lance Schuveiller (6-3, 203, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) connected on a pair of field goals from 31 and 33 yards and made all four PATs in SMSU’s 41-40 loss to BSU. Schuveiller’s 33-yard field goal with 3:26 remaining in regulation gave SMSU a 40-38 lead, before BSU rallied for the game-winning field goal in the final minute. Schuveiller has moved into second on school’s all-time list for career PATs with 86 and is now fourth all-time in program history with 14 field goals.
St. Cloud State
Jack Moro (Sr., DB, Brookfield, Wis.) intercepted Augustana College three times and tied the school record for career interceptions with 19 in the Huskies 31-6 win over the Vikings. His first two picks came on back to back Augie drives in the first quarter and his third came in the second. His second INT set up the Huskies for their first score of the game. Moro finished the game with three tackles and a pass break up. Moro has five interceptions this season and the three picks marked the third time in his career that he has intercepted three times in a game. The record of 19 is held by Dan Neubauer who played for the Huskies from 1977-80. The Huskies are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since starting the 2005 season 5-0.
The win over Augie snapped a five game losing streak to the Vikings and was the first for head coach Scott Underwood over his alma mater. Bo Putrah (Jr., DE, Faribault, Minn.) had a career high seven tackles, had a season high and career equaling three tackles for loss and two sacks to lead the Huskies on defense. Miky Woods (Sr., DB, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) led the Huskies with a team and game high nine tackles. Phillip Klaphake (Sr., QB, Princeton, Minn.) is two yards short of 2,000 career rushing yards after gaining 41 on the ground against AC. He will be the eighth Husky to reach 2,000 rushing yards in a career and first quarterback. Klaphake has 1,133 passing yards this season and 8,846 in his career and is chasing the career record of 9,695 yards held by Keith Heckendorf (2000-03). St. Cloud State enters divisional play at Minnesota Duluth on Saturday. The Huskies are 24-21 all-time against the Bulldogs since 1933 and have won the last two meetings including a thrilling 51-49 win last year as time ran out.
Upper Iowa
Cole Jaeschke (QB, 6-2, 210, R-Jr., Moorland, Iowa) became Upper Iowa’s all-time leader in passing yards (6,664) and touchdowns (50) during the Peacocks’ dominant win over the University of Mary. Jaeschke threw for 317 yards and three touchdowns through some heavy doses of rain as UIU posted a 36-7 victory improving to 3-1 on the season. The UIU signal caller now sits atop nine records for the Peacocks. While the UIU air attack was in full gear, so was the running game as junior Chris Smith ran through the 2,000 yard mark in his career with 187 yards on the day.
While the UIU offense was putting up points in the second and third quarters, the Peacock defense was getting a solid effort out of several players and all three lines. After a 69-yard touchdown pass and catch on U-Mary’s first possession, the Peacock defense responded by keeping the Marauders off the scoreboard the rest of the game despite three more trips into the redzone. UIU thwarted those threats with two interceptions, both in the endzone, thanks to plays by Chayz Holt and Jordan Andera and a blocked field goal attempt by Keaton Martin.
The interception by Holt came as U-Mary was looking to extend their early lead to 14-0 from the UIU 5-yard line on 2nd and goal. The field goal block by Martin erased another redzone trip for the Marauders on a 24-yard attempt that could have pulled U-Mary with four, 14-10, but the miss kept the Peacock advantage at seven points.
The home team’s defense held the Marauders to just 67 yards on the ground and forced their guests into 9 punts. UIU also recorded five tackles for loss, earned 7 pass breakups and added a sack from Branden Owen. In all, the defense has now held three of their four opponents to 17 points or less this season.
The Peacocks will head to Winona, Minnesota to take on the Warriors of Winona State University next Saturday at 6 p.m. for this season’s first NSIC South Division matchup. Last year’s contest with the Warriors was decided by only three points on Homecoming in Fayette. WSU escaped with a 45-42 shootout victory.
Wayne State
The Wayne State football team fell to 1-3 Saturday following a 64-21 setback at home to #13 Minnesota Duluth. It was the first loss in nine homecoming games for Wildcat head coach Dan McLaughlin. Junior wide receiver Tonev Abraham had four catches for 102 yards and two scores to lead the Wildcat offense, recording touchdown receptions of 36 and 58 yards. Wayne State was held to just 35 yards of total offense in the second half and will try to rebound with a road game at Augustana College Saturday at 1 p.m.
Winona State
Chichi Ojika (RB, Sr., 5-8, 185, New Brighton, Minn.) rushed for 242 yards and two touchdowns – the third-most by any runner in Winona State history – as the Warriors beat Minot State 49-14 Saturday in Minot. Ojika set the tone for his night right away, galloping 82 yards for a touchdown on the Warriors’ second play of the game. The senior also had a 43 yard touchdown run in the third quarter. One week after recording the first 100-yard game of his career, Ojika became the first Warrior since Rayon Simmons in 2011 to gain at least 200 yards on the ground in a game. The rushing total also moved Ojika past the 1,000 yard mark for his career. Ojika also returned two kickoffs on the day, giving him 269 total yards on the afternoon.
Anthony Frisby (DT, Jr., 6-3, 275, Columbia Heights, Minn.) was a constant presence around the football, recording six tackles, two tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles in the Warriors’ win over Minot State. Frisby caused three of Minot State’s eight fumbles on the day while also posting one of the team’s eight sacks. Frisby had six total tackles on the day, with three coming behind the line of scrimmage.
Jeremy Neuman (P, Sr., 5-11, 185, Park Ridge, Ill.) had a solid day punting the football for Winona State, averaging 44.7 yards per kick in the Warriors’ win over Minot State. Neuman had a long kick of 52 yards on his three punts to assist the Warrior cause.
Past NSIC Players of the Week
9/9/13
OFF: Cole Jaeschke - UIU
DEF: Connor Quinn - BSU
SPT: Lucas Wainman - Augie
9/16/13
OFF: Tyler Tonderum - SMSU
DEF: Troy Guptill - U-Mary
SPT: Elby Pope - U-Mary
9/23/13
OFF: Chris Smith - UIU
DEF: Nathan Hancock - MSU
SPT: Alan May - WSU
#NSIC#